"The rising value of rent is usually a positive for landlords. However, there is a downside when it comes to increasing void periods as the higher the rental income, the greater the amount lost whilst a property lies empty"
- Sam Humphreys - Dwelly
New data suggests that landlords in England are facing a notable rise in the cost of void periods, with the average financial impact increasing by nearly £200 over the past year.
Analysis by lettings specialist Dwelly reveals that the average time a property remains vacant between tenants increased from 18 days in March 2024 to 21 days in March 2025. This shift, combined with higher average rents, has led to a 25.8% increase in lost rental income.
In March 2024, the average monthly rent across England stood at £1,285, meaning a void period of 18 days resulted in a typical loss of £760. A year later, with average rents reaching £1,386 and void periods extending to 21 days, the loss has climbed to £957, an annual increase of £196.
The length of void periods has also varied by region. The West Midlands and East Midlands saw the most pronounced increases, with both experiencing an additional five days of average vacancy. As of March 2025, the average void period stands at 25 days in the West Midlands and 23 days in the East Midlands.
Other areas, such as Yorkshire & Humber and the North East, recorded smaller increases of three days.
London was the only region to buck the trend, where void periods dropped by one day, resulting in an average of 15 days between tenants. However, even in London, rising rents meant the overall cost of voids still increased by 2.3%, driven by a rent jump from £2,056 to £2,243.
The research also highlights both the highest percentage and highest cash increases in void-related losses. Landlords in the East Midlands experienced a 38.4% rise in lost income, equal to £183 more annually. Meanwhile, landlords in the West Midlands saw the largest cash loss, with a 33.7% rise costing them an extra £191.
“The rising value of rent is usually a positive for landlords. However, there is a downside when it comes to increasing void periods as the higher the rental income, the greater the amount lost whilst a property lies empty," explained Sam Humphreys, head of M&A at Dwelly. "So whilst the average void period may have only crept up by three days over the past year, when this is coupled with a substantial increase in rental values, the result is a substantial pretty hefty loss in rental income.
He added, "Of course, landlords can mitigate the risk of losing income to void periods by ensuring that they employ the services of a great lettings agent – one who can act quickly and decisively with great knowledge of the local rental market to ensure that when one tenant moves out, there is another in line to occupy the property straight away.
"Technology can also play a vital role in this respect, as it allows letting agents to streamline their internal operations, so that when they do find a replacement tenant, they can be onboarded at speed.”
