North East landlords hit by 92.4% increase
The cost of rental voids has climbed by nearly 58% in three years and costs the average landlord nearly £1,100 in lost rental income each time their property sits empty, according to new research from Rushbrook.
It shows that the average cost of a void across England has increased from £696 in 2023 to £1,097 in 2026, an increase of 57.5%. Void lengths have been increasing over the last three years, rising from 17.5 days in 2023 to 23.2 days in 2026.
The largest increase in the cost of a rental void over the last three years is in the North East, up 92.4% from £318 in 2023 to £612 in 2026, followed by the West Midlands at 62.5%, with the average cost of a void climbing from £528 to £859, and London, where costs have risen 61.9%, from £838 to £1,357.
The South East has seen the average cost of a void increase by 60.1%, from £658 to £1,053, while the North West has recorded an increase of 59.5%, from £457 to £728.
Elsewhere, the estimated cost has increased by 53.9% in Yorkshire and the Humber, 50.4% in the East of England, 44.8% in the South West and 42.4% in the East Midlands.
Void periods an unavoidable reality
Rushbrook managing director Roma Sharma said: “Void periods are an unavoidable reality of owning rental property, but unnecessary void days aren’t, and the financial consequence of those additional days has increased considerably.
“Good management is about planning ahead, identifying what needs doing before a tenancy ends wherever possible and ensuring the right people are ready to act, so that a property isn’t sitting empty simply because the next step hasn’t been organised.
She said a steady increase in void periods was also significant. Properties stood empty for an average 18 days in 2022 and 17.5 days in 2023, before increasing to 18.4 days in 2024, 20.3 days in 2025 and 23.2 days in 2026.
“For portfolio landlords in particular, those additional days can quickly add up across multiple properties, so minimising avoidable void periods is an important part of protecting rental income,” she said.
