The latest lettings market snapshot from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors shows that a significant majority of members expect yet more rent rises in between now and Christmas.
The RICS survey is based on sentiment and prediction, and the latest - out today - has a net balance of +47 of respondents noting a rise in tenant demand; however, new landlord instructions fell slightly with a reading of -20.
The institution says that given this mismatch between demand and supply, a net balance of +60 per cent of contributors foresee rental prices being driven higher over the coming three months.
In the sales market, the pace continues to slow with house prices remaining on a downward spiral.
The survey indicator for house prices nationally, in terms of net balance, continued to fall from -55 in July, to -68, marking the most negative reading since 2009.
New buyer enquiries declined slightly from the -45 posted last time, to -47, with new sale instructions following a similar trend, slipping from -17 in July to -26 this time round.
Survey respondents reported a decline in newly agreed sales, falling from -45 to -47, which marks the weakest reading for this indicator since the pandemic.
RICS Chief Economist, Simon Rubinsohn, comments: “The latest round of feedback from RICS members continues to point to a sluggish housing market with little sign of any relief in prospect.
“Buyer enquiries remain under pressure against a backdrop of economic uncertainty and the high cost of mortgage finance. Meanwhile, prices are continuing to slip albeit that the relatively modest fall to date needs to be seen in the context of the substantial rise recorded during the pandemic period. Critically, affordability metrics still remain stretched in many parts of the country.
“The other side of the softer demand in the sales market is the continuing strength of rental demand. The yawning gap with rental supply is clearly visible in the RICS Rent Expectations indicator which remains close to an all-time high.
“Anecdotal comments from contributors that landlords are leaving the sector suggests the challenging environment for tenants is unlikely to improve any time soon”.
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Landlords are leaving the sector because of the legislation before Parliament.
However, existing landlords may or may not increase their rents. They have to consider affordability. Tenants have to be able to pay the rents and having a high theoretical rent but no payment from tenants is much worse than charging a reasonable amount and having the rent coming in regularly.
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