Rising Demand for Rent Caps in England Amid Cost-of-Living Crisis: Search Trends Analysis
Getty Images
England has seen a surge in searches for rent caps in the cost-of-living crisis.
Search engine analysis by Capital Letters highlights the growing demand for strict rental controls amongst the cost-of-living crisis.
England had 1900 average searches per month for rent caps in November 2022-23, and that has jumped 86.3%, reaching 2,900 searches.
| Location | Rent Caps Nov-22- October 23 | Rent Caps Nov 23-October 24 | % Increase/Decrease |
| Wales | 30 | 390 | 1200% |
| Scotland | 50 | 110 | 100% |
| England | 1,900 | 2,900 | 86.30% |
| Northern Ireland | 320 | 260 | -18.75% |
Staffordshire ranked first in England with a pronounced 400% rise in searches suggesting interest in rental caps.
Somerset, Surrey and the West Midlands all came in next with a 300% rise in searches.
Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire and West Yorkshire also experienced a 200% rise.
| Location | Increase and Decrease (%) |
| Staffordshire | 400% |
| Somerset | 300% |
| Surrey | 300% |
| West Midlands | 300% |
| Derbyshire | 200% |
| Norfolk | 200% |
| Northamptonshire | 200% |
| Oxfordshire | 200% |
| West Yorkshire | 200% |
| Berkshire | 100% |
| Cambridgeshire | 100% |
| Cornwall | 100% |
| Dorset | 100% |
| East Riding of Yorkshire | 100% |
| Gloucestershire | 100% |
| Shropshire | 100% |
| Suffolk | 100% |
| Warwickshire | 100% |
| West Sussex | 100% |
| Essex | 80% |
| Hampshire | 80% |
| Herefordshire | 80% |
| Bristol | 66.70% |
| Buckinghamshire | 66.70% |
| Greater London | 66.70% |
| Greater Manchester | 21.43% |
| Bedfordshire | 0.00% |
| Cumbria | 0.00% |
| Devon | 0.00% |
| Durham | 0.00% |
| Hertfordshire | 0.00% |
| Isle of Wight | 0.00% |
| Kent | 0.00% |
| Lancashire | 0.00% |
| Leicestershire | 0.00% |
| Lincolnshire | 0.00% |
| North Yorkshire | 0.00% |
| South Yorkshire | 0.00% |
| Tyne and Wear | 0.00% |
| Worcestershire | 0% |
| Cheshire | −25% |
| Merseyside | −28.57% |
| Wiltshire | −50% |
At the bottom of the table, we can see the areas that appear to be the least concerned about rent caps.
The biggest declines in searches for rent caps were Cheshire with a -25% decrease and Merseyside, with a -28.57%.
Wiltshire rounded off the bottom of the table with a significant – 50% decrease.
Steven Strachan from Capital Letters commented, “The Housing (Scotland) Bill, currently progressing through the Scottish Parliament, is set to bring significant changes to the rental market.”
“While the bill specifically applies to Scotland, its provisions, such as enhanced tenant rights, rent controls, and homelessness prevention, could influence discussions around housing reforms across the United Kingdom. People from across the country will be watching closely to see how these changes unfold.”
“Key provisions include enhanced tenant protections, the introduction of rent controls, and measures to prevent homelessness. These reforms aim to provide greater security and affordability for tenants while ensuring a balanced approach to maintaining investment in the housing sector. As the bill advances, its potential to reshape rental practices across Scotland is closely watched by both tenants and landlords across the United Kingdom and beyond.”
