Britain's rental hotspots revealed - and they're not all where you might expect

From Glasgow in the north to Plymouth in the south, Britain's rental hotspots for 2026 have been revealed.

London unsurprisingly tops the list of popular cities, but Edinburgh and Glasgow have leapfrogged Manchester, taking third and fourth place respectively.

Bradford and Plymouth also make the top ten, according to Gumtree figures based on more than 2.2 million rental searches made between January and July 2026.

Demand has also gathered pace over the summer, with more than 310,000 searches made on Gumtree (https://www.gumtree.com/) in July alone, up 7% on June.

The rankings suggest interest stretches beyond Britain's biggest cities, with Bradford and Plymouth joining established rental hubs including Manchester, Leeds and Bristol.

Nav Dhillon, CEO at Gumtree, said, "Britain's renters are clearly casting the net wider, and our top ten rental hotspots show how demand is stretching across the country.

"Finding the right property is only part of the challenge. Deposits, removals and furnishing a home can quickly add to the cost, so being able to compare options and make use of second-hand can help make moving more manageable."

Gumtree has launched a new moving feature with AnyVan, which the companies say could cut moving costs by up to 40%. There are potentially greater savings for people who pack their belongings themselves.

The service provides movers with an instant estimated quote, allowing them to factor transport costs into their plans earlier.

For renters looking to keep costs down, Gumtree also offers listings for second-hand furniture, appliances and homeware, alongside local services such as removals and furniture assembly.

Landlords and property professionals can also use the platform to find local tradespeople and services to help manage and maintain rental properties.

Marc Clifton, CEO at AnyVan, added, "The cost of moving home often gets overlooked when budgeting for a new property, but moving everything in a three-bed home costs upwards of £500 on average, or £1,000 if you need help with the packing.

"For renters moving between furnished properties, the good news is that costs will usually be lower, as there's less to transport.

"To avoid surprises and ensure you get a fair price, I always recommend planning your transport early. Understanding how much you need to move and avoiding unnecessary last-minute costs can make moving day considerably easier."

Britain's 2026 rental hotspots

London

Birmingham

Edinburgh

Glasgow

Manchester

Leeds

Bradford

Bristol

Liverpool

Plymouth