The latest rental figures from Rightmove reveal rents are at a record high, despite an increase in supply triggered by a rise in buy-to-let borrowers and first time buyers.
The number of buy-to-let loans is up 32% compared to the start of last year, as reported in Rightmove’s Rental Trends Tracker for the first quarter of 2025. The average potential revenue from a buy-to-let property outside London is now a new record of £1,349 per month, up by 0.6% since the last quarter. In London, that rises to £2,698.
Rightmove’s figures also identified an increase in renters leaving the market to buy for the first time: first time buyer sales were up 7% on last year, with a 5% increase in new enquiries from those who want to make the switch from tenant to owner.
‘A rush to move before stamp duty tax rose in England from 1st April, and slightly improved mortgage rates compared with last year, encouraged activity’, Rightmove explained.
Commenting on the figures, Benham & Reeves director Marc von Grundherr said:
“The latest figures show that the number of new buy-to-let mortgages has increased considerably, as has the value of these loans. This activity is being driven by remortgages, which demonstrates the confidence that many buy-to-let investors still have within the sector, although there has also been an increase in new investment as well.”
