Kerensa, 29, has just been offered a nursing job at Derriford Hospital. She lives in Exeter now, she has never rented in Plymouth, and her budget is firm: no more than £750 a month for a one-bedroom flat, with enough left over for council tax and bills. This Renting in Plymouth guide sets out the latest official rent figures, the real upfront maths, and the rights that changed for every tenant in England on 1 May 2026.
Quick Answer: The average private rent in Plymouth was £1,008 a month in September 2026, up 4.4% in a year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). A one-bedroom home averages £707 a month and a two-bedroom home £889. Plymouth sits £458 a month below the England average of £1,466. Your deposit is capped at five weeks’ rent, your holding deposit at one week’s rent, and since 1 May 2026 no landlord in England can end your tenancy without a reason — Section 21 “no-fault” eviction is gone.
How Much Does It Cost to Rent in Plymouth in 2026?
The ONS puts the average monthly private rent in Plymouth at £1,008 in September 2026, the latest month published when this guide was written. That is £42 a month more than the £966 average of September 2025 — a 4.4% rise, or £504 more over a full year. The increase is slightly faster than the South West as a whole, where rents rose 4.2% over the same period, and faster than England’s 4.0%.
Plymouth’s real attraction is what it is not: it is not a London-priced market, and it is not even a Bristol-priced one. For renters priced out of bigger southern cities, that gap is the story.
Plymouth Rents by Bedroom Size
Bedroom count drives the rent more than anything else in Plymouth. The ONS publishes the average for each size, and the spread is wide: £791 a month separates a one-bedroom home from one with four or more bedrooms.
| Bedroom size | Average monthly rent (September 2026) |
|---|---|
| One bedroom | £707 |
| Two bedrooms | £889 |
| Three bedrooms | £1,069 |
| Four or more bedrooms | £1,498 |
Three-bedroom homes rose fastest, up 4.8% in the year, while four-bedroom homes rose 4.0%, one-bedroom homes 4.2% and two-bedroom homes 4.4%.
Property type matters too. Flats and maisonettes average £802 a month, terraced houses £1,050, semi-detached houses £1,067 and detached houses £1,322. Kerensa’s budget of £750 a month sits just above the one-bedroom average of £707, so her target is realistic — but she will need to move quickly when a fairly priced flat appears.
How Plymouth Compares with the Rest of England
Plymouth is one of the more affordable cities in the south of England, and the comparison with the wider averages makes the point better than any adjective.
| Area | Average monthly rent (September 2026) |
|---|---|
| Plymouth | £1,008 |
| South West | £1,251 |
| England | £1,466 |
| UK | £1,406 |
Plymouth sits £243 a month below the South West average (about 19% lower), £458 below the England average (about 31% lower) and £398 below the UK average of £1,406 (about 28% lower). The contrast with London is starker still: the capital’s average rent was £2,338 a month in September 2026, which is £1,330 a month more than Plymouth. Direct trains run from Plymouth to London Paddington and to Exeter. But cheaper does not mean cheap for everyone: a 4.4% rise is £504 a year, and if your pay has risen by less, your rent has taken a bigger slice of your income.
Where to Live in Plymouth: The Main Areas
ONS does not publish rents by area, so these notes are qualitative — they describe each part of the city, not a price per area.
- City Centre and the Barbican — waterfront flats and historic quayside streets, with restaurants and bars on your doorstep. Best for single professionals and couples who want to walk everywhere.
- The Hoe — the famous waterfront green with views across Plymouth Sound. Flats here are sought after, and the seafront setting is the draw.
- Mutley Plain — cafes and independent shops, a short walk to the city centre and the university. Popular with students and young professionals, and lively in the evenings.
- Greenbank — the classic student area, closest to the University of Plymouth campus. Expect shared houses and high demand before each academic year.
- Lipson — a short walk from Mutley with a quieter, more residential feel. Often described as good value compared with Greenbank.
- Plymstock and Plympton — the family suburbs to the east, with larger houses, gardens and easier parking.
