How much are void periods costing landlords in 2026?<\/p>\n
The average void period across England now stands at 24 days. Based on average market rents, this leaves landlords losing out on \u00a31,135 every time a property sits empty. This is a 12.9% increase from April 2025, according to management firm Rushbrook & Rathbone.<\/p>\n
Costs vary depending on where your property is located. The West Midlands saw the largest jump, with void costs climbing by 52.9% to reach \u00a3307. London has the highest outright cost at \u00a31,252 per void, even though it has one of the countries shortest average empty periods of 16.6 days.<\/p>\n
An empty property doesn\u2019t just mean a temporary loss of rent. You still have to pay your mortgage (if you have one), landlord insurance, service charges, and council tax while the property sits vacant.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Circles-01.png\")
<\/p>\n
24 days<\/p>\n
average void period in England<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Circles-02.png\")
<\/p>\n
\u00a31.1k<\/p>\n
average cost of an empty rental property<\/p>\n
How are new regulations impacting landlords?<\/p>\n
The Renters\u2019 Rights Act<\/a> was cited as the biggest challenge for 26% of landlords, according to the Simply Business Landlord Report 2025. Many landlords worry that the new rules will make the eviction process longer and more expensive. For example, 38% of landlords say banning Section 21 evictions<\/a> is their top concern.<\/p>\n Because of these changes, some landlords are taking much longer to choose the right tenant. They want to make sure they find someone reliable, which can naturally lead to longer void periods. And with 78% of landlords feeling concerned about the future of the rental market, security and compliance have never been more important.<\/p>\n Read more: Simply Business Landlord Report 2025<\/a><\/p>\n What can you do to reduce rental void periods?<\/p>\n The best way to avoid empty periods is to keep your current tenants happy. Our 2025 Landlord Report shows that 31% of tenants stay in the same property for more than five years. Having a good relationship can give you a stable income stream, reduce your admin work<\/a>, and keep your property safe.<\/p>\n Choose to absorb some costs if it means keeping a reliable tenant. In fact, 54% of landlords haven\u2019t increased rent for their existing tenants in the past 12 months. Keeping rent affordable can encourage your tenants to stay longer, which saves you from paying those high void costs.<\/p>\n You should also make sure your property meets all safety standards and energy efficiency rule<\/a>s. A safe, compliant home attracts long-term renters and helps protect you from legal disputes.<\/p>\n Plan ahead to help keep your rental business secure<\/p>\n The rental market is going through a period of massive change. But staying informed about new rules like the Renters\u2019 Rights Act will help you adapt and protect your investment.<\/p>\n Take the time to review your compliance checklists, speak to legal experts if you need help, and check your landlord insurance<\/a> cover. A proactive approach will help you reduce void periods, keep your tenants happy, and maintain a profitable rental property.<\/p>\n Promotion<\/p>\n Frequently asked questions about rental property void periods<\/p>\n What is a void period in renting?<\/p>\n A void period is the time when a rental property has no tenants living in it. During this time, the landlord receives no rental income but still has to pay running costs like mortgage payments and council tax.<\/p>\n How much does an average void period cost?<\/p>\n In 2026, the average cost of a void period in England is \u00a31,135. This figure is based on an average empty period of 24 days and an average monthly rent of \u00a31,438.<\/p>\n How will the Renters\u2019 Rights Bill affect empty properties?<\/p>\n The Renters\u2019 Rights Bill removes Section 21 evictions and introduces new rules for tenancies. This means landlords are spending more time vetting potential tenants to make sure they\u2019re a secure fit, which can lead to longer empty periods between lets.<\/p>\n Are landlords selling their properties because of rising costs?<\/p>\n While costs and regulations are increasing, most landlords are staying in the market. The Simply Business Landlord Report 2025 found that 64% of landlords didn\u2019t plan to sell a property in the next 12 months.<\/p>\n More guides for landlords<\/p>\n Get set with tailored landlord cover<\/p>\n Over 200,000 UK landlord policies, a 9\/10 customer rating and claims handled by an award-winning team. Looking to switch or start a new policy? Run a quick\u00a0landlord insurance quote<\/a>\u00a0today.<\/p>\n This content is for general, informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal, tax, accounting, or financial advice. Please obtain expert advice from industry-specific professionals who may better understand your business\u2019s needs.\u00a0Read our full disclaimer<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"What\u2019s the latest? the cost of void periods has surged across England, with average losses hitting \u00a31,135 per…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":655764,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[59,57,58,50,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-655763","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-united-kingdom","tag-gb","tag-great-britain","tag-greatbritain","tag-news","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/655763","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=655763"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/655763\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/655764"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=655763"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=655763"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=655763"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SBLogo_White_Long@2x.png\")
<\/p>\n