Date Published 07 November 2025
October brought a notable cooling in England's rental market, with average rents falling by 12% month-on-month — a sharp correction following a summer and early autumn of record-high prices. Void periods also lengthened across nearly all regions, reflecting the market's transition into its quietest phase of the year. Despite the month's decline, year-on-year figures remain resilient, suggesting that underlying supply and demand pressures continue to shape the market. Annual rental averages are now 3.1% higher than in October 2024, marking a modest but meaningful rise from the 2% year-on-year increase recorded in September.
Regional Rent Movements
All regions of England saw rents fall in October, bringing the average monthly rent down from £1,447 in September to £1,276.
• South West: The most dramatic fall, with rents down 24%.
• South East, Greater London, and East Midlands: Each saw reductions exceeding 10%.
• North West and West Midlands: More modest decreases of around 6%.
While these month-on-month declines appear steep, they are consistent with seasonal trends seen in previous years. In 2024, rents dropped 12.5% between September and October, and in 2023, the fall averaged 11.5% over the same period.
Year-on-Year Trends
At an annual level, rents are up 3.1%, rising from £1,238 in October 2024 to £1,279 in October 2025. Although this increase is lower than the 4.6% annual growth recorded in January, it reflects a slight uptick from September's slower pace — a potential sign that the market is retaining more 'heat' than usual heading into winter.
By region:
• North West, Greater London, and South East: Annual rental inflation above 4%.
• South West and West Midlands: More stable, with inflation under 2%.
• East Midlands: The only region to record a slight annual decrease, with rents down by £4 per month on average.
Void Periods Lengthen
As expected, longer void periods accompanied October's rent reductions. Across England, average voids increased from 16 days in September to 21 days in October — a 31% rise.
• North East: The largest shift, with voids nearly doubling from 12 to 23 days.
• Greater London and South East: Both recorded increases of over 50%.
• West Midlands: The exception, where voids shortened slightly from 24 to 23 days.
Nationally, voids remain slightly longer than last year's average of 19 days.
Market Insight
William Reeve, Chief Executive of Goodlord, comments:
'This month's figures present something of a paradox. On the one hand, we're seeing a significant drop in rents and longer voids — typical of the autumn and winter slowdown. But, interestingly, year-on-year rental inflation has ticked up slightly from 2% in September to 3% in October. That could suggest the market is entering the quieter season with more underlying demand than usual. The year-on-year trend will be the key metric to watch as we move through the winter months.'
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