Nottingham is one of the UK’s major rental markets — but “how much does it cost to rent here?” has no single answer, because a one-bed swings from around £625 in Bulwell to £1,150 in The Park Estate. This guide gives the real picture: average rents by area and bedroom, how much you need to earn, where the cheapest and dearest areas are, and how the centre compares with the suburbs. It’s built from our own independently researched 13-area data set — no sign-up, no email gate.
Average asking rent (13 areas tracked): 1-bed ~£779 · 2-bed ~£1,019 · 3-bed ~£1,294 pcm · cheapest: Bulwell (1-bed ~£625) · dearest: The Park Estate (1-bed ~£1,150) · income needed for an average 1-bed: ~£31,160/yr (30% rule).
Nottingham is a deep, affordable rental market anchored by two big universities (Nottingham and Nottingham Trent) and more than 60,000 students, a strong financial, retail and life-sciences economy, and major regeneration reshaping the city core. That demand spans very different submarkets: build-to-rent and professional apartments in the city centre and Lace Market, dense student territory in Lenton, Dunkirk and Radford, the affluent family suburb of West Bridgford, versatile Beeston next to the university and Boots, gentrifying Sherwood, Carrington and Mapperley, and high-yield value areas such as Forest Fields, Bulwell and Clifton. Article 4 rules restrict new shared-house conversions across the student zones.
Across the 13 areas we track, 2026 average asking rents are approximately:
| Bedroom | Average (£pcm) | Cheapest area | Most expensive area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bed | £779 | Bulwell ~£625 | The Park Estate ~£1,150 |
| 2-bed | £1,019 | Clifton ~£875 | The Park Estate ~£1,375 |
| 3-bed | £1,294 | Bulwell ~£1,025 | The Park Estate ~£1,850 |
These are asking rents averaged across our tracked areas; the Hutch city-wide flat averages were about £720 (one-bed) and £843 (two-bed), with the East Midlands below the UK average. Treat them as an honest orientation, not a precise transaction figure.
Rent only means something against income. Two rules dominate: the common budgeting guide that rent should be about 30% of gross income, and the letting-agent threshold that many require an annual income of 30× the monthly rent. Here’s what Nottingham’s averages imply:
| Home | Rent (£pcm) | Income — 30% rule | Income — agent 30× |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average 1-bed | £779 | ~£31,160 | ~£23,370 |
| Average 2-bed | £1,019 | ~£40,760 | ~£30,570 |
| The Park Estate 1-bed | £1,150 | ~£46,000 | ~£34,500 |
| Bulwell 1-bed | £625 | ~£25,000 | ~£18,750 |
Also budget for the deposit: since the Tenant Fees Act 2019 a deposit is capped at five weeks’ rent (for annual rents under £50,000) — about £900 on an average one-bed. Want your own figure? Put any rent or salary into our affordability calculator, and see the full how much you need to earn to rent in Nottingham guide.
If value leads, the cheapest one-beds sit in Bulwell (~£625), Radford (~£650), Clifton (~£650) and Forest Fields & Hyson Green (~£675). Full detail in cheapest areas to rent in Nottingham.
At the top end, The Park Estate (~£1,150 one-bed), Lace Market & Hockley (~£950) and Nottingham City Centre (~£875) command a premium for location, amenity and demand.
The clearest divide in Nottingham renting is central premium versus suburban value. Central and premium areas give you a walkable, transport-rich life in mostly one- and two-bed flats — but at the city’s highest rents (around £1,150 for a one-bed). Value areas like Bulwell, Radford and Clifton trade some centrality for much lower rents (~£625–£650). As a rule of thumb, moving from the dearest to the cheapest area saves roughly £525 a month on a one-bed.
All 13 areas we track, by average asking rent and who each best suits. Follow a link to jump to the full area guide below.
| Area | 1-bed | 2-bed | 3-bed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Park Estate | £1,150 | £1,375 | £1,850 | Professionals · premium |
| Lace Market & Hockley | £950 | £1,200 | £1,600 | Professionals · premium |
| Nottingham City Centre | £875 | £1,150 | £1,500 | Professionals · premium |
| West Bridgford | £850 | £1,075 | £1,300 | Families · schools & space |
| Mapperley | £800 | £1,000 | £1,325 | Families · schools & space |
| Lenton & Dunkirk | £750 | £1,100 | £1,350 | Students |
| Sherwood & Carrington | £750 | £925 | £1,150 | Professionals · mixed |
| Beeston | £725 | £950 | £1,150 | Students |
| Forest Fields & Hyson Green | £675 | £925 | £1,250 | Value |
| Arnold | £675 | £900 | £1,100 | Families · schools & space |
| Radford | £650 | £900 | £1,150 | Students |
| Clifton | £650 | £875 | £1,075 | Students |
| Bulwell | £625 | £875 | £1,025 | Value |
Figures are 2026 asking-rent estimates from our Rental Intelligence data set; confidence is Medium for most areas and lower where flagged (thin or HMO-distorted samples). See methodology below.
