Rents rise in last year, says Office for National Statistics

Rents across Great Britain went up by 1% in the 12 months to September, the Office for National Statistics has reported.

There were large regional variations. In Scotland, rents rose by 1.4%, in England by 1% and in Wales by just 0.2%.

The place with the biggest annual rent rise was London, at 1.5%. Excluding London, rents across Great Britain grew by 0.8% – reflecting just how much the capital distorts the national picture.

The large weight that London has in the overall ONS index reflects its high average rental prices and its large volume of private rented property.

The lowest annual rent rises were in the north-west at 0.3%. The north-east and Yorkshire & The Humber both scored low rent rises at 0.4%.

The ONS survey, which is described as “experimental”, does not quote any actual rent prices.