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Graham Awards

TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

Rents fall and void periods lengthen as supply starts to exceed demand

Rents outside of London have dropped by 0.2 per cent in the third quarter of this year according to new data from Rightmove.

This sharply bucks the traditional autumn trend and is fuelled by a particular fall in south east England of 2.3 per cent on the previous quarter. This is due to what Rightmove calls “steadily increasing supply since last year’s second home stamp duty changes.”

London asking rents are at their lowest at this time of year since 2013, although a drop in supply and increased demand could mean rental prices will start to rise again soon, the portal suggests.

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Properties are taking eight per cent longer to find a tenant outside London and five per cent longer in London than at this time last year.

“Since last April’s second home stamp duty changes came in the supply of new rental properties in the south east has been steadily increasing, up 5.5% on this time last year” says Rightmove’s head of lettings Sam Mitchell.

“Agents are reporting that some investors looking for better yields are shifting their focus from London to instead buy in the surrounding counties of Surrey, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. The increase in stock in the south east has led to softening in rents in some areas where there is less competition among tenants, but they are holding up in key commuter areas where tenant demand is strong” he continues.

Asking rents in London have continued their downward trend this month, and are now at their lowest at this time of year since 2013, at an average of £1,920. 

New listings are down 3.7 per cent in London on Q3 last year, the only region in the south to see a drop in new supply.

“Last year the supply of rental properties in London increased as much as 26 per cent when investors rushed to buy ahead of the stamp duty changes, leading to cooling rents over the last 12 months in the capital. Now it appears that rental investors are starting to move their money away from London with a number of agents across London saying that investors are being replaced by first-time buyers” Mitchell continues. 

“This is likely to constrict rental supply in the capital and lead to rents increasing again, so now would be a good time for prospective tenants to act, before this happens.”

  • Kristjan Byfield

    Whoever these landlords are they can come to us- we have never been so low on available stock after a great year to date. Mystified by articles on this topic as everyone I talk to in London is in a simialr boat to us.

  • jeremy clarke

    Likewise, here in Christchurch rents are strong, demand is high but supply is pitiful! Currently leading to agents taking on property at any price to get instructions - a corporate recently listed a property at £1450 pcm, it was reduced 3 times over a period of 6 weeks before final listing at £1050 showing as let. When we first saw it we discussed it in the office and concluded that £1000 pcm would have been right so looks like landlord waited 6 weeks to get £50 extra a month!! If the property is well presented and the price is right it will let in a week.

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