A commuter-friendly suburb has all the time appeared like a smart place to lease – however costs are rising rapidly.
Urmston is a quiet suburb in Trafford, Better Manchester. (Picture: Manchester Night Information)
A suburb outdoors a serious UK metropolis has grow to be a rental “hotspot” with costs capturing up, a report has discovered. Rightmove has launched its Q1 rental traits tracker, which supplies insights into the state of the rental market over the primary few months of 2026. Based on the report, common asking rents outdoors London remained flat over this era, marking the primary time since 2017 that they haven’t risen between the top of a earlier yr and the beginning of a brand new one.
And whereas common rents outdoors of London are “nonetheless 1.6% increased than this time final yr”, it’s the “lowest this determine has been since 2018”. The property portal stated there have been “no main indicators of adjustments to market dynamics forward of the Renters’ Rights Act coming into impact from Might 1, as tenant demand and provide stability continues to enhance”, after costs jumped within the wake of Covid-related spikes.
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GV of Church Rd , Urmston , Manchester . 23 November 2025 . (Picture: Manchester Night Information)
Specialists anticipate the laws to have a profound impression on the rental market as landlords grow to be topic to new guidelines, eradicating “no fault evictions” and strengthening tenants’ rights in varied methods, with some elevating the prospect of a landlord “exodus”.
Nonetheless, some areas did see a marked uptick yr on yr, together with Urmston, a leafy suburb in Trafford, Better Manchester, Manchester Night Information studies.
The city was named amongst 10 rental value hotspots outdoors of London, and noticed common asking lease per 30 days rise from £1,361 in March 2025, to £1,600 in March this yr, a 17.6% improve over the 12-month interval.
Urmston, which had a inhabitants of 41,731 on the time of the 2021 Census, is simply 5 miles southwest of Manchester metropolis centre.
With a fast and direct line into Manchester Oxford Street, it is a standard possibility for renters working within the metropolis, which can be contributing to the elevated value level. Commenting on the report, property funding agency Purchase Affiliation stated among the highest rental development seen over the interval is concentrated within the extra well-connected commuter areas.
Based on Avocado Property, the faculties within the space are a serious draw. Urmston Grammar Academy and Flixton Women College had been each graded Good following their newest Ofsted inspections in Might 2022 and November 2023, respectively.
Urmston Main College additionally received a Good grade, in Might 2023, and Davyhulme Main College achieved an Excellent grade, following its 2024 inspection.
The very best improve rental over 12 months was seen in Iver, Buckinghamshire with rents leaping by 21.8% from £2,375 to £2,893.
You’ll find the total listing of the hotspots outdoors of London, adopted by the common asking lease in March and the annual improve within the common asking lease beneath:
- Iver, Buckinghamshire, South East, £2,893, 21.8%
- Godalming, Surrey, South East, £2,341, 19.8%
- Truro, Cornwall, South West, £1,494, 19.4%
- Harrogate, North Yorkshire, Yorkshire and the Humber, £1,621, 18.9%
- Urmston, Better Manchester, North West, £1,600, 17.6%
- Runcorn, Cheshire, North West, £1,087, 15.1%
- Ascot, Berkshire, South East, £4,014, 14.9%
- Warrington, Cheshire, North West, £1,321, 14.9%
- Batley, West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and the Humber, £972, 14.6%
- Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, £931, 14.5%
The suburb has direct hyperlinks to Manchester metropolis centre. (Picture: Getty Pictures)
Rightmove’s property knowledgeable Colleen Babcock stated: “Rents holding regular this quarter displays how affordability stays stretched, but in addition how provide and demand is extra balanced. With extra houses out there to lease and fewer competitors between tenants, landlords are needing to place rents appropriately for the present market to safe a tenant.
“As market circumstances rebalance, houses are taking longer to let. The market is extra value delicate, with landlords needing to be lifelike from the outset to safe a tenant and scale back the danger of void intervals. Round 26% of rental listings are actually decreased in value whereas marketed, the best proportion recorded since Rightmove started monitoring this metric in 2012.
“Forward of the Renters’ Rights Act coming into power, the information doesn’t recommend a single or fast response from landlords. As an alternative, behaviour seems extra cautious and regarded, with many specializing in longer-term tenancies, pricing and avoiding void intervals in a extra balanced market.
“It’s nonetheless early days, however probably the most fast shift as a result of battle in Iran has been some important will increase to borrowing prices for landlords, which can filter by way of to the market at a later stage.”
Adam Jennings, head of residential at Chestertons, says: “Throughout Q1, we’ve seen a transparent pick-up in lettings exercise, notably in the direction of the top of March, with a noticeable improve in viewings and agreed lets in comparison with earlier within the quarter. Properly-presented, appropriately priced properties are persevering with to let rapidly, particularly in areas the place provide stays constrained.
“With the Renters’ Rights Act coming into power from Might 1, there has understandably been some uncertainty amongst landlords. Nonetheless, the energy of demand we noticed in late March has offered reassurance, with many landlords persevering with to see aggressive ranges of curiosity and robust rental values.
“In elements of the prime market, we’re additionally seeing demand supported by worldwide relocations, together with some motion from the Center East, which is including to total exercise. General, whereas the legislative backdrop is evolving, the lettings market has remained energetic, with momentum constructing into the top of the quarter.”
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