Average rents in England jumped 4% in the year to February while voids dropped from 24 to 20 days, pointing to an uptick in tenant demand in the Spring. 

Goodlord’s Rental Index - which tracks prices of new tenancies - puts the average cost of a rental property at £1,290 per month compared with £1,162 in February 2024.

It is a slight slowdown in year-on-year rental price growth compared with January 2025, which recorded an annual increase of nearly 5%. 

The West Midlands saw the biggest year-on-year rise, with prices increasing by 7% to £1,000, while the smallest annual increase was recorded in the East Midlands, rising by a comparatively modest 2.5% to £1,018. 

February saw a small month-on-month rent rise with prices up by 0.2% to £1,209 per property, on average. This could be an early indicator that we’re in for another summer of significant rent increases, says Goodlord. 

The biggest monthly rise in rent was in the East Midlands, where prices rose by 3% to £1,018, followed by the South East, which recorded a rise of 2% to £1,350. 

Void periods drop

After hitting record lengths in January, voids dropped by 17% during February in all regions, to an average of 20 days - the lowest void length recorded since last October. 

However, it remains higher than year-on-year figures. In February 2024, voids sat at 18 days on average. 

Goodlord chief executive William Reeve said the market refuses to cool off.

“Voids have shortened once again after January’s record-breaking lengths,” he added.

“And while overall rents for February are only slightly higher than January’s figures, we don’t always see month-on-month increases at this time of year. These are strong indications that the PRS will continue to heat up alongside the weather.”