The average rent in England and Wales has risen by 0.2% since March, to £736 per month.
For the first time since November 2011 every region of England and Wales has seen rents rise on an annual basis.
The strongest increases were in London where rents are now 7.6% higher than a year ago, followed by annual rises of 5.0% in Wales and 4.1% in the East Midlands.
On a monthly basis eight out of ten regions saw rents rise. The strongest of these increases was in the East Midlands where rents rose 0.6% from the month before.
This was followed by the North East and the South West where rents posted a 0.5% gain in both regions.
Meanwhile rents dropped the fastest in Wales falling 0.3%. The second region to see a monthly fall was the North West with rents in April 0.2% lower than a month before.
David Brown, commercial director of LSL Property Services, said: “Rents everywhere are higher than a year ago – at a time when pay has crept up at the slowest rate in years. But some regions are suffering even more than others.
“Despite a year on year increase across the board, the divergence between London and the rest of the country is continuing, even if a little slower than last month. Meanwhile, other regions with traditionally weaker labour markets are suffering the same rent rises.
“For example, rental rises of 5% in Wales will be keenly felt. Landlords across the UK have increased the stock of rental properties by around 10% since 2008 – but the more fundamental squeeze is still coming from a lack of new building.”
The total annual return on a rental property rose to 5.9% in April. This represents an average return of £9,679 with rental income of £7,807 and a capital gain of £1,872.
The average yield on a rental property was 5.3% in April, compared to 5.2% in the same month last year.
If rental property prices maintain the same trend as the last three months, the average investor in England and Wales could expect to make a total annual return of 5.7% per property over the next 12 months – equivalent to £9,496 per property.
Brown said: “Further increases in the rental stock will be dependent on sustained improvements in the availability of finance for landlords.
“However new buy-to-let lending dropped in the first quarter just as purchase prices are starting to move up more steadily.
“Price rises can be a double-edged sword for renters and landlords, not just owner-occupiers. On the one hand, landlords have already responded to mounting demand and capital accumulation has made up more of many landlords’ total return than rental income in some areas.
“However if property is more expensive to buy then in the long run it will always be more expensive to live in. And that affects everyone.
“Schemes like Help-to-Buy could be very good in helping first-time buyers but renting continues to prove more flexible than any other part of the housing market.”
The total amount of rent late or unpaid has improved marginally, despite higher rents. Total arrears in April were £282m, compared to £284m in March. This equates to 8.4% of all rent across England and Wales, compared to 8.5% of all rent in March.
And he added: “Optimism is seeping in to the housing market – but from the top. For many tenants the monthly ebb and flow is still draining.
“Compared to inflation and expectations before the crisis wages are still seriously under water. Hence slower rent rises in April were a life raft for some. But for the tenants still struggling the most it could be some time before their ship comes in.
“Landlords are lending a hand, and will need to keep taking up slack until the economy is on a more solid footing and improvements filter through to everyday wage levels.”
