Rightmove’s first-quarter rental report needs a more precise reading than a headline saying that rents across Britain stopped rising. The figures concern advertised properties and a defined period. This archive account was reviewed on 15 October 2026.
What the tracker measured
Outside London, average advertised monthly rent was £1,370 in January to March 2026, unchanged from the preceding quarter. Rightmove described this as the first Q4-to-Q1 period without an increase since 2017. The figure was nevertheless 1.6% above the equivalent quarter a year earlier.
London followed a different pattern: advertised rent increased by 0.7% over the quarter to £2,736 a month. The dataset measured asking rents on properties coming to market, rather than every payment made by existing tenants.
Why the distinction matters
A quarterly pause and an annual increase can both be true. Likewise, a regional average can conceal large differences between individual streets, property types and conditions. A national headline therefore cannot establish the appropriate rent for a particular home.
Our suggested approach is to keep a small, dated comparison file for genuinely similar properties. Record what is included, the condition shown and whether the listing remains available. Avoid treating a different-sized home or a materially different location as a direct comparison simply because its rent looks convenient.
Use historical data carefully
These figures describe the opening quarter of 2026. They should not be presented as current advertised rents in October, or as proof that a particular landlord’s costs or tenant’s income have changed.
For decisions today, update the local evidence and distinguish a market assessment from the legal procedure required to change an existing tenant’s rent.
Source: Rightmove Rental Trends Tracker, Q1 2026. Original commentary accompanies a limited factual summary.