A property management firm claims there’s been a significant rise in reactive maintenance call-outs across the UK – and says the situation is going to get worse.
The analysis, based on almost 60,000 annual property management call-outs recorded across the UK, highlights that East London (E) accounts for the single largest share of call-out activity at 6.9% of the national total, with South West London (SW) close behind at 6.6%.
Regional cities such as Manchester (M) at 5.2% and Birmingham (B) at 4.8% also represent significant volumes, followed by South East London (SE) at 4.7%.
This pattern reflects not only the density and scale of the private rented sector in these locations, but also the complexity and urgency of property issues managed by agents operating in urban centres.
While London continues to see the largest volumes of maintenance callouts overall, some of the fastest-growing areas for property management call-outs are outside the capital. Adiuvo’s data shows that among postcodes that had at least 100 call outs in 2024, Truro (TR) recorded the largest annual increase, rising by 77.5% between 2023 and 2024.
Worcester (WR) recorded a 64.1% increase in call-out volumes, while Bath (BA) saw a 51.1% annual rise. The Cardiff (CF) postcode area followed closely, with a 50% increase in activity, while Swindon (SN) experienced a 49.8% rise, and Gloucester (GL) recorded a 49.6% jump.
The firm claims the Renters Rights Bill – which could become law as soon as this week – may accelerate the trend.
This combination of pre-emptive landlord action, housing stock upgrades and an evolving compliance landscape could significantly increase the operational burden on property managers and their support partners, especially in regions already showing rapid growth in call-out activity.
A spokesperson comments: “While London remains the volume leader, our data shows that pressure on property management teams is now rising fastest outside the capital – in places like Worcester, Bath and Cardiff – driven by higher tenancy turnover, ageing housing stock and rental market growth.
“That pressure is only set to intensify. With the Renters Rights Bill approaching Royal Assent, we expect further disruption as landlords look to act before key changes take effect. This could include attempts to reclaim properties before the Section 21 ban, or the need to carry out major works to meet energy efficiency or safety requirements.
“For managing agents and landlords alike, this means greater urgency, higher workloads and the need for trusted, round-the-clock support. The days of reactive maintenance being a purely urban or London-centric issue are gone, this is now a nationwide challenge.”
