Celeste had lived in a small town all her life, and Nottingham felt like a big step. She liked the city centre and the tram, but she had one pressing question before she signed anything: what would renting here actually cost each month, and what would she need to pay before she got the keys? This guide answers that question with the latest official rent figures, the current deposit caps, and the tenancy rules now in force in England.
Quick Answer: In September 2026, the average private rent in Nottingham was £1,015 per month (ONS), below the UK average of £1,406 and the England average of £1,466, but above the East Midlands average of £928. Before you move in, your tenancy deposit is capped at five weeks’ rent in most cases, your holding deposit at one week’s rent, and rent in advance at one month’s rent. Since 1 May 2026, there are no fixed terms and no Section 21 “no-fault” evictions in England.
What Renting in Nottingham Costs in 2026
The ONS Price Index of Private Rents puts the average monthly private rent in Nottingham at £1,015 in September 2026, up from £998 in September 2025: a rise of 1.7% over the year, slower than the 3.8% rise across the East Midlands. The ONS warns that local figures rest on smaller samples than national figures, so judge the trend over a year rather than a single month.
The average hides a wide range. A one-bedroom home costs far less than a large family house, so start your search with the size you actually need, not the city average.
| Bedrooms | Average monthly rent, September 2026 |
|---|---|
| One bedroom | £735 |
| Two bedrooms | £916 |
| Three bedrooms | £1,054 |
| Four or more bedrooms | £1,462 |
By property type, flats and maisonettes averaged £837, terraced homes £995, semi-detached homes £1,062, and detached homes £1,308.
Remember that these are averages for all private rents, including long-standing tenancies. A newly advertised home in a popular area can sit above the average for its size, so use the figures as a budgeting anchor, then check current adverts for the streets you want.
Nottingham Compared with the Rest of the UK
Nottingham sits in an interesting middle ground: not cheap by national standards, but clearly cheaper than the UK average, and much cheaper than London and the South East.
| Area | Average monthly rent, September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Nottingham | £1,015 |
| East Midlands | £928 |
| England | £1,466 |
| UK | £1,406 |
In other words, Nottingham rents averaged £391 a month below the UK average and £451 below the England average, but £87 above the East Midlands average, reflecting stronger demand in the region’s largest city.
If you are moving from renting in Leeds or renting in Sheffield, you will find Nottingham broadly comparable as a large regional city. If you are moving from renting in Manchester, Nottingham’s average will look gentler, but compare like with like: same bedrooms, same property type, same distance from the centre.
Where to Live in Nottingham
Nottingham is compact, and that works in your favour: the tram network and bus routes mean you can live a little further out without feeling cut off. The trick is matching the area to your daily life, not just to a postcode that sounds good.
The city centre and the Lace Market suit you if you want to walk to work, to lectures, or to a night out. Expect flats, busy streets, and the highest demand for smaller homes. Hockley and the streets around the Arboretum offer a similar buzz with a more independent, creative feel, popular with young professionals as well as students.
Lenton, Dunkirk, and Beeston are the classic student and graduate areas, close to the University of Nottingham and well connected by bus and tram. They are full of shared houses, which keeps the rent per person down. Forest Fields and Mapperley are quieter and more residential while staying close to the centre.
Families often look to Wollaton, Sherwood, and Clifton, where larger houses are more common. West Bridgford, just across the River Trent, is popular too, but it sits in a different council area, so its council tax is set by a different authority. Visit at different times of day if you can: a calm street at noon can feel very different on a Friday night.
Nottingham tip: Do not judge an area by one advert. Walk the street, check the tram or bus stop you would actually use, and look for the everyday things that matter to you: a supermarket, a pharmacy, and a park. A home that fits your routine is worth more than one that only looks good online.
Your True Monthly Cost of Renting in Nottingham
Rent is your biggest bill, but it is not your only bill. Many first-time renters are caught out by the gap between the advertised rent and the amount that actually leaves their bank account each month. The table below uses the ONS average rent and Nottingham’s verified 2026/27 Band D council tax figure.
| Monthly cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Average rent (ONS, September 2026) | £1,015 |
| Council tax, Band D (2026/27, monthly equivalent) | £229.62 |
| Rent plus council tax | £1,244.62 |
Nottingham City Council’s total Band D charge for 2026/27 is £2,755.39 a year: £2,342.08 for the city council, £311.10 for the Police and Crime Commissioner, and £102.21 for the Fire and Rescue Authority. Divide £2,755.39 by 12 and you get £229.62 a month. Your bill will differ in another band, and many flats sit below Band D, so check the exact property’s band first. Our guide to council tax for renters explains bands, discounts, and student exemptions.
On top of rent and council tax, budget for gas, electricity, water, broadband, and contents insurance. A room with bills included is simpler to budget for than a whole flat with bills on top. Ask the agent or landlord, in writing, exactly which bills are included.
