Latest ONS: Rents Rise Again in Cheltenham

Rents in Cheltenham Are Soaring—And Most Tenants Can’t Keep Up

Latest figures from ONS reveal what tenants already know. Every month, your rent takes a bigger bite out of your paycheck—£1,212 on average, according to the latest Office for National Statistics data. That’s a 6.9% jump in just one year compounding annual increase on years previous.

CTU surveys reveal that for 75% of respondents, this rent feels downright unaffordable. Why? Because most tenants are now spending 30% to 40% of their household income on rent—some even 50%. Compare that to the national average for private renters, who spend 40% of their income on rent, while mortgage holders pay just 20%.

Cheltenham has 52,800 households, and over 22,000 of them—36%—are rented. That’s nearly double the national average of 20%. Of these, 12,400 households rent privately, and 6,500 rely on social housing, including 2,363 from housing associations and 4,069 from the council.

Some parts of town feel this more than others. In St Paul’s, 68.3% of households rent, with 47.8% in private rentals—the highest in Cheltenham. Lansdown has the most renters in raw numbers, with 1,705 households, while Hesters Way leads in social renting at 33.8%. Six wards have over 40% renters, and in 11 of Cheltenham’s 20 wards, private renters outnumber social renters. This is a town where renting shapes life for tens of thousands.

Now, picture this: you’re not just competing with other tenants for a home. You’re up against 5,800 University of Gloucestershire students looking for housing after their first year in halls. That’s a fraction of the estimates UoG 12,000 students roll, but it’s enough to squeeze key workers and families out of the market.

Add to that 700 to 750 entire properties—about 5-6% of Cheltenham’s private rentals—being used as Airbnb short-term lets. A survey found 46.5% of tenants say Airbnb drives up rents, and 58.1% say it makes finding a home harder. 76.7% of you think the council could do more to rein in these short-term lets, with 44.2% calling for regulation and 40.4% wanting restrictions.

So, what are tenants worried about? 73.7% say unaffordable rent is their biggest concern. 52.6% point to poor property conditions, like damp walls or broken heating. 39.5% fear no-fault evictions, where landlords can turf you out with little notice. And 82.1% of you think renters should be a top priority for Cheltenham Borough Council.

You’re not just grumbling—48.7% would vote for a council candidate pushing pro-tenant policies, and 55.3% are ready to write to the council to demand better protections. You want action: 76.9% say prosecute rogue landlords, 64.1% want landlord registration, and 59% want rental properties declared to HMRC, so landlords pay their tax.

What’s the council doing? They’ve set a goal of 450 affordable homes by March 2028, but in the last five years, they’ve only built 75 “affordable” homes a year—a drop in the bucket. Nationally, £23 billion goes to housing benefits annually, with 60% supporting private tenants, likely a similar story in Cheltenham.

Why does this matter? Because housing isn’t just a roof over your head—it’s about stability, dignity, and the chance to build a life. When 75% of tenants can’t afford rent, and many are stuck in subpar homes, it’s a crisis that ripples through Cheltenham’s communities.

The Cheltenham Tenants Union is fighting for you—join us to demand fair rents, decent homes, and a council that puts tenants first.