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Rents drop to nine-month low in December

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Average rents in England hit their lowest levels for nine months during December - £1,214 per property - down 2.5% on November.

Rents haven’t been this low since March 2025, when they averaged £1,213, according to the Goodlord Rental Index. Although rents were up by 2.4% year-on-year, this annual inflationary bump was lower than the year-on-year rental inflation recorded in December 2024 and far below the 4.6% recorded in March 2025. Goodlord says this indicates reduced demand for rental properties in what is traditionally one of the market’s slowest months of the year.

Steady

Void periods remained broadly steady during December, ending the month with an average void length of 23 days - one day shorter than November’s average of 24. Year-on-year, voids in December were longer compared to the same time the previous year when the figure was 21 days on average.

With year-on-year rental price inflation picking up pace since September after slowing during the summer months, 2026 is likely to bring another spate of rental rises across England, predicts Goodlord.

Blip

CEO William Reeve says while it’s too soon to tell whether recent figures are a seasonal blip or the beginning of a cooler run of inflationary pressures, the wider signs indicate that 2026 will be another intense year for the market.

“The Renters’ Rights Act is coming into force in May which could squeeze supply and demand even further if landlords decide to exit the market,” adds Reeve. “The combination of the predicted summer surge plus the shift in the legislative landscape means we could be on for another record-breaking year.”

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