Average private rents in Bath and North East Somerset surged by £152 a month, reaching £1,755 in the year leading up to August, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This marks a steep 9.5% increase, significantly outstripping wage growth and raising alarm among housing charities about potential rises in homelessness.
Across the UK, average employee earnings rose by only 4.8% in July, highlighting a widening gap between income and housing costs. In other parts of Somerset, rent rises were also notable: North Somerset saw a £75 monthly increase (6.9%) to £1,171, while the Somerset council area experienced a £32 increase (3.5%) to £957.
Both Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset councils have witnessed rent increases that exceed the UK average rise of 5.7%, where the typical monthly rent reached £1,348.
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Rent inflation varies across the country, with 21 local authority areas experiencing double-digit percentage increases. In fact, tenants in 51 areas now pay at least £100 more per month compared to last year.
The highest rent inflation was recorded in Newport, where the average monthly rent climbed by 20.6% to £934, adding an extra £159 per month. Significant increases were also seen in Nuneaton and Bedworth (15.3% / £118), Broxbourne (13.7% / £198), Barking and Dagenham (13.3% / £195), and Merthyr Tydfil (13.2% / £89).
London boroughs remain among the most expensive, with Camden leading at an average monthly rent of £2,793—up £292 (11.6%). Other London areas such as Richmond upon Thames (£216 increase, 10.7%), Lambeth (£216, 9.7%), Oxford (£199, 11.7%), Broxbourne (£198, 13.7%), and Hackney (£198, 8.4%) have also seen sharp rises.
Ben Twomey, Chief Executive of Generation Rent, emphasized the gravity of the issue: “Rents continue to rise faster than wages, consuming more of people’s income. This forces many into homelessness, traps others in temporary accommodation, fuels child poverty, and prevents families from saving. While there are caps on energy and water bills, similar protections for rent are lacking. The government must empower local Mayors to implement rent controls to protect tenants from being priced out.”