R
ents in San Diego County have increased by 4.1% year-over-year, with the city of San Diego seeing a notable spike of 9.3%, according to a recent survey by the Southern California Rental Housing Association (SCRHA). This uptick comes as inventory remains tight across the region.

    The SCRHA's annual survey provides valuable insights into the local rental market, helping housing providers navigate changing conditions with reliable data. While rents have risen modestly, they remain below 2023 levels in many areas. The city's progress on new housing is a promising sign, with 8,500 new homes permitted in 2024.

    Vacancy rates continue to decline, with region-wide availability dropping to 3.6% and the city of San Diego's rate decreasing to 3.12%. This trend suggests renewed demand and cautious optimism as new housing development begins to catch up. The SCRHA has been tracking rental and vacancy data in the San Diego region since the 1950s.

    The association releases its survey data after a three-month delay to avoid influencing real-time pricing, in compliance with federal antitrust guidelines. The data revealed in this survey is from the point-in-time survey conducted in March 2025 with rental property owners and managers.