A surge in rental activity has encouraged a London-focussed agency to un-furlough some of its staff ahead of an expected relaxation in lockdown restrictions.

Over the past week Chestertons has seen a 28 per cent increase in requests to view its rental properties and has brought a number of lettings staff back to work – working from home – to cope with the high volume of new tenants registering and the demand for virtual viewings. 

Its sales leads has also increased by around 17 per cent over the same period.

“There has been a steady flow of new tenants registering and doing virtual viewing with us in the weeks since lock-down, but over the past week there has definitely been a sharp uplift in the number of enquiries and the number of tenancies which we have been able to agree” explains Richard Davies, the agency’s head of lettings. 

“We have also noticed an increased sense of urgency from the tenants, many of whom are keen to make offers and move as soon as possible, but mindful of following government guidance regarding home moves” he adds.

“It’s also clear that more landlords are now bringing their properties to the market, or at least preparing to do so, as we witnessed a 28 per cent increase in virtual market appraisals and a 24 per cent increase in lettings instructions in the third week of April, compared to the second week.”

Meanwhile the company’s managing director, Guys Gittins, says the first staff to return to work from furlough are lettings negotiators in areas of especially high demand, including Fulham, Islington and South Kensington. 

“We hope to bring more back over the coming weeks in anticipation of a very busy summer for lettings” he says.