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Hull has been named the most affordable city in Britain to rent, with tenants paying on average £799, according to data from Rightmove (RMV.L).
This figure is 48% lower than the national average rent of £1,526 per month, making Hull a standout choice for renters seeking value for money.
In Hull, the typical rent consumes just 26% of the average single monthly income across Britain. By contrast, the national figure stands at 50%, suggesting that renters in Hull are benefiting from a more balanced relationship between earnings and housing costs. For couples splitting rent equally, this burden is halved, making Hull even more financially accessible.
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Carlisle follows closely behind, with an average rent of £816 per month, while Wrexham rounds out the top three at £817.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, London remains the priciest city to rent, with an eye-watering average rent of £2,695 per month, a new record for the capital.
St Albans comes in second, with rents averaging £2,330, and Oxford takes third place at £2,041 per month.
Steve Pimblett, chief data officer at Rightmove, said: “With average rents continuing to rise in most cities, many are having to consider their affordability when choosing a city to live in, including students heading off for their university adventure later this year.”
“We are seeing rental price growth slowing overall and a better balance between supply and demand.
“However, as seen by this data, the picture can look quite different depending on where you’re looking to live, and agents tell us the market is still very busy compared with pre-pandemic norms.”
The findings come as many students have sent off their university applications this week, with affordable rents being one factor that many will be considering.
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Angharad Trueman, ARLA Propertymark president, said: “There has been a real shift in the last few years in terms of rental prices across certain regions and this has proven an underlying force in how people are looking at the market. Proximity to a workplace, for example, has become less of a key factor, as more people are able to remote work and choose where they live.
“It remains imperative that governments across all UK nations focus on boosting the supply of rental homes to help even out prices across the country and make renting a secure aspiration for many people who choose it. This can only be realistically achieved by supporting landlords and encouraging long-term investment within the rental sector.”