AVERAGE rent levels in the region are rising, latest figures show.

The HomeLet Rental Index reveals that the average monthly rate for Yorkshire and Humberside currently stands at £644 – up by 2.2 per cent on the same time last year.

But HomeLet warns that uncertainty over Brexit and its potential impact is causing concern among landlords.

More than a third of the 2,900-plus surveyed voiced worries about how the market would be affected.

According to the latest index, the average monthly rent UK-wide is now £943 – a rise of 1.7 per cent on a year ago.

When London is excluded, the figure stands at £780 – up 1.8 per cent.

Rental prices have increased in all but one of the 12 regions monitored by HomeLet.

The biggest rise – 5.6 per cent – was in Scotland.

Only the north-east has seen a decrease.

Martin Totty, for HomeLet, said: “The fact data for last month shows that rents UK-wide are on average 1.7 per cent higher than the same time last year continues the trend we have been seeing throughout most of 2018.

“Historically, we have seen a higher rate of rental price growth in London and the south-east. However, over the last six months, the rate of growth in these areas has slowed to reflect a similar rate to the rest of the country.

“Throughout the UK, the trend is one of fairly narrow, shallow growth over a longer period of time.

“Over the last year, the growth rate has remained below the average rate of inflation in the wider economy, and the growth in the housing market.

“The rental sector can be seen to be performing at a much steadier rate, with a lower level of volatility when compared with house prices.”

Nine out of ten landlords in the latest survey indicated that they intend to maintain or expand their property portfolio during the next year, but there are concerns.

Mr Totty said: “Our initial results show that the three main concerns landlords have are further changes to legislation, the potential implications of Brexit and house price values.

“The results suggest that while landlords are not planning to leave the market at this stage, uncertainty over the wider economic picture – especially when Brexit is added into the mix – could easily change this.

“The current, steady growth within the private rental sector suits the needs of both tenants and landlords.

“However, should landlords change their stance and begin to exit the market, therefore reducing the supply of properties, there is a possibility that rental prices could rise further.”