Jump in chain-free homes as owners sell up and rent in short-term

Rightmove logo
  • One in five (21%) available properties on Rightmove are now chain-free, a jump from around one in six (15%) this time last year as sellers look to take advantage of record buyer demand
  • The percentage of chain-free homes available is up in all regions and the biggest shift is in London, jumping from 12% of homes this time last year to 21% now
  • The shift is a sign of more people moving into renting so they are in prime position when they  find a suitable home to buy or to try out a new location, along with some landlords selling up
  • Nationally, rental demand is 41% higher in February than in the same month last year
  • In February the number of buyers searching for ‘no chain’ in Rightmove’s keyword sort tool was 72% higher than in February 2020 as they rush to make use of the stamp duty savings

There are signs more home-owners are selling up and moving into rental properties so they are in a stronger buying position when their dream home comes up for sale, according to data out today from the UK’s biggest property website Rightmove.

Compared to last year there has been an increase from 15% to 21% in the proportion of available properties up for sale on Rightmove that are chain-free.

The shift is most marked in London where the percentage of chain-free homes has jumped from 12% this time last year to 21% now. There is corresponding strong growth in rental demand of over 40% in the neighbouring regions of the South East and South West as some people choose to sell up and rent outside of the capital for now. There are also some landlords selling up in the capital due to falling rents.

Those who are selling up may also be taking advantage of securing the best price for their home while the stamp duty holiday is in place as an incentive for their buyers, and others who have chosen to move out of a city may be planning to rent first to make sure country life is definitely for them.

Those staying in London may also be looking to make use of the double digit declines in rents in some areas until they find somewhere to buy.

The strongest sellers’ market in a decade means that currently almost two out of three properties on an agents’ books are sold subject to contract. There are signs however that new listings have been starting to improve over the past few weeks.

Rightmove’s Director of Property Data Tim Bannister says: “We know that one of the reasons sellers are often hesitant to come to market is because they can’t find somewhere that they want to buy, but with record buyer demand and the stamp duty holiday being an added incentive for prospective buyers there seems to be a group of people who are choosing to sell up now and rent temporarily.

“The flexibility of renting gives people the chance to ‘try before you buy’ in a new area and so those who have chosen to move to the countryside may be selling their house chain-free to then rent and take time to decide if the good life is definitely for them.

“Selling chain-free is perhaps something some owners hadn’t considered as a possibility before now, but with the competitive market and stock shortage we currently have they’re trying to put themselves in a more attractive position when their dream home comes along. In the capital there are also some landlords who are selling up now, which could open up an opportunity for some first-time buyers looking for their first home.”

Region % of chain-free homes 2021 % of chain-free homes 2020 Annual change in rental demand
East Midlands 24% 19% +60%
East of England 23% 18% +50%
London 21% 12% +22%
North East 20% 15% +47%
North West 23% 18% +45%
Scotland 2% 1% +21%
South East 22% 14% +41%
South West 20% 15% +40%
Wales 21% 16% +56%
West Midlands 24% 18% +61%
Yorkshire & The Humber 21% 17% +48%
Great Britain 21% 15% +41%

Rightmove

UK Property news updates shared directly from Rightmove PLC - the country's leading property portal.

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

60% of homeowners admit to stress & sleepless nights

Managing your mortgage and mental health as 60% of homeowners admit to stress and sleepless nights The latest insight from award-winning mortgage adviser, Alexander Hall, has shown that for the majority of homeowners, their mortgage is their single largest financial worry, with 60% stating that their mortgage worries have impacted their mental health at one…
Read More
Commercial Agent Talk

Improve Tenant Satisfaction with Expert Commercial Property Management

In the world of commercial real estate, tenant satisfaction can make or break a property’s success. Happy tenants are more likely to renew leases, recommend the property to others, and take better care of the premises. However, achieving and maintaining tenant satisfaction requires more than just a well-maintained building—it takes expertise, communication, and a strategic…
Read More
Breaking News

Attic bedrooms can boost the price of a home by a quarter

Latest research from Nationwide reveals how home improvements can boost property prices in 2025 Analysis based on Nationwide’s HPI data shows extensions or loft conversions with a bedroom can increase value by up to 24% But kitchen and bathroom renovations most popular improvements amongst homeowners in last five years 34% made green improvements, such as…
Read More
Breaking News

Prime London sellers exit the market

Prime London sellers exit the market, as high-end for sale stock falls in Q3 The latest look at prime London property supply from Jefferies London has shown that the volume of homes priced at £2m or more listed for sale across the capital fell by 4.3% during the third quarter of 2025, accounting for just…
Read More
Planning disputes on new build land
Breaking News

Government’s last-minute Planning Bill amendments will tackle blockers and boost growth

The Government has announced several major amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which further streamline the planning process. They include reducing the length of consultation, stripping uncooperative councils of the right to make certain decisions, and paring back the impact and ability to raise legal disputes. Richard Beresford, Chief Executive of the National Federation…
Read More
Breaking News

Next budget a “pivotal moment for the property market”

The UK government is due to unveil its next budgetary statement in November, with many rumours circulating on how it’ll affect the property market. While many rumours are circulating among thought leaders and economists, Mitchell Martyn, property expert from Pure Property Finance, a property finance specialist based in the UK, says that this next budget…
Read More