The True Monthly Cost of Renting in Plymouth
Rent is the biggest bill, but it is not the only one. A realistic budget adds council tax and bills — and the total is what you must afford every month, not just the rent on the listing.
Plymouth City Council set its total Band D council tax at £2,441.85 a year for 2026/27, up £116.43 from £2,325.42 the year before. That is £203.49 a month for a Band D home. The England average Band D bill for 2026/27 is £2,392, so Plymouth’s is about £50 a year above the national average. Your home’s band decides what you actually pay, and you can check any address on the council’s website.
| Council tax band | Annual bill 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| Band A | £1,627.90 |
| Band B | £1,899.22 |
| Band C | £2,170.53 |
| Band D | £2,441.85 |
| Band E | £2,984.48 |
| Band F | £3,527.12 |
| Band G | £4,069.75 |
| Band H | £4,883.70 |
If you live alone, you get 25% off your council tax bill. On a Band D home that cuts £2,441.85 to £1,831.39 a year — £152.62 a month instead of £203.49, a saving of £50.87 a month.
A realistic month for a single renter in a one-bedroom flat (rent and council tax verified; bills are planning estimates):
| Monthly cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Rent (one-bedroom average) | £707 |
| Council tax (Band D, single-person discount) | £152.62 |
| Gas and electricity (planning estimate) | £110–£140 |
| Water (planning estimate) | £35–£45 |
| Broadband (planning estimate) | £25–£35 |
| Contents insurance (planning estimate) | £8–£12 |
| Realistic monthly total | Around £1,040–£1,090 |
So Kerensa’s £707 flat really costs around £1,040 to £1,090 a month — the number her salary has to cover, not the £707 on the listing. If the flat is in Band A or B rather than Band D, the council tax line falls and the total drops by roughly £35–£50.
Worked Example: Kerensa’s One-Bedroom Flat
Kerensa finds a one-bedroom flat in Lipson for £707 a month — exactly the Plymouth one-bedroom average. Here is her move-in maths, step by step, using the legal caps that apply in England.
First, the weekly rent: £707 × 12 = £8,484 a year, divided by 52 weeks = £163.15 a week.
Second, the deposit. The Tenant Fees Act 2019 caps it at five weeks’ rent where the annual rent is under £50,000: 5 × £163.15 = £815.77. It must be protected in a government-backed deposit scheme within 30 days — read our tenancy deposit protection guide to check yours.
Third, the holding deposit, which reserves the flat while referencing runs: one week’s rent, £163.15. It is not an extra charge — it counts towards the first month’s rent or the deposit.
Fourth, the move-in total: £707 first month’s rent plus £815.77 deposit comes to £1,522.77. Less the £163.15 holding deposit already paid, the balance on move-in day is £1,359.62.
Finally, the income test. Agents usually apply the 30-times rule: your annual income should be at least 30 times the monthly rent. For Kerensa, £707 × 30 = £21,210 a year before tax, or about £1,768 a month gross. If your income falls short, a guarantor can bridge the gap — see our guarantor guide.
Remember: the holding deposit is not an extra fee — it comes off your move-in total.
Worked Example: Jowan and His Partner’s Two-Bedroom Home
Jowan, 34, and his partner are moving from Bristol, and they want a two-bedroom home in Plymstock with a garden. They find one for £889 a month — the Plymouth two-bedroom average.
The weekly rent is £889 × 12 = £10,668 a year, divided by 52 weeks = £205.15 a week. The five-week deposit cap is therefore 5 × £205.15 = £1,025.77, and the holding deposit is one week’s rent: £205.15.
Their move-in total is the first month’s rent of £889 plus the deposit of £1,025.77: £1,914.77. The £205.15 holding deposit already paid is deducted, leaving £1,709.62 to pay on the day they collect the keys. From 1 May 2026, that first month is also the most rent they can be asked to pay in advance.
