A PropTech firm that manufactures virtual tours claims the feature can increase the asking rents of properties listed.

Digital company U-See Homes claims that across the UK, the average monthly rent currently sits at £997. 

Homes with virtual tours apparently add £85 to their monthly rental income.

In London, by some margin the UK’s most expensive rental market, the average monthly rent is £1,583 but for properties with virtual tours the average is an additional £135.

And in the North East, the UK’s most affordable lettings market, virtual tours could add as much as £48 to the average monthly rental income of £560 the firm claims.

Simon Dempsey, head of marketing at the firm, says: “The added value that guided virtual tours can offer to both homeowners and landlords is evident but they’re only able to utilise this technology if their agent of choice offers it.” 

The same company last week released research showing that just four per cent of properties listed on Rightmove and Zoopla carried virtual viewings.

It had analysed properties on sale in various cities and found that even in the ‘best’ location, only 17 per cent of homes listed on the two leading portals had virtual options. Most had just between two and five per cent.