Rental market activity slows

There was a significant drop in the number of new rental listings, while the volume of properties let last month also dropped, as reduced supply restricted choice for potential renters, the latest figures from the Agency Express Property Activity Index shows.

According to the data, there was a 16% drop in national month-on-month figures for new listings ‘to let’, while properties ‘let’ during the period declined by 5%.

February’s figures also show there was a drop in the level of activity when compared with the same month last year.

Looking at performance across the UK, all 12 regions recorded by the Property Activity Index reported declines in new listings ‘to let’ and only one region reported an increase in properties ‘let’.

London was the sole region to record an increase in this month’s index with figures for properties ‘let’ remaining on trend at 16.5%.

Here are the prominent performing regions:

Properties ‘to let’

Scotland -0.7%

Central England -5.7%

Yorkshire and Humberside -9.1%

North East -12.5%

London -13.7%

Properties ‘let by’

Central England -0.7%

South East -1.1%

Yorkshire and Humberside -2.2%

West Midlands -4.5%

Wales -6.5%

The largest decline in this month’s Property Activity Index was recorded in Wales, where figures for new listings ‘to let’ fell to -34.5% and over a three-month rolling period -11.8%.

Looking back over the index’s historical data we can see that the decline in activity is the region’s largest on record for February.

Stephen Watson, managing director of Agency Express, commented: “The Property Activity Index historically shows us a slowdown in activity throughout February.

“This month has remained relatively true to trend but over all we are seeing a slower market compared to 12 months previous.”

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.