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Quoted in Birmingham Live on 20 September 2026.
Average UK private rents rose 3.8% in the year to August 2026, to £1,400 a month, while average house prices rose 1.4% in the year to July, to £273,000, according to the Office for National Statistics. If you’re renting while you wait for prices to drop, you’re paying more each month while prices are barely moving.
UK private rents rose 3.8% in the year to August 2026 (ONS).
Average house prices rose 1.4% in the year to July 2026 (ONS).
Your deposit, borrowing and plans decide whether buying now makes sense.
Why are rents rising faster than house prices?
In my view it comes down to supply. Successive governments have added tax and regulation for landlords, some have sold up, and the tenants left behind are competing for fewer homes.
What I told Birmingham Live
“Renting has become the expensive way to wait for house prices to fall. Rents up 3.8% while house prices slow at 1.4% means anyone holding off on buying is paying more every month for a market that isn’t getting further away from them. There’s one reason rents keep climbing, and it’s supply. Landlords have been taxed and regulated by successive governments, so the tenants they leave behind are fighting over fewer homes.”
Read the full article in Birmingham Live.
Does that mean you should buy now?
Not necessarily. It depends on your deposit, what you can borrow, the costs of buying and how long you plan to stay. The rent figures tell you what waiting costs; your own numbers decide the rest.
You can check how much you could borrow, how much deposit you need and the hidden costs of buying a home, or start with the first-time buyer hub.
Need Personal Mortgage Advice?
Every buyer’s situation is different. While this guide explains the general rules, the right mortgage for you depends on your income, deposit, credit history and future plans. If you’d like tailored advice, I can help, with 120+ lenders to choose from.
