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2w ago

England Rent Affordability Worsens as ONS Says Tenants Spend 36.3% of Income

Supply shortages, higher costs, regulatory delays are tightening rental markets, prompting calls for rent controls or a national affordability commission.

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Clifton, one of Bristol’s most affluent neighbourhoods. Tenants in the city spent an average 44.6 per cent of their income on rent last year
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Overview

  • Official 2024 figures show median private renters in England spent 36.3% of household income on rent, up from 34.2% in 2023 and above the ONS 30% affordability benchmark.
  • London remains the least affordable region at 41.6%, with all 10 worst local authorities in the capital and Kensington and Chelsea topping the list at 74.3% of income.
  • Outside the capital, pressure is acute in Bristol (44.6%), Bath and North East Somerset (42.7%), Brighton and Hove (42.7%), Sevenoaks (42.0%) and Trafford (41.3%).
  • Analysts attribute the squeeze to rents rising faster than wages alongside landlord exits, higher financing costs, and London-specific hurdles such as slower planning approvals and Building Safety Regulator sign-offs.
  • Advocacy and industry groups urge action, including rent regulation options and a national rental affordability commission, as some places show mixed trends such as Cambridge at 35.5% and Epsom and Ewell at 40.8%.