Tenants in Broxbourne and Camden have faced the steepest proportional rent increases in England since the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Bill to Parliament in September 2024, according to analysis.
Research from Go.Compare Home Insurance showed that average rents in both areas have jumped by 12.2% over the past year.
In real terms, this means tenants in Broxbourne paid £178 more per month, while Camden renters paid £306 more.
The Renters’ Rights Bill, expected to come into force in late 2025 or early 2026, is set to abolish no-fault evictions and give tenants the right to challenge above-market rent rises.
However, the data suggested that some landlords may have raised rents ahead of the legislation taking effect.
Other areas recording sharp rises included Slough (11.9%), Gloucester (9.8%) and Newcastle upon Tyne (9.5%).
Barking and Dagenham also saw a 9.4% increase, placing it just outside the top five.
By contrast, Brent in London saw the largest fall in rents over the same period, down 3.7%, equal to a monthly saving of £79 for tenants.
It was one of only five areas to see decreases, alongside the Derbyshire Dales, Melton, Kirklees and Bristol.
Across England as a whole, rents were up by 4.3% since September 2024, equivalent to an additional £58 per month for the average tenant.
The North-East has seen the highest overall growth at 6.7%, while Yorkshire and the Humber recorded the lowest regional increase of 2.6%.
Nathan Blackler, home insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: “These latest figures indicate that the Renters’ Rights Bill could have had an unwanted side effect for tenants, more of whom seem to be dealing with rent rises since the announcement.
“Renters should be wary that costs could increase ahead of the bill taking effect. If you do experience a rent rise, remember that your landlord must follow certain rules before doing so, like those outlined in your contract, and you can challenge the rise if these haven’t been adhered to.
“A rent rise won’t impact your contents insurance. But, if you’re worried about extra costs, it can be worth comparing policies to see if it can help alleviate the extra expenses from the rise, as you might find the same level of protection for a lower price.”
