The UK rental market may finally be showing signs of easing, although affordability remains a problem l.

That’s the verdict from landlord services provider Canopy.

It claims the average renter spends 41% of their take-home salary on rent – above the threshold considered financially sustainable. 

While this figure has barely shifted since earlier this year, Canopy claims the broader market context is changing. 

The Renters Rights Bill, returning to the House of Lords next week, is expected to introduce sweeping changes to tenant protections, including stronger safeguards against unfair evictions and improved rental standards. If passed, the Bill will reshape the rental landscape, offering tenants greater security and transparency in a market that has long favoured landlords. 

At the same time, regional data points to emerging opportunities for renters to save and plan for homeownership. 

The North West and Yorkshire & Humber are leading the way, with falling rents and resilient local economies. In the North West, the average monthly rental share has fallen by £20, from £727 in 2024 to £707 in Q3 2025. In Yorkshire & Humber, the figure dropped by £24, from £648 to £624.  

Cities such as Hull, Doncaster and Blackburn now offer rent-to-income ratios below 33%, making them attractive options for renters hoping to build savings and eventually buy. 

London, meanwhile, continues to dominate the least affordable rankings. Renters in the capital spend nearly half their income on rent, with seven boroughs now exceeding the 50% threshold. Enfield remains the most unaffordable, with tenants spending 56% of their income on rent. 

Canopy chief executive Gary Barker says: “With tenants staying in properties longer and the courts under pressure, the focus must be on securing reliable tenants from the outset. 

“ … Legislation like the Renters’ Rights Bill is welcome, but it won’t fix affordability or supply challenges alone. Until more homes are built, robust referencing and financial protection remain the most effective way to support both landlords and renters.”