Renting in England
Renting in England, city by city
What private tenants pay in each of England’s major cities, and a guide to renting in each one: the areas people rent in, what you need to earn and have saved, and the local licensing rules.
Average rent by city
Average monthly rent for private rented homes, from the Office for National Statistics for August 2026. The England average is £1,459.
| City | Average rent | 1 bedroom | In a year | Of 294 councils |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renting in London | £2,332 | £1,760 | +3.5% | 1st dearest region |
| Renting in Bristol | £1,883 | £1,225 | +5.9% | 24th dearest |
| Renting in Manchester | £1,373 | £1,003 | +4.2% | 86th dearest |
| Renting in Newcastle | £1,215 | £814 | +9.3% | 120th dearest |
| Renting in Salford | £1,170 | £888 | +3.3% | 130th dearest |
| Renting in Leeds | £1,145 | £782 | +4.2% | 136th dearest |
| Renting in Birmingham | £1,099 | £830 | +3.0% | 144th dearest |
| Renting in Leicester | £1,023 | £716 | +1.6% | 157th dearest |
| Renting in Nottingham | £1,014 | £735 | +1.8% | 161st dearest |
| Renting in Sheffield | £931 | £690 | +4.3% | 200th dearest |
| Renting in Liverpool | £913 | £686 | +5.6% | 207th dearest |
These averages include tenants who moved in years ago, so a home advertised today usually asks more. For anywhere else in England, look up the average rent by postcode, or see every council ranked in the monthly rent tracker.
What each city guide covers
- Average rents by number of bedrooms and type of home, against England and the councils around it.
- The areas people rent in, who each suits, and how far it is from the centre.
- The income letting agents look for, and the most you can legally be asked for before moving in.
- The council’s selective and additional licensing schemes, and the landlord database dates.
- When to start looking, whether you’re a student or working.
Found a place?
Check it before you pay a deposit. The free check covers the energy rating, flood risk, crime nearby and past sales, in about a minute, anywhere in England.
Check a property freeSource: ONS Price Index of Private Rents, August 2026, published 16 September 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.