Manchester’s lettings market has become more competitive, with homes snapped up faster than they were a year ago.
The latest Manchester market report firm Rentaroof found the average rental property spent 21 days on the market during the second quarter of 2026, compared with 24 days during the same period last year.
This is despite average asking rents increasing by 2.7% to £1,162 in Q2 2026.
The city is in the spotlight at the moment because of its influence over new Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Almost four out of 10 rental properties let within just 14 days of going on the market; Didsbury, Ancoats and Chorlton-cum-Hardy were among the fastest-moving rental markets in the city, with properties typically letting in less than two weeks.
The report also found that:
- Average rents increased across all property types:
- Rooms recorded the biggest annual price increase, rising by 10.4%.
- Flat rents rose by 6.3%, while houses increased by 5.4%;
- Flats remain the most advertised property type across Manchester;
- The average asking rent in Manchester city centre reached £1,356 per month (increasing by 10.4% YOY), compared with £1,280 in Strangeways (rising 13%) and £1,193 in Hulme (+17.1%).
The findings broadly reflect similar pricing reports, with official Office for National Statistics data showing average private rents in Manchester reached £1,352 during May 2026.
While rising rents might normally be expected to cool demand, Rentaroof says the opposite is happening because demand for homes continues to significantly exceed supply across much of Manchester.
Chief executive Jasper de Groot comments: “The biggest factor driving Manchester’s rental market remains the imbalance between supply and demand.
“The city continues to attract new residents through its universities, expanding employment market and growing economy, but the number of homes becoming available isn’t increasing at the same pace.
“Higher rents don’t remove the need for somewhere to live. Instead, they intensify competition, particularly for more affordable homes.
“That’s reflected in room rents increasing by more than 10% over the past year, as renters increasingly compete for lower-cost options.
“Many renters now recognise that waiting even a few days to arrange a viewing can mean missing out altogether. Although rents have continued to rise, properties are still letting faster because demand remains exceptionally strong.”
The report analysed 6,798 rental listings across Manchester during the quarter, with around a third marketed as student-friendly accommodation, highlighting the continuing importance of students and young professionals within the city’s rental market.
De Groot adds: “This is the first quarter since the Renters’ Rights Act came into force, so these insights provide an important baseline for understanding how Manchester’s rental market is likely to continue to evolve.
“One area we’ll be watching particularly closely is landlord pricing. With rental bidding wars no longer permitted, landlords in high-demand locations may increasingly advertise properties at the price they realistically expect to achieve, rather than relying on competition between applicants to drive rents upwards.
“At the same time, we’re already seeing more landlords seek professional management as the new legislation increases compliance requirements.
“Together, those changes are likely to influence how the rental market operates over the next 12 months.”
