Average rent in Sefton
The average private rent in Sefton was £940 a month in September 2026, +5.0% on a year earlier. A two-bedroom home costs £815, 37% below the UK average of £1,287 and 8% below the average for the North West. It is the 13th most expensive of 35 areas in the North West. Over the past year, 3 bed homes rose fastest (+5.3%).
Rent by number of bedrooms
Average monthly private rent (pcm).
Salary needed to rent in Sefton
Two common tests: rent at no more than 30% of gross income, and the letting-agent referencing check of an annual income at least 30× the monthly rent.
| Home | Rent (pcm) | Salary for 30% rule | Agent check (30× rent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | £623 | £24,920 | £18,690 |
| 2 bedrooms | £815 | £32,600 | £24,450 |
The median full-time salary for Sefton residents is £36,937 (2025, £19.74 an hour). A one-bedroom at the average rent takes 20% of that before tax, within the 30% guideline.
Renting vs buying in Sefton
How rents in Sefton have changed
Average rent is +54.4% since 2016.
| Year | Average rent | 2 bed |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | £940 | £815 |
| 2025 | £895 | £777 |
| 2024 | £830 | £719 |
| 2023 | £757 | £655 |
| 2022 | £705 | £611 |
| 2021 | £668 | £581 |
| 2020 | £644 | £562 |
| 2019 | £634 | £554 |
| 2018 | £625 | £547 |
| 2017 | £619 | £542 |
| 2016 | £609 | £534 |
Areas with similar rents
| # | Area | Region | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | Change (12m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Torbay | South West | £621 | £819 | £1,001 | +3.7% |
| 2 | Forth Valley | Scotland | £596 | £811 | £1,061 | +1.1% |
| 3 | Fenland | East of England | £628 | £809 | £982 | +3.7% |
| 4 | North Norfolk | East of England | £623 | £809 | £1,003 | +4.0% |
| 5 | Bolton | North West | £658 | £822 | £997 | +9.7% |
| 6 | South Derbyshire | East Midlands | £614 | £806 | £1,013 | +4.9% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Sefton?
The average private rent in Sefton was £940 a month in September 2026, up 5.0% on a year earlier. A one-bedroom averaged £623 and a two-bedroom £815 (ONS Price Index of Private Rents).
What salary do you need to rent in Sefton?
To keep a £623 one-bedroom rent within 30% of gross income you need about £24,920 a year. Letting agents usually ask for an annual income of 30 times the monthly rent, which is £18,690. The median full-time salary for residents is £36,937.
Is Sefton expensive to rent compared with the rest of the UK?
A two-bedroom in Sefton costs £815 a month, 37% below the UK average of £1,287. It ranks 97 of 282 larger UK areas from cheapest to most expensive.
Rents: ONS Price Index of Private Rents (September 2026), average of new and existing private tenancies — official statistics in development. House prices: HM Land Registry UK House Price Index. Pay: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, median gross pay of full-time employees by place of residence. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. See our methodology.