England rental void periods decrease after Renters' Rights Act

Research from property management firm Rushbrook & Rathbone indicates that average rental void periods in England have begun to decrease following the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act. The average void period fell to 21 days in June 2026, a three-day reduction from the 24-day peak observed in May 2026.

Regional data shows significant variations in these trends. The South West experienced the most substantial improvement, with void periods dropping by 12.3 days. Other notable reductions occurred in the North East (6.3 days), the West Midlands (3.7 days), the North West (2.6 days), and Yorkshire and the Humber (2.3 days).

Despite the recent easing, some areas have seen longer void periods compared to the previous year. Yorkshire and the Humber recorded the largest annual increase of 3.8 days, followed by the East Midlands with an increase of 3.4 days.

Roma Sharma, Managing Director of Rushbrook & Rathbone, noted that while landlords initially focused on regulatory compliance, there is a growing shift toward professionalizing rental portfolios to ensure long-term resilience and performance.