Renters forced to find an extra £100-a-month to pay for their homes

Renters in Tameside are paying almost £100 per month more than a year ago, according to new figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS). 

Private rents in the borough rose to an average of £829 per month in December 2024, up 13.1% compared to the £733 average from a year earlier. This is higher than the North West average of 9.6%, with rents across the whole region averaging £882 per month. 

Digging further into the data shows one-bed accommodation rentals went up by 13.5%, with the typical solo pad costing £607 per month. Terraced houses increased by 13.3% to £822. 

However, larger properties increased at much lower rates. Detached home rents rose by 12.6%, while four-or-more bedroom residences added 11% to their rental price versus December 2023. 

All the rises are well above the current 2.5% rate of inflation, although rents in Trafford and Stockport are both up by 14.4% over 12 months. 

Ben Twomey, Chief Executive of Generation Rent – a group that campaigns against unfair evictions of renters - said: “Renters are facing soaring rents which are far outstripping our earnings, with the worst problems facing major cities like Manchester and the surrounding areas. 
“Though the Renters’ Rights Bill will end unfair Section 21 evictions across England, there are very few measures in it to give us the breathing space we need from the cost of renting. Without protection from rent rises, we remain concerned about landlords using unaffordable rent hikes as ‘no-fault’ evictions in all but name. 

“The Government must slam the brakes on runaway rents and unfreeze the Local Housing Allowance rate to protect families on low incomes from poverty and homelessness.” 

It was better news for buyers, with provisional data showing the average house selling in Tameside for £216,000.  

This year-on-year increase is 2.8% - lower than the North West average of 5.6%.