The Office of National Statistics (ONS) have released figures mapping the prices of the private rental sector in February 2025.

The private sector has seen prices continue to climb consistently, due to a number of economic factors. The ONS have published the latest data concerning housing prices across the UK, showing that housing prices have continued to accelerate, whilst the climb of rental prices has slowed somewhat compared to the growth seen in the 12 months to January 2025. Rental prices have increased by 8.1% in the 12 months to February 2025, down from 8.7% growth in January.

House prices, however, have continued to accelerate, jumping from 4.6% growth in the year leading to December, to 4.9% in the latest statistics.

Average rent prices and growth across the UK are:

• £1,381 in England (8.3%)
• £785  in Wales (8.5%)
• £998 in Scotland (5.8%)

In Northern Ireland, average rents increased to £832 (8.1%) in the 12 months to December 2024.

Average UK house prices sit at £269,000, an increase of almost 5% in the year leading up to January, resulting in average housing prices of:

• £291,000 in England (4.8%)
• £210,000 in Wales (6.0%)
• £187,000 in Scotland (4.6%)

In England, private rents annual inflation was highest in London (9.9%) and lowest in Yorkshire and The Humber (4.8%), in the 12 months to February 2025. In terms of house prices however, the region with the largest increase was the North East, with an increase of 9.1%, whilst London was actually the lowest in this metric, with a 2.3% increase to the month of January 2025 in the past 12 months.

Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, told The independent:

“Rents are still rising faster than earnings and we expect rental inflation to slow further over 2025.

“House prices are rising on the back of increased activity over 2024 with 10% more sales and lower mortgage rates boosting demand, along with a rush to beat the stamp duty holiday.

“Our latest Zoopla data shows a significant increase in the supply of homes coming onto the market, rising at a faster pace than sales. Together with weaker first-time buyer demand and higher buying costs for most purchases, after April we will see price growth slowing over 2025.”

Although the climb of private rent slowed somewhat, private sector prices continue to rise, illustrating the importance of committing to social housing as a key component of solving our housing crisis.

The full breakdown of figures can be found at the ONS’ website here: Private rent and house prices, UK – Office for National Statistics