Rents look set to hit a brand new document excessive in 2026 on the again of a significant supply-fdemand imbalance in teh market, and that’s regardless of a fourth consecutive month-to-month fall in November.
In accordance with the Goodlord Rental Index, rents dropped by greater than 2% throughout England final month, whereas void durations rose by 14% — a typical development throughout one of many quietest instances of the yr. Regardless of this slowdown, annual rental averages stay greater than a yr in the past, reflecting continued underlying stress out there.
Common rents throughout England decreased by 2.4% in November, falling from £1,276 in October to £1,245. This marks the fourth month of declines for the reason that peak in July, when common rents reached £1,496.
The cumulative impact of those reductions means renters beginning a brand new tenancy in November are paying round £3,012 a yr much less — or £251 per 30 days much less — than those that moved in on the peak of the summer time market.
Rents dropped in all areas monitored, bar one. The most important shift was seen in Better London, the place month-on-month costs had been 4.5% decrease throughout November, adopted by the North West, which noticed a 4.3% discount.
The one area which noticed an increase in rents was the West Midlands – though costs elevated by lower than £1 on common throughout the month.
Persevering with the development seen final month, the tempo of year-on-year rental inflation is climbing as soon as once more. In comparison with November final yr, common rents are up by 3.3%. In November 2025, rental averages sat at £1,245 in comparison with 2024’s determine of £1,205.
This 3.3% rise is greater than October’s determine of three.1% and considerably greater than figures recorded in September, when year-on-year rental inflation sat at 2%.
Probably the most vital year-on-year rise was recorded within the North West, the place costs are 6.6% greater in comparison with the identical time final yr. This was adopted by the North East, the place costs are up 5% year-on-year.
This upswing in year-on-year figures signifies that there should be new rental data to return in 2026.
Voids lengthened throughout November, as you’ll count on to see throughout a month of lowered rental averages. The common void interval lengthened from 21 days to 24 days throughout England, an increase of 14%.
This additionally means voids are greater than on the identical time final yr (November 2024) – when voids sat at 21 days.
The longest void durations can now be discovered within the West Midlands, the place properties are vacant between tenancies for a median of 30 days. And the bottom are in London, the place voids are at the moment 20 days.
William Reeve, CEO of Goodlord, commented: “We’re seeing a sample develop throughout these crucial figures. While month-on-month rental averages proceed to reflect the seasonal ebbs and flows we’d count on of the market [particularly in the winter months], the uptick within the tempo of annual rental inflation exhibits that offer and demand pressures aren’t abating. This might level in the direction of new rental data being set subsequent yr and one other intense yr for the market, significantly because the Renters’ Rights Act comes into impact.”
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