Upfront Costs and Deposit Caps
Moving into a rented home in England involves payments that are strictly capped by law. Knowing the caps protects you, because any charge above them is not something you should simply accept.
| Payment | Legal cap in England |
|---|---|
| Tenancy deposit (annual rent under £50,000) | Up to 5 weeks’ rent |
| Tenancy deposit (annual rent of £50,000 or more) | Up to 6 weeks’ rent |
| Holding deposit | Up to 1 week’s rent |
| Rent in advance (from 1 May 2026) | Up to 1 month’s rent |
Your tenancy deposit must be protected in a government-approved scheme, and you must be given the prescribed information about where it is held. Our guide to tenancy deposit protection explains the schemes and deadlines.
Your holding deposit reserves the home while referencing checks are carried out. It is capped at one week’s rent and should normally be refunded or put towards your first rent payment or deposit if the tenancy goes ahead. Since 1 May 2026, you must not be asked to pay rent before signing the tenancy agreement, and after signing, no more than one month’s rent in advance can be requested. Most other letting fees are banned under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, so if you are asked to pay an admin, referencing, or check-in fee, stop and check first. Our guide to letting agent fees lists what is banned and what is still allowed.
Two Worked £ Examples: What You Would Actually Pay
The caps above only make sense with real numbers. These two examples use the ONS bedroom averages for Nottingham and show every step, so you can repeat the same sums for any rent you are offered. Both personas are fictional.
Worked example 1: Fintan and a two-bedroom home at £916 a month.
Fintan is moving with his partner into a two-bedroom terraced home advertised at £916 a month. First, the weekly rent: £916 × 12 ÷ 52 = £211.38 a week. The maximum tenancy deposit is five weeks’ rent: £211.38 × 5 = £1,056.90. The maximum holding deposit is one week’s rent: £211.38. Fintan’s upfront cost is the deposit plus the first month’s rent: £1,056.90 + £916 = £1,972.90. If he has already paid a holding deposit, it is normally put towards the rent or deposit rather than charged on top, so he should check how it has been applied.
Then comes the affordability test. Many landlords apply a 30-times rule: your annual income should be at least 30 times the monthly rent. For Fintan, that is £916 × 30 = £27,480 a year. Joint renters’ combined income is usually considered, but ask how the test will be applied before paying a holding deposit. Our guide to tenant referencing explains the checks and documents you will need.
Worked example 2: Giselle and a one-bedroom flat at £735 a month.
Giselle is renting on her own for the first time and has found a one-bedroom flat at £735 a month. Her weekly rent is £735 × 12 ÷ 52 = £169.62 a week. Her maximum tenancy deposit is five weeks’ rent: £169.62 × 5 = £848.10. Her maximum holding deposit is one week’s rent: £169.62. Her upfront cost is the deposit plus the first month’s rent: £848.10 + £735 = £1,583.10, with any holding deposit normally counted towards that total rather than added to it.
Giselle’s affordability test is £735 × 30 = £22,050 a year. Some landlords accept a guarantor or extra evidence if your income is lower. If she is asked for a guarantor, she should read our guide to guarantors for renting before anyone signs. Her budget does not end at £735: council tax, energy, water, and broadband sit on top unless included in the rent.
Students and Shared Houses in Nottingham
Nottingham is a major student city, home to both the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University. That shapes the rental market visibly: whole streets in Lenton and Beeston turn over every summer, and many homes are let as shared houses where each tenant pays for a room.
If you are a student, start early, but do not let that pressure rush you into signing a poor tenancy. Check whether bills are included, whether the rent is quoted per person or per property, and whether the tenancy covers the summer months or only term time. Also check who looks after communal areas and cleaning, a common cause of student deposit disputes.
Shared houses are often houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), so extra rules can apply. Larger HMOs must be licensed nationally, and Nottingham also runs additional licensing for smaller HMOs. If you share with non-family members, ask whether the property is licensed where required, and check smoke alarms, fire doors, and escape routes. Our guide to renting as a student covers halls, private rentals, and guarantors in more detail.
Licensing: Why Some Nottingham Landlords Need a Licence
Nottingham is unusual in England for its wide licensing system for private rented homes. The city council’s second selective licensing scheme started on 1 December 2023 and requires most private rented properties in designated areas to be licensed. The council estimates it covers over 30,000 homes, and letting in a designated area without a licence is against the law, with penalties of up to £30,000.
This matters in two ways. First, a licensed landlord has had to meet the council’s standards. Second, if you are unsure whether your home should be licensed, check the council’s property checker rather than taking the landlord’s word for it. Do not assume every Nottingham home needs a selective licence: the scheme does not cover the whole city, some homes fall under HMO licensing, and housing association and council homes are exempt.
If your landlord cannot show a licence where one is required, raise it with Nottingham City Council, keeping your tenancy agreement, deposit certificate, and repair messages together.
Your Rights Under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025
The biggest change to renting in England in a generation took effect on 1 May 2026, when Phase 1 of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 came into force. These are the rules that now govern your Nottingham tenancy, and they are worth understanding before you sign.