An honest guide to all 13 areas we track — rents, who each suits, transport, amenities, affordability and the trade-offs. Use the jump links to skip to an area.
Rents: 1-bed ~£875 · 2-bed ~£1,150 · 3-bed ~£1,500 pcm | income for a 1-bed: ~£35,000/yr (30% rule)
Who it suits & getting around. Young professionals, postgrads, corporate relocators, sharers; build-to-rent tenants. Nottingham station (rail + tram interchange) and both NET tram lines; walk to all.
Amenities. Retail/leisure core, City Council, professional/legal, NHS QMC nearby, fintech/BPO. High — Broad Marsh, Island Quarter, Unity Square/HMRC hub.
Advantages: major regeneration nearby. Watch-outs: a thinner data sample (treat rents as indicative); rents above the city average.
Compare with: West Bridgford · Lace Market & Hockley
Rents: 1-bed ~£750 · 2-bed ~£1,100 · 3-bed ~£1,350 pcm | income for a 1-bed: ~£30,000/yr (30% rule)
Who it suits & getting around. Overwhelmingly undergraduate students; HMO/shared houses dominate. NET tram (Univ of Nottingham/QMC stops), buses; ~10-15 min; walk to UoN.
Amenities. Univ of Nottingham (University Park adjacent), Queen’s Medical Centre.
Advantages: deep year-round student demand. Watch-outs: a thinner data sample (treat rents as indicative); student and HMO density.
Compare with: Sherwood & Carrington · Beeston
Rents: 1-bed ~£950 · 2-bed ~£1,200 · 3-bed ~£1,600 pcm | income for a 1-bed: ~£38,000/yr (30% rule)
Who it suits & getting around. Professionals, creatives, higher-earning sharers wanting the cultural quarter. Central; Lace Market tram stop; walk to station (~10-15 min).
Amenities. Creative/digital sector, hospitality, independent retail; adjacent city employers. High — Creative Quarter, Island Quarter, Broad Marsh nearby.
Advantages: major regeneration nearby. Watch-outs: a thinner data sample (treat rents as indicative); rents above the city average.
Compare with: Nottingham City Centre · West Bridgford
Rents: 1-bed ~£850 · 2-bed ~£1,075 · 3-bed ~£1,300 pcm | income for a 1-bed: ~£34,000/yr (30% rule)
Who it suits & getting around. Affluent families, professional couples, downsizers; low student presence. Across Trent Bridge from centre (~10 min); frequent buses; walkable riverside.
Amenities. Commuter belt for city professionals, NHS, County Council; Central Ave retail.
Advantages: good schools and family space. Watch-outs: rents above the city average; bus-reliant, with no rail or tram.
Compare with: Nottingham City Centre · Mapperley
Rents: 1-bed ~£725 · 2-bed ~£950 · 3-bed ~£1,150 pcm | income for a 1-bed: ~£29,000/yr (30% rule)
Who it suits & getting around. Blend — Univ of Nottingham students (adjacent), young professionals, families, hospital staff. NET tram terminus direct to centre ~20 min; Beeston rail; strong buses.
Amenities. Univ of Nottingham (University Park/Jubilee), Boots UK HQ, QMC, Beeston Business Park. Beeston town centre/The Square redevelopment; Boots Enterprise Zone.
Advantages: deep year-round student demand; major regeneration nearby. Watch-outs: student and HMO density.
Compare with: Lenton & Dunkirk · Sherwood & Carrington
Rents: 1-bed ~£750 · 2-bed ~£925 · 3-bed ~£1,150 pcm | income for a 1-bed: ~£30,000/yr (30% rule)
Who it suits & getting around. Young professionals, couples, small families, some sharers; gentrifying pockets. Mansfield Rd bus corridor, very frequent to centre ~10-15 min; near ring road.
Amenities. City-centre commuters, NHS City Hospital (NG5), Sherwood high-street retail.
Advantages: steady demand and low voids. Watch-outs: bus-reliant, with no rail or tram.
Compare with: Lenton & Dunkirk · Beeston
Rents: 1-bed ~£675 · 2-bed ~£925 · 3-bed ~£1,250 pcm | income for a 1-bed: ~£27,000/yr (30% rule)
Who it suits & getting around. Diverse/multicultural, lower-income households, sharers, budget students, HMO tenants. NET tram (Hyson Green/Noel St) direct to centre ~8-10 min; dense buses; central.
Amenities. City-centre and NHS City Hospital commuters; local independent retail. Council-led public realm/housing; Island Quarter/Broad Marsh indirect.
Advantages: major regeneration nearby; among the lower rents in the city. Watch-outs: a thinner data sample (treat rents as indicative); pockets of deprivation.
Rents: 1-bed ~£800 · 2-bed ~£1,000 · 3-bed ~£1,325 pcm | income for a 1-bed: ~£32,000/yr (30% rule)
Who it suits & getting around. Young professionals, couples, families; Mapperley Park sub-area affluent professional. No tram; frequent buses (Woodborough Rd/Mapperley Plains) ~10-15 min; near ring road.
