The rental homes market has long had a big queue of would-be tenants ready to sign on the dotted line. With getting on the property ladder still a distant dream for a huge number of consumers, the ‘to let’ sector will continue to have a large customer base.
Over half (58 per cent) of respondents in a survey of National Residential Landlords Association members taken earlier this year said demand for rental accommodation was either “very” or “quite” strong.
But what many home hunters may not realise, is that there are points in the year where competition can be higher, potentially resulting in wasted time and money, on everything from travel costs getting to viewings and paperwork, if you lose out on a flat or house to another tenant.
New research compiled for The Independent by property website Zoopla shows the third quarter of the year is busiest when it comes to finding a place to rent.
Which means if you’ve been thinking about starting to look for a new place soon, get started now – or you’ll hit peak season.
Why are rentals busier in summer?
Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla says: “The sales and rental markets work on totally different cycles. Rental demand peaks every July and August driven by students, graduates, families and job-movers all hitting the market simultaneously – running around 38 per cent above the annual average at its height.”
Sales demand does the opposite, peaking in January as the home hunting season starts and trailing off over the year, according to Donnell.
He anticipates a softer summer peak this year in the rental sector when compared to “exceptionally strong” demand in 2022 and 2023, when there was high levels of competition on the back of high migration into the UK for work and study. That said, the race for space is far from over. As Donnell puts it: “The number of homes for rent – still 20-30 per cent below pre-pandemic levels in every region – remains the market constraint that is keeping rents rising despite weaker demand.”
Latest ONS data shows average UK monthly private rents are estimated to have increased by 3.3 per cent in the 12 months to May 2026.
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Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, added: “Continued rental growth demonstrates the ongoing imbalance between supply and demand within the private rented sector. Letting agents across the UK continue to report strong tenant demand alongside a shortage of available properties.”
While home hunting will inevitably normally always be stressful, residential industry experts believe there are tips consumers can use to beat the rental rush, or be more prepared for it this Summer.
Get ahead of the peak
As Zoopla’s research table shows below, demand can climb in the third quarter. Rental demand is measured as an index against the five-year average by the firm.
An index of 100 means need is in line with that average, while above or below that number means demand is proportionally different: so an index of 116, for example, means demand is 16 per cent above the five-year average.
Danielle Bayless is chief operating officer at Quintain Living, a property managing firm in north London. Between June to August it experiences reservation levels two-and-a-half times higher compared to the rest of the year.
“To successfully navigate this busier time, renters should be clear about what they want from a home and start their search as early as possible. Be ‘renter ready’ by having all the required documents for the referencing process lined-up, both yours and your flatmate(s) if you intend to share,” Bayless said.
“Arranging a property viewing as soon as possible is also recommended; being flexible on visit timings or taking advantage of virtual viewings if they’re available can also make the process quicker.”
Expert tips for the rental process
Katinka Hill, head of lettings at estate agency Chestertons, shared some suggestions that may help with the speed of securing a home – potentially saving money further down the line.
Like Bayless, Hill points to having paperwork ready early, which includes proof of income, ID, right to rent documents and references. “Properties can let within hours, and delays often mean missing out,” she adds.
Hill also says it it worth registering with agents before serving notice: “Under the Renters’ Rights framework, tenants can give two months notice at any point (in line with rent due date) so starting the search before serving notice can reduce pressure and avoid the cost of temporary accommodation or rushed decisions.”
Checking the EPC before viewing rental homes is another tip, as a higher-rated property can significantly reduce heating and electricity costs over the course of a tenancy.
Meanwhile, Hill says, being flexible can put a prospective tenant in a good position.
She said: “Landlords often favour applicants who can align with their preferred start date which could be sooner for a vacant property. While it doesn’t directly save money, being conscious of this and prepared for it can improve the chances of securing a property without having to keep searching.”
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