£200 increase in void period penalties for landlords
The latest analysis by Dwelly, one of the UK’s leading lettings acquisition and success planning experts, has found that landlords have been hit with a 26% increase in the cost of void periods in the past year, equivalent to lost income of almost £200.
Dwelly analysed average void period data from March 2024 and March 2025, alongside average monthly rent change in that same time period, to reveal how the cost of void periods for England’s landlords has changed in the past year.
Average void period has increased
The analysis reveals that in March 2024, landlords in England experienced an average void period of 18 days between one tenant moving out and another moving in. By March 2025, this had increased by three days to create an average void period of 21 days.
The largest increases in average void period have been recorded in West Midlands and East Midlands, both of which have seen an annual increase of 5 days to reach a March 2025 average of 25 days and 23 days respectively.
Meanwhile, Yorkshire & Humber and the North East both saw the average void period increase by three days.
In fact, only one region has seen the average void period decrease over the past year, and that is London where the number of days in which a property sits vacant between tenants fell by one to sit at an average of 15 days.
26% increase in rental income lost to void periods
For landlords, an increase in the average void period results in an increased loss of rental income and Dwelly’s research reveals that in England, this increase stands at almost 26% over the past year; growth that results not only from longer void periods, but also the rising cost of rent.
In March 2024, England’s average rent sat at £1,285 per month. As such, the average void period of 18 days effectively cost landlords an average of £760 in lost rental income.
One year later, the average rent sits at £1,386 per month. Therefore the average void period of 21 days costs the landlord £957; an average annual increase of £196, or 25.8% in lost income.
Landlords in the East Midlands have endured the largest percentage increase with lost income growing by 38.4% on the year, equivalent to an additional cost £183.
Meanwhile, the biggest cash cost increase has been endured by landlords in the West Midlands where a void period cost increase of 33.7% is equivalent to additional lost income of £191.
Even in London, the only region in which the average void period has decreased, the increase in rent values — growing from £2,056 in March 2024 to £2,243 in 2025 – means that the average cost of voids has still increased by 2.3%.
Sam Humphreys, Head of M&A at Dwelly, commented:
“The rising value of rent is usually a positive for landlords, however, there is a downside when it comes to increasing void periods as the higher the rental income, the greater the amount lost whilst a property lies empty.
So whilst the average void period may have only crept up by three days over the past year, when this is coupled with a substantial increase in rental values, the result is a substantial pretty hefty loss in rental income.
Of course, landlords can mitigate the risk of losing income to void periods by ensuring that they employ the services of a great lettings agent – one who can act quickly and decisively with great knowledge of the local rental market to ensure that when one tenant moves out, there is another in line to occupy the property straight away.
Technology can also play a vital role in this respect, as it allows letting agents to streamline their internal operations, so that when they do find a replacement tenant, they can be onboarded at speed.”
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