Almost four in 10 UK flatsharers are spending more than half their income on rent, with advertised room rents continuing to surpass what renters can afford, according to new research from SpareRoom.
A July 2026 survey by SpareRoom found that 37.8% of renters spend over half their pay on rent, excluding bills. In contrast, only 15.3% spend less than 30% of their income on rent, a figure often recommended as a maximum for housing costs.
Separate data from SpareRoom indicates that average asking rents have been higher than average renter budgets across the UK since the end of 2022. In the second quarter of 2026, rents exceeded budgets in approximately half of the 35 major cities analysed by the platform.
Edinburgh recorded the largest affordability gap, with an average monthly room rent of £834 against an average flatsharer budget of £748, leaving renters £86 short each month. York and Derby followed with significant gaps, while cities including Belfast, Glasgow, Cardiff, Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester, and Portsmouth also saw rents outstrip budgets.
The affordability pressure is also impacting renters' ability to stay in their homes. The July survey revealed that almost a third (32%) of UK renters had been forced to move in the previous year because their rent became unaffordable.