A leading lettings market indices has just released its figures for UK regions showing how much rental prices rose during 2021 and where.

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The lettings online portal claims that the average UK pcm rent now stands at £1,063 -  8.3% higher than the corresponding time last year.

However when London is not included in the UK average rental figure, then the monthly rent across the rest of the UK comes out at £893 – which is still 6.6 per cent higher than last year.

At the end of last year the capital’s average rent pcm was £1,752 pcm - 12.6 per cent higher than December 2020 and boasts the largest regional increase throughout the UK.

The chief executive officer of the online portal, says: “2021 ended with an imbalance between supply and demand, and this is a trend that we are expecting to continue into 2022. This trend will almost certainly lead to a continuation of rental price growth as the year develops.

“We have again seen the government focus on the rental sector, with the Renter’s Reform Bill [expected soon] likely to abolish Section 21 - the clause which gives landlords the option to end ‘rolling’ tenancies with two months’ notice without giving a reason.

“We have repeatedly seen the government make things harder for landlords, who are already the cornerstone of the rental market upon which the UK relies so heavily. Increased legislation for landlords is putting the rental sector at risk, and the UK government must reconsider.

“As a final point, we have seen a rise in tenancy fraud in recent times. We’re seeing an increase in volume and sophistication, at a time when the risks and legislation landlords face are growing. To counter this, it is imperative that we see a higher quantity of professional letting agents.”

The rental figures from the December 2021 Homelet Rental Index:-