The number of properties letting agents managed in December reached a record-high, according to ARLA Propertymark’s December Private Rented Sector (PRS) report.
The 200 properties managed in December 2017 is 6% higher than the same month in 2016 when agents managed 188 properties on average per branch.
The data also reveals that the percentage of tenants experiencing rent increases remained at 16% in December – the same amount as November when it fell to the lowest level since regards began in January 2015.
The number of tenants successfully negotiating rent reductions dropped from 3% in November to 2.6% in December, indicating a seasonal slowdown in the number of contract negotiations.
Demand for rental properties increased slightly in December, from 58 prospective tenants registered per branch in November, to 59. 2
David Cox, ARLA Propertymark chief executive, commented: “London is officially the most expensive city to rent a property in Europe, according to recent data from ECA International. This could be due to the fact letting agents in the capital are only managing an average of 130 properties – 35% lower than the national average and the lowest level in the country.
“We need to tackle housing stock to reverse this and stop seeing rents increasing for tenants. The cost of living is already rising at an unsustainable rate and with the added pressures of rising rent costs, the dream of homeownership falls out of reach for many, even with the Government cutting stamp duty for first-time buyers.
“However, it’s positive that we finished the year with the number of properties available for tenants at a record high. Here’s to a positive year for renters; cheaper rents, good living standards and a rental market which works for everyone.”
Want to comment on this story? Our focus is on providing a platform for you to share your insights and views and we welcome contributions.
If any post is considered to victimise, harass, degrade or intimidate an individual or group of individuals, then the post may be deleted and the individual immediately banned from posting in future.
Please help us by reporting comments you consider to be unduly offensive so we can review and take action if necessary. Thank you.
.png)
Join the conversation
Be the first to comment (please use the comment box below)
Please login to comment