Rental market activity across England increased during the second quarter of 2026, with 29.7% of available listings marked as let agreed, according to The Letting Partnership.
The proportion rose by 2.3 percentage points compared with the first quarter and was 0.3 points higher than during the same period of 2025.
The Letting Partnership’s Rental Market Index measures the percentage of rental listings marked as let agreed in each English county, using the figure as an indication of how quickly available homes are being secured.
The quarterly improvement suggests the rental market remains active despite affordability pressures and the operational changes introduced under the Renters’ Rights Act.
REGIONAL DIFFERENCES
West Sussex recorded the highest proportion of let-agreed listings at 49.8%, followed by Rutland at 48.4%, Cumbria at 45%, Gloucestershire at 44.7% and Warwickshire at 44.3%.
Suffolk recorded a rate of 43.9%, while Cornwall stood at 43.3%, Hertfordshire at 42.6% and both the Isle of Wight and Shropshire at 42.3%.
Rutland experienced the strongest quarterly increase, rising by nine percentage points. Worcestershire followed with an 8.6-point uplift, ahead of Norfolk at 7.6 points, Gloucestershire at 7.3 points and the City of London at 7.2 points.
On an annual basis, Rutland again led the country with an increase of 18.6 percentage points. Norfolk rose by 9.9 points, Warwickshire by 8.2 points and Cumbria by 6.6 points.
OPERATIONAL PRESSURES
Chris Mason (main picture), Chief Operating Officer of The Letting Partnership, says: “Tenant demand has continued to build through the second quarter, which is encouraging for the wider rental market but also reinforces the operational pressures many letting agents continue to face, especially in a post-Renters’ Rights Act market.
“Every successful tenancy involves client money moving through an agency, whether that’s deposits, rent in advance or ongoing rental payments. As demand increases, so too does the responsibility on agents to ensure those funds are managed accurately, securely and in full compliance with regulatory requirements.
“The agencies that invest in resilient systems, effective controls and independent oversight will be best positioned to manage that growing responsibility while continuing to build trust with their clients.”
