Private rental prices paid by UK tenants have risen five per cent in the year to May, the largest annual percentage change since records began in 2016.
According to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics, excluding London, rental prices increased by 4.9 per cent annually in the UK, compared to 4.8 per cent to April.
In England, the West Midlands reported the highest annual rental price percentage increase at 5.2 per cent.
This was followed by London, which went up by around 5.1 per cent in the 12 months to May, which is an increase on five per cent in the prior month. The report noted that this was the highest annual change in London since 2012.
Yorkshire and the Humber took third position with an annual percentage increase of 5.1 per cent.
The North East had the lowest annual percentage change at 4.3 per cent, followed by the South East at 4.4 per cent and the South West at 4.6 per cent.
Private rental prices in Wales also increased by five per cent annually, which is the largest annual change since 2010.
In Scotland, the rise was pegged at 5.4 per cent over the same period, up from 5.2 per cent annual growth in April.
Scotland brought in a rental cap of zero per cent until 31 March, and from April this rental price rise cap was upped to three per cent or up to six per cent in certain circumstances.
In Northern Ireland, private rental prices jumped by 10 per cent in the 12 months to March.
Anna is currently the deputy editor for Mortgage Solutions and editor for Specialist Lending Solutions. She has worked as a journalist since 2019, having secured her Gold Standard NCTJ diploma from News Associates in a fast-track six-month course.
She started her career as a report at specialist publication The Insurance Insider covering a wide range of areas before joining Mortgage Solutions and Specialist Lending Solutions in 2021.
In her role, she helps put together and structure the news agenda for the day and writes up press releases, reports, interviews, analyses and exclusives across both titles. She also commissions blogs for Specialist Lending Solutions and hosts online masterclasses and in-person events across the business.
She has been shortlisted for three journalism awards, which include BIBA Journalist and Media Awards Scoop of Year Award in 2020, Headline Money Mortgage Journalist of the Year Award (B2B) in 2022 and 2023.
Prior to being a journalist, Anna worked in ecommerce across Snow + Rock, Cycle Surgery and Runners Need websites, and before that worked at specialist financial PR firm Rostrum.
In her spare time, Anna enjoys reading, seeing live music, and cooking for friends and family. When she gets a chance, she also enjoys hiking, skiing and indoor rock climbing.
