Private rents in Birmingham rise to 1,099 pounds a month

The average private rent in Birmingham has risen to 1,099 pounds a month, up 3 per cent in a year, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The figure for August 2026 compares with 1,068 pounds a month in August 2025. Rents in Birmingham rose more slowly than in the wider region, where the average rose by 4.9 per cent to 982 pounds. The UK average was around 1,400 pounds.

Rents by size of home

• One bedroom: 830 pounds
• Two bedrooms: 1,003 pounds
• Three bedrooms: 1,134 pounds, up 3.4 per cent
• Four or more bedrooms: 1,578 pounds, up 2.6 per cent

Rents by type of home

Flats and maisonettes averaged 919 pounds a month, terraced houses 1,095 pounds, semi-detached houses 1,151 pounds and detached houses 1,434 pounds.

Slowing growth

Rent increases have slowed from the very high rates seen in 2023 and 2024, when many tenants faced rises of well over 5 per cent a year. Even so, rents have continued to rise faster than many people's wages over the longer term.

New rights for tenants

The Renters' Rights Act, which came into force on 1 May, changed the rules on rent increases. Landlords can now raise the rent only once a year, using a formal notice, and tenants can challenge an increase they think is above the market rate at a tribunal. Rent bidding wars, where landlords invite tenants to offer more than the advertised rent, have also been banned.

Getting help

Tenants struggling with rent can check whether they are entitled to Universal Credit housing costs or discretionary housing payments from the council. Free advice is available from Shelter, Citizens Advice and the council's housing options service.

About the figures

The ONS figures come from its Price Index of Private Rents, which tracks rents paid by all private tenants, not just new lets, so they tend to change more slowly than advertised rents on property websites.