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The Manc -
29th March 2020
The Manc -
29th March 2020 News
Manchester rent is now ‘41% more expensive than five years ago, according to a recent study
Danny Jones
Yes, that’s right, as per some of the latest data on leased housing in central Manchester, it’s now approximately 41% more expensive to rent here than it was half a decade ago.
If you’ve lived in and around the city centre for long enough, chances are that you’ve already been feeling that difference, especially of late.
The ongoing cost-of-living crisis roughly began in 2021, following the economy and the world essentially opening back up after multiple lockdowns, so it’s little surprise that new research has shown affordability when it comes to renting has been on a slump ever since, too.
As well as the price of seemingly most things in everyday life going up post-pandemic, the average rental rate for even just a one-bedroom flat/apartment has jumped up significantly between 2020 and 2025.
That’s according to the numbers crunched by credit card experts, Zable, anyway.
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Not only did their recent report cite the rent prices going up even before the cost of living crisis – essentially following the outset of the Covid-19 outbreak – but if their figures, the rate of inflation and the unwaveringly high demand for housing are anything to go by, this trajectory is likely to continue in 2026.
As of February this year, around one in three UK households is now a single-person occupancy, which already comes with its challenges (the Manchester City Council tax discount being a thin lifeline for countless), not to mention energy bills and the cost of groceries continuing on an upwards trend.
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Put in the simplest and most reductive terms, it’s now almost £300 dearer for most people to live on their own than it was back in 2020, and besides Liverpool clocking in as second on the list of increasingly expensive cities to live (a 42.12% increase), Manchester came in third.
You can see the full table down below:
| Rank | City | % increase – 2020-2025 | Difference from 2020 to 2025 in £ | Average rental cost for a 1 bed 2025 |
| 1 | Newport | 47.39% | £2,611 | £8,121 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 42.12% | £2,290 | £7,727 |
| 3 | Manchester | 41.00% | £3,364 | £11,569 |
| 4 | Edinburgh | 40.28% | £4,620 | £16,090 |
| 5 | Leicester | 39.93% | £2,391 | £8,379 |
| 6 | Wolverhampton | 39.22% | £2,049 | £7,273 |
| 7 | Nottingham | 39.07% | £2,400 | £8,543 |
| 8 | Glasgow | 38.02% | £2,679 | £9,725 |
| 9 | Colchester | 37.63% | £2,617 | £9,572 |
| 10 | Cardiff | 37.06% | £2,828 | Average rental cost for a 1-bed 2025 |
Another fear is that with lots of people finding it hard to manage living in other major cities like London, even those moving to Manchester are also having an impact on how available affordable housing is here.
That’s why schemes such as the new ‘social rent’ development over in Wythenshawe are so important to the current generations of renters, with the possibility of owning your own property in the future becoming increasingly difficult for so many.
It’s also worth noting that Manchester ranked fourth among the British locations where the cost of living is said to have increased the most over the past five years, with the average difference in annual spend growing by an estimated 22.84%.
You can read their breakdown in full right HERE.
Read more:
- Derelict Manchester office block to become ‘vital’ accommodation for homeless families
- 1,500 miles of roadworks lifted to help ease congestion for drivers this May bank holiday
- Millions of Brits to get pay rises from today as national living and minimum wage increases
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Featured Images — The Manc Group
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1,500 miles of roadworks lifted to help ease congestion for drivers this bank holiday weekend
Emily Sergeant
1,500 miles of roadworks have now been lifted across the UK.
With half term well underway already, and now millions of drivers set to hit the road over the next five days as Easter bank holiday weekend arrives, giving Brits two extra days off, National Highways has now confirmed that, as of today (Thursday 2 April), around 1,500 miles of roadworks have been lifted nationwide.
Roads are expected to be ‘especially’ busy tomorrow in particular (Good Friday), National Highways predicts, as this is the day people are most likely to head on a spring getaway.
So, in a bid to help ease congestion for drivers up and down the motorways, roadworks have been removed up until Bank Holiday Monday (6 April).
“By keeping 98% of routes clear, we’re supporting the wider economy where it matters most to tourism, freight, and local businesses,” National Highways said in a statement.
The decision to lift the roadworks comes as a new national survey revealed a total of 71,254 breakdowns were recorded in spring (March–May) last year, compared with 56,702 in 2022.
It also showed that more than one in two (53%) UK drivers have broken down on a motorway or major A-road in their lifetime, highlighting how common the experience is for both drivers and passengers, and why it’s important to take relevant safety precautions from all sides.
29% of drivers think their breakdown could have been prevented with simple vehicle safety checks, but 17% admit to rarely or never conducting these.
National Highways echoes the statement that most of these incidents could be avoided through ‘quick and basic’ checks, and is urging drivers heading away this bank holiday weekend to familiarise themselves with how to do these before hitting the roads, so they can reach their destinations safely, saving costs and reducing delays for all road users in the process.
“Millions of people will be hitting the roads over Easter, and we want everyone to have a safe and smooth journey,” commented Colin Stevenson, who is the Road Safety Information Lead at National Highways.
“A few simple checks can help to prevent many of the breakdowns we see each year and help drivers avoid unexpected delays, cost and stress.
Read more:
- No trams to run on three major Greater Manchester lines this Easter bank holiday weekend
- New survey reveals the UK’s best and worst motorway service stations
- M6 tops ranking of UK’s worst motorways chosen by drivers in major annual survey
“Our teams work around the clock to keep motorways and major A-roads moving and these small steps from drivers can make a big difference.”
Featured Image – Mike Birdy (via Pexels)
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