First, Section 21 “no-fault” evictions have been abolished. Your landlord can no longer ask you to leave without a legally valid reason, known as a possession ground, such as rent arrears, antisocial behaviour, selling the property, or moving in themselves. Second, fixed-term tenancies have been replaced by periodic tenancies that roll on with no end date, so you are not locked in for a year.
Third, you can end your tenancy by giving at least two months’ notice in writing, ending on the last day of a rent period. Fourth, your rent can only be increased once a year, using the formal Section 13 procedure, with proper notice, and you can challenge an increase above the market rent at a tribunal. Landlords also cannot ask for more than one month’s rent in advance, run rental bidding wars, or refuse you simply because you claim benefits or have children.
None of this removes your responsibilities: pay your rent on time, look after the home, and report problems promptly. But you can now challenge poor conditions or an unfair rent increase without fearing a Section 21 notice. If you are served a notice, check the grounds and notice period, and get advice from Shelter or Citizens Advice before agreeing to leave.
Moving to Nottingham and Avoiding Rental Scams
Moving to a new city adds pressure, and scammers know it. The most common rental scam is simple: a home is advertised at a tempting rent, you are pressed to pay before viewing, and the “landlord” disappears. Shelter’s advice is blunt: never pay money before viewing the property in person and signing a tenancy agreement.
Protect yourself with a short checklist. View the property yourself, or ask someone you trust to view it for you. Check the agent belongs to a redress scheme. Be suspicious of adverts that refuse viewings, demand cash, or offer a rent far below similar homes nearby. Never send a holding deposit to a personal bank account for a home you have not seen, and keep screenshots of every advert and message.
When you arrive, take dated photographs of every room, check the inventory line by line before you sign it, and report existing damage in writing. That ten-minute job is the single best protection for your deposit. If broadband matters to you, check the speeds the property gets before you sign.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Nottingham in 2026?
The ONS average private rent in Nottingham was £1,015 per month in September 2026, up 1.7% from £998 a year earlier. One-bedroom homes averaged £735, two-bedroom homes £916, three-bedroom homes £1,054, and homes with four or more bedrooms £1,462.
How much deposit do I need to rent in Nottingham?
In most cases, your tenancy deposit is capped at five weeks’ rent, because annual rents in Nottingham are usually below £50,000. For a £916 monthly rent, that is £1,056.90, and it must be protected in a government-approved scheme.
How much is the holding deposit when renting in Nottingham?
A holding deposit is capped at one week’s rent in England: £211.38 for a £916 monthly rent, and £169.62 for a £735 rent. It should normally be refunded or put towards your rent or deposit if the tenancy goes ahead.
What income do I need to rent in Nottingham?
Many landlords apply a 30-times test: your annual income should be at least 30 times the monthly rent. That is £27,480 a year for a £916 rent and £22,050 for a £735 rent. Some landlords accept a guarantor or extra evidence if your income is lower.
Is Nottingham cheaper to rent in than the rest of the UK?
Yes, on average. Nottingham’s September 2026 average of £1,015 a month was £391 below the UK average of £1,406 and £451 below the England average of £1,466, but £87 above the East Midlands average of £928.
What are the best areas to rent in Nottingham?
It depends on your lifestyle. The city centre and Lace Market suit walkers and nightlife lovers; Lenton and Beeston suit students and graduates; Forest Fields and Mapperley are quieter; and Wollaton, Sherwood, and Clifton suit families seeking larger homes.
Can my landlord evict me without a reason in Nottingham?
No. Since 1 May 2026, Section 21 “no-fault” evictions have been abolished in England. Your landlord must have a legally valid possession ground, serve the correct notice, and obtain a court order where required.
How much notice do I need to give to leave a rented home in Nottingham?
Under the periodic tenancy system in England, you must give at least two months’ notice in writing, ending on the last day of a rent period. Get advice if you are unsure about the exact end date.
Does my Nottingham landlord need a licence?
Possibly. Nottingham City Council’s second selective licensing scheme, started on 1 December 2023, requires most private rented properties in designated areas to be licensed, and HMO licensing applies to many shared houses. Use the council’s property checker to confirm.
How do I avoid rental scams in Nottingham?
Never pay a deposit or rent before viewing the property in person and signing a tenancy agreement. Check the agent belongs to a redress scheme, be wary of rents far below similar homes, avoid cash payments to personal accounts, and keep screenshots of adverts.
Final Thoughts
Renting in Nottingham in 2026 offers a fair deal by national standards: an average rent of £1,015 a month, a compact city with good public transport, and a licensing system that pushes landlords towards higher standards. But the average is only a starting point: your real cost depends on your home’s size, its council tax band, whether bills are included, and the upfront payments due before moving day.
Before you sign, do three things. First, run the sums in this guide for the exact rent offered: the weekly rent, the five-week deposit cap, and the 30-times test. Second, check the property’s council tax band, licensing position, and which bills are included. Third, read the tenancy agreement properly and keep every document you are given. For a quick sense-check, try the rent affordability calculators on this site.
Nottingham rewards renters who do their homework. Choose the area that fits your daily life, budget for the full monthly cost rather than the rent alone, and know your rights under the new periodic tenancy system.
