Landlords return as rental stock lifts in wake of market restrictions easing

May 21, 2020

In the wake of last week’s ease of property market restrictions, the number of rental properties hitting the market surged by as much as +44% in some UK cities as landlords returned and letting agents were able to resume business.

Howsy’s research analysed the number of available rental properties listed across the major portals the day after lockdown restrictions were eased across the UK property market, before comparing this to the number of properties listed in April.

The figures show that across 23 major UK cities, the number of rental properties now available to UK tenants has seen an immediate uplift of 5% on average. This increase has been driven by just seven cities, while the rest have seen further declines in rental stock levels.

The largest increase based on the sheer number of properties has been in London, with an additional 6,838 immediately hitting the portals, an increase of +15%.

In terms of percentage increases, Edinburgh has seen the largest influx with an uplift of +44%.

Cambridge has seen rental stock bolstered by +19%, with Aberdeen (+16%) also registering a double-digit increase.

Glasgow (+6%), Oxford (+5%), and Manchester (+0.2%) have also seen a lift in rental stock levels.

However, other cities are yet to see a knee-jerk market recovery, with Bristol seeing stock levels fall by -22% since April. Bournemouth (-17%) and Plymouth (-17%) have also seen some of the largest declines.

City
Total listings (April 2020)
Total listings (May 2020)
Total listings change
Total listings change (%)
Edinburgh
1,747
2,521
774
44%
Cambridge
679
810
131
19%
Aberdeen
1,084
1,256
173
16%
London
46,621
53,459
6,838
15%
Glasgow
1,591
1,690
100
6%
Oxford
1,385
1,460
76
5%
Manchester
5,149
5,160
11
0.2%
Birmingham
5,216
5,184
-33
-1%
Cardiff
2,642
2,508
-134
-5%
Newcastle
4,020
3,805
-216
-5%
Liverpool
3,393
3,164
-229
-7%
Swansea
1,281
1,188
-93
-7%
Belfast
26
24
-2
-8%
Portsmouth
1,034
943
-92
-9%
Southampton
2,888
2,619
-270
-9%
Nottingham
2,058
1,846
-213
-10%
Sheffield
3,127
2,797
-331
-11%
Leeds
5,794
4,981
-813
-14%
Leicester
2,218
1,906
-312
-14%
Newport
226
193
-34
-15%
Plymouth
1,147
951
-196
-17%
Bournemouth
1,295
1,073
-222
-17%
Bristol
1,887
1,481
-406
-22%
All cities
96503
101013
196
5%
Rental stock figures sourced from Rightmove and Zoopla
Figures compare online rental stock for each city from 1st April 2020 and 13th May 2020

Properganda PR

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

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Popping the Asking Price Bubble

Where in the Uk Can Buyers Snap Up Property Bargains and Where Properties Go for a Premium Above Asking Price   New research from fast selling property company, Upstix has uncovered the UK’s most surprising postcodes for snapping up a property at bargain prices this year, highlighting a widening gap between sellers’ expectations and the…
Read More →
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Highest demand to lease office space since pre-pandemic

The latest insights from the UK’s number one commercial property website Rightmove, reveals that the number of unique enquiries to lease office space is at its highest point since pre-pandemic, as businesses look for spaces that meet modern requirements. Demand to lease office space is 19% higher than the same period a year ago and…
Read More →
Planning disputes on new build land
Estate Agent Talk

Planning consultations for major infrastructure to be streamlined

Robert Bruce, a planning and infrastructure partner at law firm Freeths LLP, said he: “Welcomed the change as a significant step to speeding up the DCO process and the focus on the quality and effectiveness of the consultation, rather than box ticking and a risk averse approach to pre-application consultation due to the current legal…
Read More →
Breaking News

‘The property ladder pulls further away’ warns Open Property Group

For many first-time buyers across England, the dream of homeownership continues to slip further out of reach. Despite rising wages, soaring house prices are making it harder than ever to get on the property ladder. A leading UK professional house buying company ‘Open Property Group’ based in Buckinghamshire UK, has raised concerns over the ongoing…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

How Long It Takes to Buy a House in the UK: 5 Common Delays That Can Slow Down Your Home Purchase

Wondering how long it takes to buy a house in the UK? The average timeline ranges from 8 to 22 weeks, but even that can stretch significantly due to unexpected delays, especially if you’re a first-time buyer or caught in a chain. That’s why working with experienced professionals like Belvoir — one of the UK’s…
Read More →
Love or Hate Rightmove
Breaking News

Rightmove to host Renters’ Rights Bill webinar with Guild of Lettings

Rightmove is hosting a live and interactive webinar session with the Guild of Lettings to help agents get Renters’ Rights Ready. The webinar will take place from 10:00am – 11:00am on Wednesday 23rd April. Susie Crolla, Managing Director for the Guild of Lettings, will be joining Rightmove to help agents with questions they may have about…
Read More →