Hottest UK cities for rental demand revealed

January 15, 2020

The latest research by rental management platform, Howsy, has looked at where across the UK is kicking off a new decade with the highest tenant demand for buy-to-let homes.

Howsy looked at rental listings across the major online portals and analysed demand across 23 major UK cities as well as each borough of London, based on the proportion of rental listings that had already been snapped up by renters as a percentage of all listings available online.

By doing so, Howsy is able to identify just where the hottest pockets of the rental market currently are and where buy-to-let properties are flying off the shelves due to a combination of high tenant demand and lower levels of housing stock.

Most in-demand UK cities

When it comes to current demand, Newport is home to the highest level of tenant demand with 35% of all rental homes listed on the major portals already let.

Bristol also remains one of the most in-demand cities for rental properties at 34%, with Nottingham (33%), Cambridge (33%) and Belfast (25%) also ranking in the top five.

Plymouth (23%), Portsmouth (23%), Bournemouth (23%), Leicester (18%) and Manchester (18%) complete the top 10.

Aberdeen remains the least sought after area for rental properties in the UK with tenant demand at 5% followed by Swansea (8%) and Leeds (9%).

London 

Within the capital, Bexley, Bromley, Sutton and Lewisham are the hottest boroughs for tenants straight off the bat in 2020, with 38% of all rental stock listed online already being snapped up.

Merton (32%), Croydon (31%), Greenwich (30%), Haringey (29%), Enfield (29%) and Kingston (27%) are also amongst the most popular.

The high financial barrier of rental costs is evident at the top end of the ladder with Kensington and Chelsea (7%), Westminster (7%), Camden (11%), the City of London (12%) and Hammersmith and Fulham (13%) all ranking with the lowest number of properties let as a percentage of total properties listed.

Founder and CEO of Howsy, Calum Brannan, commented:

“The buy-to-let sector may have had a rough ride of late but the UK rental market is still heavily relied upon by many in order to put a roof over their head and as a result, many cities still provide a great opportunity for buy-to-let investors due to the lower levels of available stock and consistently high tenant demand.

When looking to invest, this combination of high demand, an affordable initial cost and a good rental yield should all be considered in order to maximise a return. For those that do their research and tick these boxes, bricks and mortar remains a very sound investment despite attempts to dampen the financial return via stamp duty hikes and changes to tax relief.

Hopefully, a newly refreshed Government will realise that the buy-to-let landlord is the backbone of the UK rental market and we need to encourage investment into the sector rather than deter it.”

UK Cities – Top 10 Highest Demand
Location
Rental demand
Newport
35%
Bristol
34%
Nottingham
33%
Cambridge
33%
Belfast
25%
Plymouth
23%
Portsmouth
23%
Bournemouth
23%
Leicester
18%
Manchester
18%
UK Cities – Top 10 Lowest Demand
Location
Rental demand
Aberdeen
5%
Swansea
8%
Leeds
9%
Edinburgh
10%
Birmingham
14%
Cardiff
14%
Newcastle
14%
Liverpool
15%
Sheffield
16%
Southampton
16%
London – Top 10 Highest Demand
Borough
Rental demand
Bexley
38%
Bromley
38%
Sutton
38%
Lewisham
38%
Merton
32%
Croydon
31%
Greenwich
30%
Haringey
29%
Enfield
29%
Kingston upon Thames
27%
London – Top 10 Highest Demand
Borough
Rental demand
Kensington and Chelsea
7%
Westminster
7%
Camden
11%
City of London
12%
Hammersmith and Fulham
13%
Ealing
14%
Brent
15%
Tower Hamlets
19%
Barnet
19%
Richmond upon Thames
20%

Properganda PR

National and local media coverage for property businesses. Journo quotes delivered in minutes.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Halifax House Price Index November – Thoughts from the Industry

Halifax House Price Index for November 2025 shows that: – On a monthly basis, house prices were broadly unchanged in November (0%) after a 0.5% monthly increase in October Annually, house prices were up 0.7% versus this time last year. As a result, the current average property price is now £299,892.   Here are some…
Read More →
Breaking News

Halifax House Price Index November 2025

House prices in November 2025 were flat compared to the same month a year earlier. UK house prices hold steady as yearly growth slows • House prices were broadly unchanged in November (+0.0%) after a +0.5% rise in October • Average property price is now £299,892, edging up to another new record high • Annual…
Read More →
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Skipton in North Yorkshire crowned 2025’s happiest place to live

Skipton in North Yorkshire has been crowned the happiest place to live in Great Britain for the first time, in an annual study completed by thousands of residents across more than 200 local areas Residents of Skipton ranked the market town particularly highly for its access to nature and green spaces, the friendliness of the…
Read More →
Breaking News

National Estate Agent Day

iamproperty has created a new date for the property industry calendar – the first National Estate Agent Day. The awareness day has been created and registered by iamproperty and has an official spot in the UK National Awareness Days calendar starting next year on 26th February. This annual calendar date will become the official celebration…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Propertymark urges households to check carbon monoxide alarms and heating systems

As temperatures drop and households across the UK rely more heavily on boilers, gas fires, and open flames, Propertymark is urging everyone to take simple steps to protect themselves from the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO), the “silent killer.” Carbon monoxide has no smell, taste, or colour, yet even small amounts can cause a serious…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Autumn Budget 2025: Key advice for homeowners, buyers and landlords

The UK’s Autumn Budget delivered several headline-grabbing policies that will directly shape the future of the housing market. While initial reactions ranged from concern to confusion, property experts say the sector should take a measured, informed view, particularly as many changes won’t take effect for several years. From understanding who is going to face implications,…
Read More →