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RENTING: NUMBER OF UK HOMES AVAILABLE DOWN BY A THIRD

Published
4 days ago

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Image source, Ruth
Image caption,
Ruth from Kent has spent three months looking for a rented home, without success
By Colletta Smith & Nicky Hudson & Ben King
Cost of living correspondent and reporters


The number of homes available to rent in the UK has fallen by a third over the
past 18 months.

The sharp drop in the number of listings has helped drive up rents for new
tenants by 11%.

Lettings agencies typically have 10 rentals compared to over 16 before September
2021, figures shared with the BBC by property website Zoopla show.

This has left people like Ruth searching for months without luck. "It seems
completely hopeless", she said.

The total number of rental properties in the UK hasn't actually fallen. In fact,
it has barely moved since 2016.

But people like Ruth are finding it difficult because they're competing with far
more other people in their search for a home, so there are fewer properties on
the market at any one time.


 * How much has rent gone up in your area?



Demand for rented accommodation has risen to more than 50% above normal levels,
Zoopla's figures show.

Zoopla draws its information from listings on its website, which cover 85% of UK
properties listed for rent.

People who want to move but can't find anywhere new are having to stay put. That
means their old place doesn't become available. And with people unable to move,
fewer properties become vacant and appear in the estate agent's window.

Even if people do find somewhere suitable, they're likely to have to pay much
more than they did before.

 * What are your rights when you're renting?

Ruth fell ill with fibromyalgia in 2015 and had to give up work. After splitting
up with her long-term partner, she's been stuck in the house they shared in Kent
whilst looking for somewhere smaller and more affordable to rent.

"I keep the browser open on Rightmove, Openrent, Zoopla, Facebook Marketplace
and there has been nothing," she said. "I'm trying to keep positive but it's
difficult."



Ruth is on benefits and has no guarantor. She believes this is stopping her
being offered viewings.

"It made me feel like a lower-class citizen," she said.

 * Three ways to win the rental property race
 * EMy search to rent a one-bed flat

As part of the BBC's Rental Health week, listeners, viewers and readers from
across the UK have been in touch about their experience of the rental market at
the moment. You can listen to BBC Radio 4's Rental Health series on BBC Sounds.

"We've seen a big increase in demand for rented housing from record high
immigration, the economy reopening [after the pandemic]," said Richard Donnell,
executive director for research at Zoopla.

"But at the same time, we just haven't seen much new investment by landlords in
rented housing. And that's creating a real crunch in availability."

Higher mortgage rates, tax changes and new regulations for rented properties
have made it less profitable for landlords to buy houses and offer them for
rent.



Lou Valdini from York has been a landlord for 20 years. He used to rent out
three homes, but now has just one. The mortgage on his property has gone up from
£294 a month to £621 and says he's "not making any money" and is "actually
losing an awful lot."

As well as the mortgage, Mr Valdini has to pay several thousand pounds a year
for ground rent, insurance, service charges and agent's fees. He's just put his
tenant's rent up to £645 a month.

"She hasn't missed a day's rent since lockdown, so I'm not going to put the rent
up an extortionate amount for her," he said. "But it does mean I'm subsidising
her."


'I'M NOT ABLE TO LIVE WITH MY PARTNER'

Large numbers of landlords are leaving the market - 11% of homes for sale on
Zoopla were previously rented.

For others, short-term lets, such as holiday lets or Airbnb, offer better
returns than long-term tenants. Zoopla has seen a three-fold increase in
short-term lets since 2019.

But with private renters spending on average almost a third of their income on
rent, Mr Donnell and other experts believe rents can't go on increasing, as
people simply won't be able to pay any more.

The government is due to introduce a new Renters' Reform Bill in England before
the summer, which it says will redress the balance in the market and provide
more security for tenants. Housing rules are different in each of the devolved
nations, Scotland currently has tighter controls on landlords than the rest of
the UK.

Image source, Emily
Image caption,
Emily and MJ

Emily, her partner, and their baby son MJ had been renting a two bedroom flat in
Aylesbury. The landlord wanted to put up the rent at the end of their current
tenancy but the family couldn't afford it. They began searching for somewhere
else to live, but it's been frustrating.

"There's been times when I've said, 'Yes, I'll take this one'," said Emily, "I
love it, it's perfect, and then they'll say, 'It's gone'." It has been, she
says, "the most stressful time of my life - other than having a baby,"

After months of searching, the family had to move out of their home earlier this
month. But they hadn't found somewhere new, so they had to move back in with
their families - which means Emily and her partner staying under different
roofs.

"On our actual relationship it's been really difficult," she says.

The family now have one goal: "To find a two-bed house, because then it'll have
enough space for us three."





WHAT ARE YOUR RENTING RIGHTS?

 * How much can my landlord increase the rent? It depends on your agreement but
   rises must be fair, realistic and in line with local properties and there's
   usually a months notice.
 * Can my landlord evict me? Landlords need to follow strict rules such as
   giving written notice. Once the notice period ends, the landlord can start
   eviction proceedings through court.
 * Can a landlord refuse people on benefits? No. DSS policies are unlawful
   discrimination. says charity Shelter. Some councils have lists of private
   landlords who rent to tenants claiming benefits.

There's more on your renting rights and where to go for help here.




Are you struggling to find somewhere affordable to rent? Do you have any tips
for navigating a competitive rental market? Share your experiences by emailing
haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist.
You can also get in touch in the following ways:

 * WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
 * Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay
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RELATED TOPICS

 * Personal finance
 * Housing market
 * Renting
 * Richmond
 * Landlords
 * Private rented sector


MORE ON THIS STORY

 * Three ways to win the rental property race
   
   4 days ago
   
   

 * Renters search for 'bills included' as prices soar
   
   3 March
   
   

 * What are your rights when you're renting?
   
   6 days ago
   
   

 * Exhausting, costly, miserable: My search to rent a one-bed flat
   
   16 February
   
   

 * What you can do about a rent increase
   
   17 October 2022
   
   





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