HTB comments on ONS Private Rent and House Price data

22 July 2026

Alex Upton, Managing Director, Specialist Mortgages & Bridging Finance, Hampshire Trust Bank, said:

“These rental figures reinforce what we've been seeing in other market data, including Rightmove. Average asking rents remain at record highs, but the pace of growth is very different to what we saw over the last couple of years. That's creating a more balanced market, which tends to suit landlords taking a longer-term view rather than relying on rapid rental inflation.

“The Renters' Rights Act is continuing to shape how landlords think about their portfolios, with smaller landlords increasingly considering their options while more professional investors continue to look for opportunities to strengthen and refine their portfolios. We're having far fewer conversations centred around expansion for the sake of growth. The focus is much more on making sure every acquisition has a clear role within a portfolio, whether that's strengthening income, improving resilience or creating longer-term value. That's reflected in the continued appetite we're seeing for specialist assets such as HMOs and semi-commercial property, where investors are looking to complement an existing portfolio rather than simply add to it.

“That makes maintaining a healthy supply of rental homes increasingly important. Analysis from TwentyEA suggests one in five rental properties have left the market over the past decade, despite continued tenant demand. Delivering a sufficient supply of rental homes needs to remain a priority if the market is to stay accessible for renters while continuing to attract long-term investment.”