Rents in England rose by 18.3% compared to June, with the average monthly rent reaching £1,496, Goodlord’s July 2025 Rental Index found.
This was up 1.8% from July 2024, an increase of £26 per month for tenants.
The West Midlands saw the biggest annual rent rise at 6.6%, while rents dropped in the South West by 1.7%.
Average salaries for new tenants also grew, up 2.9% from June to £39,073, and 2.59% higher year-on-year.
The North West recorded the highest jump, with rents up 42.3%.
The South West followed, with a 34.2% rise.
The average rent for a new tenancy is now at its highest point since the index started in January 2019.
Additionally, data showed that the average time a property was empty dropped from 20 days in June to 12 days in July, down 40%.
In the North West, voids fell from 22 days to five, a drop of 77%.
The North East saw voids go from 20 days to seven, down 65%.
Greater London had the smallest change, with voids down from 16 to 14 days.
William Reeve, CEO of Goodlord, said: “Throughout the year the data has been pointing to two clear trends: firstly, that we were likely to see new rental records set over the summer and secondly; that the year-on-year pace of price increases overall is starting to slow.
“This month’s figures show both predictions coming to pass.
“Across six years of operating the Index, we’ve never recorded a higher monthly rental average.”
Reeve added: “Likewise, every month of 2025 has brought a softening of year-on-year rent inflation.
“So whilst the market continues to operate under intense pressure, the late autumn could bring something more predictable in terms of rents and voids.”
