That’s the view of Knight Frank which says the number of new prospective tenants was four per cent above the five-year average in the week ending May 30 – and the same number as that recorded in the second week of March, before the pandemic impacted property markets.

The number of new lettings properties on the market was more resilient while the property market was subject to lockdown measures. As demand comes back, that imbalance now appears to be reversing.

“There was a slight hangover from the lockdown in terms of more lettings properties on the market” says Gary Hall, head of lettings at Knight Frank.

“It still feels like it’s more of a tenants market but we are going into the busiest period of the year and I would expect supply to come down. It’s not in every case, but we are agreeing plenty of deals at the asking rent” he adds.

In a further indication of strengthening demand, the number of web hits for lettings properties has risen significantly since the property market re-opened. The figure was 39 per cent higher than the five-year average in the week ending May 30.

The agency says demand is expected to strengthen further as there is more clarity surrounding the re-opening of schools, which has caused some tenants to postpone their move.

Given the thin trading seen during the lockdown of the property market, Knight Frank has revised prime London indices downwards for March and April.

This is based on an analysis of achieved rental values over the last 10 weeks, as well as other economic and housing market data.

Average rental values in prime central London fell by 1.7 per cent in May, taking the annual change to a fall of 3.9 per cent. Meanwhile, the monthly decline in prime outer London was 1.6 per cent in May, producing an annual decline of 4.7 per cent.

The quarterly decline of 4.7 per cent recorded in May in prime central London is the largest such drop since March 2009, as the market felt the impact of the global financial crisis.

Tags: Government Advice, Housing Shortage & Affordability, London, Property Icons, Uk Property Market Analysis

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