The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data showed that in England, average private rents came to £1,376 per month – 7.8% higher than the year before.
In Wales, an 8.9% rise was recorded, putting the average monthly rent at £792, while in Scotland, there was a 5.7% growth in the year to March, averaging £1,001.
The ONS data showed that in Northern Ireland, average rents rose 8.2% to £838 per month in the 12 months to January, its most recent data.
In England, private rental growth was the highest in the North East, where there was a 9.4% rise, which was a record for the region. It was also the first time since April 2023 that London did not have the highest rental inflation among the English regions.
Within the North East, private rents were higher year-on-year in five of its 12 local authorities.
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Despite this, the region had the cheapest average rent at £725 per month.
Yorkshire and the Humber recorded the lowest annual rental inflation, at 4.6%. This was a slowdown from the 4.8% rise seen in the year to February and marked the ninth month in a row that rental inflation had eased.
London, which had the highest monthly rent at £2,243, recorded a 9.1% annual increase. This was down from a rise of 9.9% in February.
Detached properties attracted the highest monthly rent at £1,522, while this was lowest for flats and maisonettes at £1,306.
Properties with four or more bedrooms had the highest rent, at an average of £1,996, while one-bedroom properties had the lowest at £1,079 per month.
