Rents were up in June as voids dipped and tenant salaries were high, according to the latest Rental Index from Goodlord.
Rents climbed upwards for the fifth consecutive month in June as voids swooped downwards, according to the latest Rental Index from Goodlord. Salaries of tenants are also remaining high as the rental market continues its streak of high demand.
Rents up again in June
Rents rose by an average of 2.8% during June, taking the average cost of a rental property in England from £1,020 to £1,050 per month.
A rise in rental costs was recorded in 7 out of the 8 regions monitored by Goodlord. The highest rise was seen in the South West, where a sizeable 10% increase in the cost of rent was recorded. A large rise was also recorded in the North East - the home of the cheapest rents in the country - where costs rose by 8% over the last month.
The only region to record a decrease was the West Midlands, where a 2% reduction in prices was recorded.
This is the fifth consecutive month of rising prices for rental homes in England, following a slight cooling of costs over the winter months. Average prices in June are, however, still below the record breaking highs recorded in September 2021, when prices hit £1,104 per property.
Voids drop as demand remains high
In a further reflection of ongoing market demand, voids dropped by 10% during June. The average void period for a property in England is now 17 days, down from 19 days in May.
At a regional level, this included some dramatic reductions. In the North East, voids dropped by 35%, moving down from 20 days to just 13. The South West saw a 30% drop and the South East 25%.
Once again, the West Midlands was the only region to buck the trend - seeing a 20% increase in void periods. The West Midlands now has the highest void periods in the country at 24 days, the longest void average recorded for any region since January 2022.
Tenant salaries remain buoyant
Tenant salaries are up very slightly month on month, with a rise of less than 1%. The average take-home pay for a renter in England is now £29,275.
This is 14% higher when compared to year-on-year averages. This rise in salaries outstrips the 9.33% year-on-year increase in the cost of rent recorded over the last 12 months.
Tom Mundy, COO at Goodlord, comments:
“It’s safe to say that there’s a huge amount to contend with in the lettings sector right now. We’re heading towards what tends to be the busiest season for rentals with a market that’s already extremely busy thanks to high demand and low stock.
"Add to this the major changes coming up as a result of the Renter’s Reform Bill and we’re on track for a hugely impactful few months for both agents and landlords. Things are set to be intense for the foreseeable future; all stakeholders just make sure their operations are as streamlined as possible if they want to engage effectively with the current market.”
Free landlord newsletter templates
You can now send the latest Goodlord Rental Index data straight to your landlords using Goodlord's free email newsletter templates.
The templates include the average monthly rent, void periods, and age and income of tenants in England, as well as the latest legislation news.
Goodlord customers can customise their templates using their agency's own data through their Agent Hub. The free email templates are available now.
