Spareroom said the rental market shows fresh signs of tightening following the introduction of the first phase of the Renters’ Rights Act.

Data for the second quarter of 2026 reveals that average room rents have reached record levels in six of the UK’s nine regions, while the supply of rooms available to rent has fallen for the first time in three years.

Room rental supply declined by 3.2% compared with the same period last year, reversing a prolonged period of growth. Supply had previously increased by 8.7% in Q2 2025, 24.2% in Q2 2024 and 15% in Q2 2023.

The average cost of renting a room in the UK now stands at £761 per month, up 0.5% year on year and almost 7% higher than three years ago.

The South West recorded the largest annual regional rent increase, with average room rents rising 1.6%, while East Anglia experienced the strongest growth over the past three years, with rents climbing 9.9%.

Greater London was the only region to record an annual decline, with average room rents edging down by 0.2% to £915 per month.

Across the UK nations, Northern Ireland saw the strongest annual increase in room rents, up 3.8% to an average of £580 per month. Over the past three years, rents in Northern Ireland have risen by 12%, the largest increase of any UK nation.

Scotland recorded a 1.1% annual increase to £698 per month, while rents in Wales rose 1% to £594. In England, average room rents increased by 0.5% to £767.

At city level, Norwich recorded the steepest annual increase in room rents, with prices rising 5.1% to £619 per month. Exeter followed with a 4.9% increase, while Liverpool saw rents climb 4.4% to a record £556 per month.

Coventry also experienced strong growth, with rents rising 4.1%, while Milton Keynes saw a 1.7% increase to £686 per month.

London remained the UK’s most expensive city for flatshares, with average room rents reaching £979 per month. Edinburgh (£834) and Oxford (£814) were the next most expensive markets.

At the other end of the scale, Lincoln was the cheapest city for renters, with average room rents of £510 per month, despite recording the largest annual fall of any city at 4%. Swansea (£532) and Sheffield (£533) were also among the most affordable locations.

Although Sheffield remained one of the least expensive cities, rents matched the record high first reached in the third quarter of 2025 and were 1.4% higher than a year earlier.

Matt Hutchinson, director at SpareRoom, said rising rents remain a significant concern despite reforms aimed at improving conditions for tenants.

He said: “The Renters’ Rights Act will improve standards, but it’s only half the job. The next, crucial, step is to tackle affordability. You can’t solve the housing crisis through regulation alone.

“Unless real action is taken to protect and expand rental supply, tenants will continue to face higher rents, shrinking choice, and even greater pressure in what is an already-stretched market. Flatsharing is the cheapest way to rent but the data shows it’s far from immune to market pressures.”