The income test is £889 × 30 = £26,670 a year before tax between them, or about £2,223 a month gross. Their true monthly cost is higher than the rent alone: £889 rent, plus Band D council tax of £203.49 a month (two adults, so no discount), plus planning estimates of roughly £130–£160 for energy, £40–£50 for water, £25–£35 for broadband and £10–£15 for insurance — around £1,300 to £1,350 in total. Our guide to how much money you need to rent a house walks through the same calculation for other budgets.
Upfront Costs: Deposits, Holding Deposits and Rent in Advance
The upfront rules in one place — all from the Tenant Fees Act 2019 and the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, and all applying in England:
| Payment | The rule in England |
|---|---|
| Tenancy deposit | Capped at five weeks’ rent (annual rent under £50,000); protected within 30 days |
| Holding deposit | Capped at one week’s rent; refundable or deducted from the first payment |
| Rent in advance | Capped at one month’s rent since 1 May 2026 |
| Letting agent fees | Banned for tenants — no admin, referencing or check-in fees |
For the average Plymouth home at £1,008 a month, the maximum deposit is £1,163.08 (weekly rent £232.62). For a three-bedroom home at £1,069, it is £1,233.46. Any figure above those is unlawful.
The 30-times test is not a law, but it is the check most agents use:
| Monthly rent | Annual income needed (30 × rent) |
|---|---|
| One bedroom, £707 | £21,210 |
| Two bedrooms, £889 | £26,670 |
| Plymouth average, £1,008 | £30,240 |
| Three bedrooms, £1,069 | £32,070 |
| Four or more bedrooms, £1,498 | £44,940 |
If your income is close to the line, prepare before you apply: have payslips, bank statements and a previous landlord’s reference ready. Read our tenant referencing guide so you know what agents check, and our letting agent fees guide so you know which charges are banned.
Your Rights After the Renters’ Rights Act 2025
Plymouth is in England, so the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 applies in full, and its first phase changed the rules on 1 May 2026.
No more no-fault eviction. Section 21 is abolished. Your landlord must use a Section 8 ground and prove it in court — for example, that they genuinely intend to sell the home or move into it themselves, in which case they must give you four months’ notice and cannot re-let or market the property for twelve months.
Periodic tenancies for everyone. Fixed terms are gone for new tenancies. Your tenancy rolls from month to month, and you can end it with two months’ written notice at any time.
Rent can rise only once a year. Any increase must come through the formal Section 13 process, and you can challenge it at the First-tier Tribunal if it is above the market rent for a comparable Plymouth home. Rental bidding is banned.
One month’s rent in advance, maximum. No landlord can ask for two or three months upfront any more.
Pets and fairness. You now have a legal right to ask for a pet, and a landlord may refuse only on reasonable grounds. Landlords also may not refuse you for claiming benefits or having children.
Repairs still rest on the old law. Your landlord must still keep the structure, the heating and the hot water in repair under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. Report problems in writing and keep copies.
One local point for sharers: a house in multiple occupation (HMO) occupied by five or more people from two or more households must have a mandatory HMO licence from the council. Plymouth operates the mandatory scheme only — the council has not adopted additional or selective licensing schemes. If you are moving into a five-person share in Greenbank or Mutley, ask to see the licence. Our renting in England guide covers the national rules in more detail.
Students, Scams and Moving to Plymouth
Students. The University of Plymouth draws thousands of renters into the city every autumn, and competition for shared houses in Greenbank, Mutley and Lipson peaks months before term starts. Full-time students pay no council tax — but check that every person in the household is a full-time student, because one non-student housemate can make the whole household liable. Morwenna, a second-year student, learned this when her working boyfriend moved in and a council tax bill arrived. Our student renting guide explains the exemption and the guarantor question in full.
Scams and red flags. Plymouth’s popularity makes it a target for fake listings. Never pay anything before you have viewed the property in person or by live video call, never transfer money to an individual you have not met, and never accept a landlord who says they are abroad and will post the keys. Check that the agent belongs to a redress scheme and holds client money protection.