Amenities. Nottingham City Hospital adjacent; city-centre professional/retail; QMC via ring road.
Advantages: good schools and family space. Watch-outs: rents above the city average.
Compare with: Lenton & Dunkirk · West Bridgford
Rents: 1-bed ~£1,150 · 2-bed ~£1,375 · 3-bed ~£1,850 pcm | income for a 1-bed: ~£46,000/yr (30% rule)
Who it suits & getting around. Affluent professionals, executives, consultants at QMC; low turnover. Walk to city centre, castle and station; tram at nearby stops.
Amenities. City-centre legal/financial/professional; QMC/Univ of Nottingham nearby.
Advantages: fast links into the centre. Watch-outs: a thinner data sample (treat rents as indicative); rents above the city average.
Compare with: Lace Market & Hockley · Nottingham City Centre
Rents: 1-bed ~£650 · 2-bed ~£900 · 3-bed ~£1,150 pcm | income for a 1-bed: ~£26,000/yr (30% rule)
Who it suits & getting around. Students, young/lower-income renters, HMO sharers; diverse inner-city population. NET tram (Radford Rd corridor), frequent buses; walk to city and UoN via Lenton.
Amenities. Univ of Nottingham, city centre, QMC; former Raleigh site redevelopment. Ongoing inner-city renewal / former Raleigh site nearby.
Advantages: deep year-round student demand; major regeneration nearby. Watch-outs: student and HMO density; pockets of deprivation.
Compare with: Clifton · Forest Fields & Hyson Green
Rents: 1-bed ~£650 · 2-bed ~£875 · 3-bed ~£1,075 pcm | income for a 1-bed: ~£26,000/yr (30% rule)
Who it suits & getting around. Students (NTU), young families, benefit/value tenants; large former-council estate. NET tram Line 1 terminus direct to city and NTU; A453/M1 J24.
Amenities. NTU Clifton campus adjacent; Nottingham Business Park, Experian, Boots (Beeston). Tram Line 1 extension driving uplift; estate/housing renewal.
Advantages: deep year-round student demand; major regeneration nearby. Watch-outs: a thinner data sample (treat rents as indicative); student and HMO density.
Compare with: Radford · Forest Fields & Hyson Green
Rents: 1-bed ~£675 · 2-bed ~£900 · 3-bed ~£1,100 pcm | income for a 1-bed: ~£27,000/yr (30% rule)
Who it suits & getting around. Families, professionals, downsizers; stable owner-occupier-heavy suburb. Bus only — frequent A60 services to city ~20 min; ring road/A614.
Amenities. Arnold town-centre retail, Gedling Borough; city centre; nearby business parks.
Advantages: good schools and family space; among the lower rents in the city. Watch-outs: bus-reliant, with no rail or tram.
Compare with: Forest Fields & Hyson Green · Radford
Rents: 1-bed ~£625 · 2-bed ~£875 · 3-bed ~£1,025 pcm | income for a 1-bed: ~£25,000/yr (30% rule)
Who it suits & getting around. Value/lower-income tenants, families, benefit-supported; some sharers. NET tram (Bulwell/Bulwell Forest) direct to city; Bulwell rail (Robin Hood Line); M1 J26.
Amenities. Local industrial estates, Bulwell market/retail; city via tram; logistics. Bulwell town-centre and market regeneration; tram a continuing driver.
Advantages: major regeneration nearby; among the lower rents in the city. Watch-outs: a thinner data sample (treat rents as indicative); pockets of deprivation.
Across our 13 tracked areas, averages are ~£779 (1-bed), ~£1,019 (2-bed) and ~£1,294 (3-bed) pcm, with a one-bed ranging from ~£625 (Bulwell) to ~£1,150 (The Park Estate). Asking rents, indicative not transacted.
On the 30%-of-income rule, an average £779 one-bed needs ~£31,160/yr and a £1,019 two-bed ~£40,760. Agents often require 30× monthly rent (£23,370 for that one-bed). See the full affordability guide.
Bulwell (~£625 one-bed), then Radford (~£650) and Clifton (~£650). See cheapest areas.
Yes — moving from the dearest area to a value suburb saves roughly £525/month on a one-bed.
It depends who you are. See best areas to rent and cheapest areas.
Rent figures are 2026 asking rents triangulated from Rightmove, Zoopla, OnTheMarket, Home.co.uk aggregates and official data (ONS/VOA), averaged across our 13 tracked areas. Asking rents run above achieved rents; figures are indicative. Confidence is Medium for most areas and lower where flagged. Affordability uses the 30%-of-income rule, the 30× monthly agent threshold, and the five weeks’ rent deposit cap (Tenant Fees Act 2019). We re-verify quarterly (next review October 2026). Hall’s Homes UK has no commercial relationship with any portal, agent or landlord named — independent research, part of our Rental Intelligence pillar. For the investor angle, see our Buy-to-Let in Nottingham analysis.