Rental homes available to tenants have increased 15% compared to last year, despite an uncertain 12 months for landlords marked by political debate over the Renters' Rights Act and a 2% tax increase in the Autumn Budget.
Dwelly analysed rental market stock across every county in England, comparing listing volumes from December last year with current figures to show how supply has shifted over the past 12 months.
Total available rental listings have increased from 123,669 in December last year to 142,644 this December, marking a 15.3% uplift. The data shows rental stock levels across Great Britain are up year on year.
Only three counties across England have seen reduced rental property availability compared to last year: Shropshire (-3.3%), East Riding of Yorkshire (-4.7%) and the City of London (-28.5%), with the latter experiencing the most notable decline.
Many parts of the country have experienced significant expansion in rental supply. East Sussex recorded the largest increase at 44.8%, followed by Northamptonshire (42.7%), West Sussex (37.7%), the Isle of Wight (36.1%) and Cumbria (33.6%). A further 21 counties have seen rental market supply increase by more than 20%.
The increase suggests a market that is stabilising rather than contracting, even as landlords face rising compliance demands and higher tax burdens.
"It's been an exceptionally turbulent year for landlords, so the assumption might be that rental stock would fall as investors rethink their position," said Sam Humphreys, head of M&A at Dwelly. "Instead, our analysis shows quite the opposite. There has been no knee-jerk withdrawal of homes from the sector and, in fact, renters today have more choice than they did this time last year."
He added that the increase in available stock is a positive sign for tenants and a reminder that many landlords remain committed to the sector despite challenges introduced by the government.
"At Dwelly, we continue to support letting agents and their landlords with the operational improvements needed to navigate this new landscape, ensuring that rental supply remains strong and responsive to demand," Humphreys noted.
