Landlords in England are facing a sharp rise in the cost of void periods, with new analysis from property platform Dwelly revealing a 26% increase in the past year – equivalent to almost £200 in additional lost income per property.
Void periods – the time between tenants vacating and new tenants moving in – have lengthened in many parts of the country.
In March 2024, landlords faced an average void of 18 days. By March 2025, this had risen to 21 days, driven by longer re-let times in key regions including the West and East Midlands, where the average void period rose by five days.
The trend has resulted in a significant hit to landlord finances, particularly as average rents have also climbed.
RISING COSTS
According to Dwelly, the average rent in England increased from £1,285 in March 2024 to £1,386 this year. The combined effect of longer void periods and higher rents means the typical cost of an empty property has risen from £760 to £957 over the course of the year.
Landlords in the East Midlands have been hit hardest in percentage terms, with lost income rising by 38.4% – an increase of £183 per void. Those in the West Midlands have seen the largest cash increase, with void period costs up by £191, or 33.7%.
Even in London, the only region to see a decrease in average void periods (down one day to 15), landlords are not immune. Rising rents in the capital – from £2,056 to £2,243 – mean the average cost of a void still increased by 2.3% year-on-year.
TECH-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS
Sam Humphreys, Head of M&A at Dwelly, says: “The rising value of rent is usually a positive for landlords, but when void periods lengthen, that income is lost – often significantly.
“Even a small increase in the time a property lies empty can translate into a hefty financial hit, especially in high-rent areas like London.”
He adds that working with proactive lettings agents and adopting tech-driven solutions can help landlords reduce re-let times and minimise revenue losses.
“A good letting agent, supported by efficient onboarding technology, can make all the difference between a costly delay and a seamless tenant transition.”