Moving from elsewhere. Direct trains run to London Paddington and Exeter, the A38 links the city to the M5, and Brittany Ferries sails from Millbay to France and Spain. If you are relocating for work, ask your new employer about relocation help — some employers cover the deposit or the first month’s rent. Budget for the move itself as well: a van, a day off work, and any overlap between tenancies. And remember that energy bills when renting are your responsibility from the day you move in — take meter readings on arrival.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Plymouth in 2026?
£1,008 a month in September 2026, according to the ONS — up 4.4% from £966 in September 2025. A one-bedroom home averages £707, a two-bedroom home £889, a three-bedroom home £1,069 and a home with four or more bedrooms £1,498.
Is Plymouth cheap to rent compared with the rest of England?
Yes, relatively. Plymouth’s £1,008 average is £458 a month below the England average of £1,466 and £243 below the South West average of £1,251. But rents are still rising at 4.4% a year, so check the affordability maths for your own income.
How much deposit do I need to rent in Plymouth?
Five weeks’ rent at most, where the annual rent is under £50,000. On the average Plymouth rent of £1,008 that is £1,163.08; on a one-bedroom home at £707 it is £815.77, and on a two-bedroom home at £889 it is £1,025.77. It must be protected in a government-backed scheme within 30 days.
How much is the holding deposit in Plymouth?
One week’s rent at most — £232.62 on the average Plymouth home, £163.15 on a one-bedroom home at £707 and £205.15 on a two-bedroom home at £889. It counts towards your first month’s rent or your deposit, and it must be refunded if the landlord decides not to proceed.
What salary do I need to rent in Plymouth?
Most agents use the 30-times rule: your gross annual income should be at least 30 times the monthly rent. That means £21,210 a year for a one-bedroom home at £707, £26,670 for a two-bedroom home at £889 and £30,240 for the average Plymouth home at £1,008. If your income falls short, a guarantor can help.
How much is council tax in Plymouth?
Plymouth City Council’s total Band D bill is £2,441.85 a year for 2026/27, or £203.49 a month. Living alone gets you 25% off: £1,831.39 a year, or £152.62 a month. Full-time students are exempt. Your bill depends on your band, from £1,627.90 a year for Band A to £4,883.70 for Band H.
Can my landlord evict me without a reason in Plymouth?
No. Section 21 no-fault eviction was abolished in England on 1 May 2026. Your landlord must use a Section 8 ground and prove it in court — for example, that they genuinely intend to sell or move into the property, with four months’ notice. You can end the tenancy yourself with two months’ written notice.
What are the best areas to live in Plymouth?
It depends on your priorities. The Barbican and the Hoe suit professionals who want waterfront living; Mutley Plain and Greenbank suit students and young professionals; Lipson is quieter and close to Mutley; and Plymstock and Plympton suit families.
Do I need a licence to rent a shared house in Plymouth?
You do not need one — your landlord does. An HMO with five or more people from two or more households must have a mandatory licence from Plymouth City Council. The council has not adopted additional or selective licensing, so smaller shared houses do not need a licence. Ask to see the licence before signing for a five-person share.
How do I avoid rental scams in Plymouth?
Never pay before viewing in person or by live video call, never transfer money to someone you have not met, and beware of landlords who claim to be abroad and offer to post the keys. Check the agent belongs to a redress scheme and holds client money protection, and check the landlord’s name against the Land Registry title register.
Final Thoughts
Renting in Plymouth in 2026 is genuinely more affordable than renting in most of southern England: the average rent of £1,008 is 31% below the England average, and the legal caps keep move-in costs within reach of an ordinary salary. Kerensa’s move-in total of £1,522.77 and Jowan’s of £1,914.77 are fixed by law — not whatever an agent chooses to charge. Pick your area with the commute in mind, budget on the true monthly total, keep your application file ready, and use the rights the Renters’ Rights Act gave you on 1 May 2026. Still unsure? Run your numbers through our rent affordability calculator before you start viewing.
Further Reading
- Private renting – GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/private-renting
- Private renting advice – Shelter England: https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting
- Renting a home – Citizens Advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/renting-a-home/
