Increased supply sees rents cool across Britain
By |Published On: 13th September 2016|

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Increased supply sees rents cool across Britain

By |Published On: 13th September 2016|

This article is an external press release originally published on the Landlord News website, which has now been migrated to the Just Landlords blog.

New data suggests that the level of rents achieved across Britain fell over the last month in more than half of all regions.

The latest monthly letting index from Countrywide shows that rents fell year-on-year in five of the nine regions assessed during August. However, for Great Britain as a whole, average rents on new lets actually increased by 1.5% to £960 per month.

Rises in new rents were driven by growth in Greater London, the East and North of England and Scotland.

Ups and downs

While overall rents rose, the estate agency group also reports that rents dropped in central London, the South East, South West, Midlands and in Wales. This reflects a substantial rise in the supply of housing coming onto the private rental market.

Johnny Morris, research director at Countrywide, noted: ‘in London and the South East, recent increases in the number of homes available to rent, outpacing the growth in tenants looking for a home, has meant that bargaining power is shifting towards tenants from landlords. This is slowing rental growth.’[1]

‘Overall slightly more tenants are offering above asking price than last year. The majority continue to pay asking prices. Unlike the sales market rental prices adapt very quickly to changes in market conditions, meaning asking prices are finely tuned to tenant demand.’[1]

Above asking prices

The information shown below indicates the proportion of homes let above their asking price in different regions of the UK during August:

Region Aug-15 Aug-16 change
Greater London 17% 13% -3.7%
Central London 17% 8% -8.9%
East of England 13% 15% 2.3%
South East 14% 14% 0.1%
South West 12% 15% 3.1%
Midlands 10% 11% 0.9%
North 10% 10% -0.3%
Wales 11% 8% -2.7%

GB             12%     12%     0.2%

[1]

Increased supply sees rents cool across Britain

Increased supply sees rents cool across Britain

Rental prices (per month) for New Lets

Region Ave Rent Aug-16 Ave Rent Jul-16 Ave Rent Aug-15 August Rent YOY
Greater London £1,299 £1,280 £1,288 0.9%
Central London £2,434 £2,638 £2,484 -2.0%
East of England £977 £963 £912 7.1%
South East £1,188 £1,173 £1,205 -1.4%
South West £862 £856 £853 -1.1%
Midlands £705 £703 £708 -0.4%
North £697 £694 £676 3.1%
Scotland £726 £689 £696 4.3%
Wales £669 £671 £672 -0.4%
GB £960 £951 £946 1.5%

[1] https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2016/9/rents-cool-across-half-of-britain-as-supply-increases

 

About the Author: Em Morley (she/they)

Em is the Content Marketing Manager for Just Landlords, with over five years of experience writing for insurance and property websites. Together with the knowledge and expertise of the Just Landlords underwriting team, Em aims to provide those in the property industry with helpful resources. When she’s not at her computer researching and writing property and insurance guides, you’ll find her exploring the British countryside, searching for geocaches.

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