Bath records biggest rent-house price gap in 2026, study finds
Bath and North East Somerset recorded a 7.84% gap between the two measures.
Bath and North East Somerset recorded the largest gap between rising rents and house price growth in 2026, according to research from Trade Door Handles.
The research analysed more than 300 UK local authorities using Office for National Statistics (ONS) and HM Land Registry data from mid-2026, comparing annual changes in rents and house prices.
Bath and North East Somerset recorded a 7.84% gap between the two measures.
Average monthly rent stood at £1,882, while the average house price was £404,480.
Annual rent was equivalent to 69.5% of typical local earnings, while the house price-to-earnings ratio stood at 12.5x.
Tunbridge Wells recorded the second-largest gap at 7.51%, with average rents of £1,521 a month and house prices of £445,130.
Oxford followed at 6.77%. Average monthly rent stood at £1,961, equivalent to 64% of typical local earnings, while the average house price was £466,820.
Lincoln recorded a 6.64% gap and had the lowest average house price among the highest-ranked areas at £183,300.
Average rents in the city stood at £948 a month.
Salford completed the top five, recording a 6.29% difference between rent and house price changes.
Average monthly rents stood at £1,164, while the average property price was £231,890.
Chelmsford, Chichester, Milton Keynes, Colchester and Exeter also featured among the areas with the largest gaps between rental and house price growth.
A spokesperson for Trade Door Handles said: “Rents are not going to stop climbing any time soon.
“There are already 3% fewer rental homes available than there were a year ago, and each listing is getting more than five enquiries on average. That kind of competition keeps pushing prices up.
“The Renters’ Rights Act has also made some landlords think twice about staying in the market, which tightens supply even further.
“By the end of the year, rent rises could hit 4% to 5%, and in cities where rents are already stretching what people can afford, that extra pressure is going to push more renters toward buying whether they feel ready or not.”
Related
House prices remain flat in September amid higher mortgage rates – Lloyds HPI
Sellers accepting first offer could miss out on £6,000, Alto finds
Birkenhead records lowest average house price among commuter towns, analysis finds
Lake District records strong house price growth, analysis finds
Rent growth rises to 3.7% in July – ONS
Repossessed properties listed 30% below average house price, research finds
Fowey tops house price growth for picturesque UK towns – Alto
Manchester and Glasgow lead commuter house price growth, Rightmove finds
House price to income gap falls to 11-year low – Lloyds
Four in 10 London flats resold at a loss, analysis finds
Preston is UK’s best place to sell a home, research finds
