Surge in tenants 'staying put' as moving becomes more expensive

Many tenants are staying put for much longer due to their struggle to find rentals and the prospect of paying higher rents for a new property.

They are spending almost 40% longer in properties compared with four years ago, according to The Deposit Protection Service (DPS), which reports that the average tenancy in England and Wales now lasts more than 1,000 days.

Tenants were spending an average of 1,085 days – or almost three years – in a property as of April, which was 179 days more than in 2024 (906 days). It adds that they are now staying 37% longer in properties (1,085 days) compared with 2021 (773 days).

The average tenancy increased during the pandemic, largely because of emergency restrictions on moving.

Managing director Matt Trevett (pictured) explains that the average tenancy increased during the pandemic, largely because of emergency restrictions on moving.

“Our data shows a year-on-year increase in the average number of days our tenant customers spend in a property since February 2022, when those restrictions ended,” he adds.

“Difficulties in securing rentals and the prospect of paying higher rents for a new property mean that many tenants are staying put for much longer.”

Average rental deposits — which rise and fall with rents — also increased, reports The DPS, from £948 in 2022 to £1,170 in the year to May. This suggests that average rents have increased by a corresponding 23 percentage points during the same period.