Jasper de Groot, Founder of Pararius and Treehouse
“Birmingham's rental market remained under pressure during Q2 2026. Our analysis of 6,862 rental properties shows rents rising in every property segment, while properties were removed from the market slightly faster than a year earlier. Together, these findings point to sustained demand across Birmingham's rental market.
An important nuance this quarter concerns the city-wide average rent, which declined by 5.2%. This was not the result of falling prices: rooms, flats and houses all became more expensive. Instead, rooms made up a considerably larger share of the advertised supply than a year earlier, and because rooms are the most affordable property type, their larger share pulled the overall average down. It is a reminder that headline averages should always be read alongside the underlying composition of the market.
The data also highlights clear differences between Birmingham's districts. Central districts such as Digbeth, Edgbaston and the Jewellery Quarter recorded strong rental growth, while several suburban districts saw prices decline by double digits. Selly Oak, the city's largest rental district and the heart of its student market, remained the most affordable major location in the city.
As Birmingham's rental market continues to evolve, consistent monitoring of rental prices, letting speeds and local market activity will remain essential to understanding how conditions change over time and how different areas of the city develop.”
