Propertymark reports that the average number of would-be tenants registering per agency branch jumped from around 60 before the year-end to 87 by late January. 

In its latest market snapshot – referring to the first month of 2026 – it says there was also growth in the number of properties available to rent.

But while supply was up by 12% in a month, there were still roughly seven tenants chasing each available rental home.

Propertymark agents also report a reduction in the number of tenants with significant arrears – it’s now just 2.1% of the rental population, a lower-than-average proportion.

On the sales side – looking at data before the Iran War set back hopes of interest rate cuts – the trade body says each agency branch saw an average 9.6 homes come to the market in January. 

In addition, the number of appraisals in January rose to an average of 21 per branch. 

The average number of sales agreed per Propertymark branch rose to 6.3 over the month.