Renting costs in most UK cities are rising as office workers, students, and international residents return to the office. According to real estate company Zoopla, renters should expect to pay £62 more a month than they did pre-pandemic. Demand for central city properties dipped drastically, particularly in London, during the pandemic lockdowns. Zoopla pointed to the gradual return to the office and the easing of COVID-19 restrictions as the primary reasons that boosted the rental market. Another survey found that interest in new office space has skyrocketed in recent weeks.

The flooding of rental demand back into city centers thanks to office workers, students, and international demand returning to cities means the post-pandemic recalibration of the rental market is well underway, said Grainne Gilmore, head of research at Zoopla. This increase in rent was reported in most major cities including Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, and Manchester, Zoopla said. Many renters who want to buy a home have been distraught by rising house prices, and any pressure on the cost of renting would be disadvantageous for them. According to property listing website Rightmove, home movers’ priorities are shifting, with buyers willing to pay more for space and privacy. Additionally, there has been a demand in transfer requests from the city center to out-of-town living. Rightmove also saw a significant increase in inquiries on residential properties and office spaces compared to the pre-pandemic period.