Go.Compare: Wales among Britain’s cheapest places to rent

• Dumfries and Galloway is the cheapest area to rent a property in Britain

• Renters in Hartlepool in the North East and Burnley, Lancashire, also enjoy some of the lowest prices

• Only 35% of Britain has affordable rental housing, with the North East boasting the cheapest prices

New research names the cheapest areas to rent a property in Britain, with Dumfries and Galloway coming out on top. The Scottish council area offers the lowest rental prices at just £483 per month on average.[1] Hartlepool and Burnley follow closely behind in second and third place, with average monthly rental prices of £534 and £573, respectively.

The study from Go.Compare Home Insurance also reveals that only 35% of typical rental costs across Britain are considered affordable for those living in the areas.[2] The insurance comparison site analysed average rental costs and salaries across Britain to determine where tenants can comfortably afford their rent.

The top 10 cheapest areas to rent in Britain:

The majority of affordable areas reside in Northern England, Scotland, and Wales. The top 10 cheapest areas all boast average rent prices of £600 per month or less and include Redcar and Cleveland, Hyndburn, and Neath Port Talbot. Beyond individual areas, the research also highlighted the most affordable British regions, with the North East emerging as the most affordable.

The top five most affordable British regions:

Renters in Wales have the second cheapest fees, where a single annual salary of £30,080 is enough to cover the average rental costs. Next on the list is Yorkshire and the Humber, followed by the East Midlands and the North West. These regions offer more accessible living costs compared to pricier southern regions in England.

Nathan Blackler, home insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: “Our research shows that cheaper rental opportunities are still available in areas across Britain. However, it’s still shocking to see that close to two-thirds of Britain has unaffordable rental costs, meaning renters can’t live comfortably in these areas.

“When penny-pinching starts, renters might look to cut costs in other important areas like contents insurance, thinking they can’t afford it. But, this could sadly leave them vulnerable to unexpected expenses should the worst happen.

“With the increase of remote and hybrid working, more renters are taking the opportunity to move to areas with more affordable housing, which are often further away from their places of work. However, a wave of workers moving out of the cities can cause a ripple effect of rising rents in towns and rural areas, often pricing out local residents.”

More information about the UK’s rent affordability can be found on Go.Compare’s website.