Rent increases sparking possible exodus from city centres to the countryside

INCREASING rents for city-based apartments are sparking a potential exodus of people from ten UK city centres to the countryside, reveals a poll.

According to findings released by the property website, RightMove, 42 per cent of renters in these cities are now contacting agents to move out of the city, up from 37 per cent a year ago, and up from 28 per cent in February three years ago.

Says RightMove, Edinburgh city centre has seen the largest increase, among the ten cities, in average asking rents compared with last year (+19 per cent), followed by inner London (+18 per cent) and Manchester (+14 per cent).

RightMove adds that 38 per cent of renters in Edinburgh are looking to leave the city, compared with 35 per cent a year ago and 23 per cent three years ago.

For Glasgow, the corresponding figures are 48 per cent, 44 per cent and 32 per cent.

The average monthly rent in Edinburgh last month, claims RightMove, is £1,511 (up 19 per cent on the same time last year), while for Glasgow it is £1,181 (up seven per cent).

The ten city centres looked at by RightMove are Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield.

Pictured: Tollcross, Edinburgh, Picture credit: Place Design Scotland

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