More than £470m in rent went unpaid across England in a single year, exposing landlords to mounting financial pressure as over 210,000 households fell into arrears.
Analysis from Propoly shows that 210,163 privately rented households slipped behind on payments in 2024–25, with the average arrears bill reaching £2,238. That pushes the total estimated value of missed rent to £470.3m.
London accounted for the largest share of arrears, with tenants in the capital racking up £109.5m in unpaid rent – 23.3% of the national total. The North West followed closely at £103.1m, representing 21.9% of households in arrears. The South East (£61m), West Midlands (£58.1m) and Yorkshire & Humber (£38m) also recorded significant totals.
By contrast, the South West recorded the lowest arrears figure, at just under £14m and 3% of affected households.
FINANCES UNDER PRESSURE
Sim Sekhon (main picture, inset), Group CEO at Propoly, says: “The scale of rental arrears we’re seeing across England is significant, with more than 210,000 households falling behind on their rent in a single year.
“When this equates to over £470 million in missed payments, it underlines just how exposed landlords can be when tenant finances come under pressure. For many landlords, rental income isn’t simply supplementary, it’s essential to covering mortgage repayments, maintenance costs and wider financial commitments.
“It’s been a challenging period for household finances, with higher living costs continuing to stretch budgets, so it’s little surprise that a growing number of tenants are struggling to stay on top of their rent.
“However, while the pressures may be understandable, the financial impact on landlords can be severe and, in some cases, destabilising.”
REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES
He adds: “That’s why protection has never been more important.
“By integrating rent protection insurance directly into the tenancy process, agents can ensure landlords are safeguarded against missed payments or defaults from day one – boosting confidence, strengthening retention rates, and creating additional revenue opportunities for agents, all while reducing exposure to risk.”
