The number of homes available to rent across England has increased by 7.4% over the past year with listings almost doubling in Tyne and Wear, new research reveals.
Propoly’s analysis shows an estimated 122,659 rental properties are currently listed across England, up from 114,178 in August 2025.
However, the national increase masks significant differences between local markets, with Tyne and Wear recording an 86.6% surge in available rental properties.
Listings there have jumped from 1,855 to 3,462 in just 12 months.
GREATER MANCHESTER STOCK UP 28%
Greater Manchester records the second-largest increase, with rental listings rising by 28.4%, followed by Rutland at 23.1% and the City of London at 21.5%.
Somerset sees stock increase by 20.4%, while Northumberland records a 19% rise.
Wiltshire and Hampshire both see rental availability increase by 18.4%, followed by Worcestershire at 18.3% and Leicestershire at 17.3%.
Propoly says increasing supply should provide tenants in these markets with greater choice while expanding the pool of properties available for letting agents to manage.
RENTAL SUPPLY FALLS ELSEWHERE
But the picture is far from uniform across England.
The Isle of Wight records the sharpest contraction in rental availability, with listings falling 35.2% year-on-year.
Warwickshire sees stock decline by 10.8%, followed by Norfolk at 9.6%, West Yorkshire at 9.3% and Suffolk at 9.1%.
Rental listings are also down 8.9% in East Sussex, 5.6% in Shropshire, 5.2% in Devon and 4.5% in Staffordshire.
NO SINGLE NATIONAL RENTAL MARKET
Sim Sekhon (main picture, inset), Group CEO at Propoly, says: “The increase in Tyne and Wear is striking, particularly when set against the more measured rise seen across England as a whole. While greater availability should provide tenants with more choice, the extent of the increase also underlines how quickly local rental markets can change.
“What is clear is that there is no single national rental market. Agents in areas such as Tyne and Wear are managing a significant expansion in available stock, while those operating in other parts of the country are contending with considerably fewer listings than a year ago.”
Sekhon says rising stock also presents an opportunity for letting agents but could increase the administrative burden associated with bringing properties and tenants through the lettings process.
He adds: “For agents seeing stock levels rise, this presents a clear opportunity, but it also means more properties and prospective tenants to progress.
“Having efficient systems in place will be crucial if agents are to manage that additional workload and convert greater availability into successfully completed tenancies.”
