The cost of rental void periods has climbed sharply across England, rising by an average 13.8% over the past year – with landlords in the West Midlands facing increases of almost 64%.
New research from Dwelly shows that longer gaps between tenants combined with higher rents have pushed the average cost of a void period from £946 in December 2024 to £1,077 in December 2025.
Over the same period, the average void length increased from 21 days to 23 days, while average monthly rents rose from £1,370 to £1,424.
The sharpest rise was recorded in the West Midlands, where the average void period jumped from 18 days to 28 days – now the longest of any English region. As a result, landlords there have seen void costs surge by 63.6% year-on-year.
MODEST INCREASES
Elsewhere, void costs rose 19.6% in the East of England, 17.9% in the South East and 13.5% in London. More modest increases were recorded in the North West (6.1%), South West (5.2%), North East (3%) and East Midlands (0.9%). Yorkshire & Humber was the only region to see a fall, with costs down 0.4% following a slight reduction in average void length.
Sam Humphreys (main picture, inset), Head of M&A at Dwelly, says: “Void periods are an inevitable reality of the rental market, and landlords are constantly seeking ways to limit their impact on profitability.
“That impact becomes even more pronounced in a higher interest rate environment, and this research highlights just how quickly costs can escalate. A seemingly modest two-day increase in void length has translated into an almost 14% rise in the average cost of a void period.”
PROACTIVE AGENTS
He adds: “While voids cannot be eliminated entirely, their duration can be significantly reduced. Landlords are best served by working with proactive, efficient letting agents who are continuing to evolve their proposition through tech-led solutions, stronger operational infrastructure, and more streamlined processes.
“These improvements help agents accelerate re-letting, improve service levels, and ultimately ensure properties spend less time empty and more time generating income.”
