Rents stand still at start of the year for the first time since 2017

Rightmove says asking rents outside London were flat between Q4 2025 and Q1 2026 — the first time that has happened since 2017. Average rent outside London sits at £1,370 a month, up 1.6% on the year, the smallest annual rise since 2018. Supply is up 3% year-on-year and there are now around eight enquiries per rental home, down from eleven a year ago. For renters, the heat is coming out of the market.