The cost of renting has risen by 6.1% year-on-year in the South East, making it the fastest growing region of England, the Goodlord Rental Index has revealed.
It now costs £1,365 to rent in the South East, which is the second costliest region outside of Greater London.
Other big movers were the West Midlands (5%) and the North of West (4.9%), both of which saw rents increase above the England-average of 4.6%.
The cost of renting is based on actual tenancies, rather than the asking price.
William Reeve, chief executive of Goodlord, said: “We’ve long believed that rental prices didn’t reach their ceiling last summer and that this year will bring new rental cost highs.
“The steady creep of price rises we’ve tracked in 2025 so far appears to bear this out.
“And whilst the data shows that the pace of these rent rises and the pressures of market demand can take on a strong regional flavour – meaning not all renters will be at the sharp end of these shifts – the overall picture is currently pointing to another year of record breaking rents.”
In March month-on-month prices only rise by 0.33%, though this was the third month in a row in which rents have risen.
All regions monitored recorded a month-on-month rental increase, with the exception of the East Midlands, which saw a 3% decrease during March (£1,018 to £987).
The largest rise in rents was recorded in Greater London, where they jumped up by over 1% – from £2,021 to £2,045.
