Rents on the rise: the Q2 2026 rental market

While sale prices have cooled from their earlier peaks, rents have kept climbing steadily. That's a familiar pattern in markets where high borrowing costs push would-be buyers to keep renting for longer, adding pressure on an already tight rental supply.

Demand is strongest for well-located, move-in-ready rooms and apartments — anything requiring renovation or sitting further from transport links tends to sit on the market longer and see slower rent growth.

For tenants, this makes timing and preparation matter more than in a slower market: having your documents ready (proof of income, ID, references) and being able to move quickly on a good listing genuinely improves your odds.

For owners considering renting out a room or property, it's a favourable moment — but pricing it correctly for the specific street and building type is still what determines how fast it lets and to what quality of tenant.