The estimated cost of the average rental void has jumped by almost 58% in three years as landlords face longer gaps between tenancies alongside higher rents, new research reveals.
Analysis by residential property management specialist Rushbrook puts the average rental income lost during a void in England at £1,097 in 2026, up from £696 in 2023.
The 57.5% increase comes as the average void period has lengthened from 17.5 days three years ago to 23.2 days.
Rushbrook’s figures show the average void stood at 18 days in 2022 before falling slightly to 17.5 days in 2023. It then increased to 18.4 days in 2024, 20.3 days in 2025 and 23.2 days this year.
REGIONAL COSTS
The North East records the largest percentage increase in the estimated cost of a void, rising 92.4% from £318 in 2023 to £612 this year.
The West Midlands follows with an increase of 62.5%, taking the average cost from £528 to £859.
London remains the most expensive region in cash terms, where the estimated loss associated with an average void has increased 61.9% from £838 to £1,357.
The South East records a 60.1% rise from £658 to £1,053, while the North West sees the cost increase by 59.5% from £457 to £728.
Increases are also recorded in Yorkshire and the Humber at 53.9%, the East of England at 50.4%, the South West at 44.8% and East Midlands at 42.4%.
CUTTING VOID DAYS
Rushbrook says that while some time between tenancies can be unavoidable, landlords and managing agents can reduce unnecessary void periods by preparing before an existing tenancy ends.
This includes identifying maintenance requirements early, arranging contractors and coordinating check-outs and necessary works so properties can be returned to the rental market quickly.
The financial impact can become particularly significant for portfolio landlords where additional void days are replicated across several properties.
Roma Sharma (main picture, inset), Managing Director of Rushbrook, says: “Void periods are an unavoidable reality of owning rental property, but unnecessary void days aren’t, and the financial consequence of those additional days has increased considerably.
“Good management is about planning ahead, identifying what needs doing before a tenancy ends wherever possible and ensuring the right people are ready to act, so that a property isn’t sitting empty simply because the next step hasn’t been organised.
“For portfolio landlords in particular, those additional days can quickly add up across multiple properties, so minimising avoidable void periods is an important part of protecting rental income.”
