Mass migration drives rent prices up by 10 percent in England
- A think tank report revealed that rent prices in England have risen significantly due to high net migration since 2001.
- The analysis attributes a ten percent increase in average rents, especially noting that London faced even sharper increases.
- Without addressing both housing supply issues and migration levels, many renters will continue to face financial insecurity.
In England, high net migration has been closely linked to rising rent prices, with a report from the think tank Onward revealing significant increases in costs since the early 2000s. The report highlights that rent prices have escalated by an average of £132 per month across the country as a direct consequence of immigration policies initiated by the Labour government in 2001. The rise is even more stark in London, where rents increased by £216 monthly, leading to an estimated total financial burden of £20,975 per average renter since that time. Onward’s analysis attributes the rent increases largely to the arrival of approximately 5.8 million migrants over the past two decades, claiming that high net migration alongside a failure to meet housing supply demands worsens the ongoing housing crisis. Their reports suggest that the present rental market is under significant pressure, with rents rising in response to the growing demand fueled by the influx of migrants. Despite political promises to alleviate housing pressures, critics argue that the government has been historically unable to meet housing construction targets, contributing to the crisis. The increasing average rent, which stood at £1,339 in May 2025, reflects a 30 percent hike from previous years, intensifying financial challenges for renters who must navigate a market pounding them with annual rent increases near 7.5 percent. Nearly two-thirds of renters face the possibility of eviction due to rent hikes, making affordable housing an urgent social issue. As Labour prepares to pass its new Renters’ Rights Bill designed to protect tenants against unfair rent increases and no-fault evictions, concerns emerge regarding its efficacy in addressing the underlying issues. Skeptics suggest that even with protections in place, soaring rents may continue unimpeded, allowing landlords to exploit loopholes to enact steep increases that push many renters beyond their financial limits. This ongoing struggle highlights the clash between immigration trends and housing availability, raising questions about the future of rental housing in England and the wellbeing of renters.