A lettings agency claimed that rents across Britain have surged by as much as 17.4% since Labour began the Renters Rights Bill’s passage through Parliament.
The Bill is now likely to become law next month.
Benham and Reeves analysed the latest rental figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), tracking average rent changes across every local authority in Britain from September 2024 to April 2025 -the latest available.
The research shows that over this time, the average rent across Britain has risen by 3.9%, with multiple areas experiencing far steeper climbs.
Newport in Wales has seen the sharpest increase, with the average monthly rent rising from £782 to £918 — a jump of 17.4% in just seven months.
Camden in London saw rents increase by 12.7% (£2,516 to £2,836), followed closely by Broxbourne in the East of England at 12.2%, Slough in the South East at 11.4%, and Gloucester in the South West at 9.0%.
Further notable increases include:
• Rhondda Cynon Taf (Wales): 8.8%
• Dumfries and Galloway (Scotland): 8.7%
• Rutland (East Midlands): 8.5%
• Stoke-on-Trent (West Midlands): 8.1%
• Barking and Dagenham (London): 7.9%
• West Lindsey (East Midlands): 7.8%
• Derby (East Midlands): 7.6%
• Newcastle upon Tyne (North East): 7.6%
• Bath and North East Somerset (South West): 7.4%
The latest data highlights how the ongoing imbalance between supply and demand continues to drive up rental values — a trend now being compounded by growing numbers of landlords choosing to exit the market in response to yet another wave of legislative reform.
As the private rental sector continues to contract, Benham and Reeves warns that the path to greater affordability will require not just regulation, but long-term strategies that incentivise landlord retention and boost housing stock across the board.
Director of Benham and Reeves, Marc von Grundherr, comments: “Landlords have faced a relentless wave of legislation in recent years, and for many, the Renters’ Rights Bill is seen as a step too far. While tenant protections are important, the Bill has introduced more uncertainty into an already pressured market — and that’s prompted some landlords to sell up entirely.”
“Although the Bill includes provisions to keep rent increases in line with market values, those same market values are now rising sharply due to restricted supply and surging demand. So, while rent hikes may be capped procedurally, the real-world outcome is that tenants are still facing considerable increases — with fewer rental properties available and more people competing for them.”
