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14/7/25 8:13 pm
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Landlord instructions saw the steepest fall since April 2020 last month, forcing tenants to chase fewer rentals with rising rents.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ UK Residential Survey reveals that a net -37% of letting agents saw landlord instructions fall in August – while tenant demand remains resilient - which agents reckon will push rents up by about 3% over the next year.
Branches around the UK cite the same problem, neatly summed up by Alex Mcneil, at Bramleys in Huddersfield, who dryly explains: “It’s the same old, same old. Like being a weather forecaster in the Sahara. Limited supply = more rent.”
Jeremy Leaf (pictured), north London estate agent and a former RICS chairman, believes plenty of tenants appear to have reached an affordability ceiling.
“Many are finding it increasingly difficult to meet what they perceive as unrealistic landlord aspirations for new and renewed rents despite the ongoing drop in stock, partly prompted by landlords leaving the sector,” he explains. “One- and two-bedroom flats remain in most demand and shortest supply.”
Investment in the private rented sector should remain viable to address the imbalance between supply and demand, believes Russell Anderson, commercial director of mortgages at Paragon Bank.
“That means creating an environment where landlords feel confident to grow and maintain their portfolios to the high standards that renters rightly expect,” he adds. “Lenders and brokers have a role to play by working with landlords and offering finance options that facilitate this, but broader support is needed.
“Policymakers must consider the long-term impact of regulation and taxation on landlord confidence and behaviour. A balanced approach that protects tenant rights while encouraging responsible investment is essential if we’re to see a healthier, more sustainable rental market.”
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