Rising Rents

Rising rents continue to dominate the concerns of a lot of UK renters in 2026, even as the pace of increases has slowed in parts of the country, and even reversed in others. For many households, the issue is not how fast rents are rising, but how high they already are. After several years of sharp increases, rent levels remain historically high, and as a result, renters are spending a larger share of their income on housing than they were a decade ago. That leaves less money for essentials such as food, energy, transport and childcare, and reduces households’ ability to cope with unexpected costs. This pressure is being felt across a wide range of renters, from young professionals and families to older tenants on fixed incomes. In many areas, particularly cities, limited supply means renters feel they have little choice but to accept higher prices, even when budgets are already stretched. When most of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 comes into effect on 1 May 2026, there will be more protections for tenants, including limits on how often rents can be increased and new rights to challenge rises. Such changes are widely seen as positive, but they will not have removed the underlying affordability problem. For households already close to the edge, even modest increases can cause real financial strain. High rents are also influencing longer-term decisions. Many renters report delaying milestones such as starting a family, changing jobs, or saving for the future. Others are being pushed to move further away from work or support networks in search of lower costs. Against this backdrop, some renters are increasingly considering home ownership, although for some, not as a lifestyle upgrade, but as a way to secure stability. Fixed mortgage payments, where available, can offer predictability that renting often does not. In some areas, monthly mortgage costs are now comparable to rent, prompting renters to question the value of remaining in the private rented sector. Notwithstanding this, buying is not an option for everyone. High house prices, the cost of completing a purchase - even with 0% deposit mortgages for tenants, and some lending criteria, continue to exclude many renters, particularly those on lower or less secure incomes. For these households, rising rents remain an unavoidable pressure. While legal protections will improve come 1 May, the fundamental challenge remains: rent pressure is likely to remain a central issue for many UK renters, and some now see their choices as being limited to two: continue paying high rents, or buy. Tenant2owner offers free unbiased guidance and support for any tenant who wants to explore the choice of buying.