In some parts of England, the cost has risen by as much as 52.9% over the past year, adding hundreds of pounds in lost rental income

Landlords are facing a growing squeeze on profits as the cost of void periods between tenancies climbs sharply, according to new research from property management specialist Rushbrook & Rathbone.

In some parts of England, the cost has risen by as much as 52.9% over the past year, adding hundreds of pounds in lost rental income at a time when landlords already face mounting pressures around compliance, maintenance and shifting regulation.

The firm analysed current market rents alongside the average length of void periods across England’s rental market, comparing the figures with those from the same point last year to track how costs have changed.

Across England, the average void period now stands at 24 days. Based on an average monthly rent of £1,438, this works out at an estimated cost of £1,135 every time a property sits empty between tenancies. That represents a rise of £129, or 12.9%, compared with £1,005 in April 2025.

When it comes to the highest outright cost of a void period, London tops the list. Despite having one of the shortest average void periods in the country at 16.6 days, higher rents mean landlords there face an average void cost of £1,252 each time a property becomes vacant. The South East ranks second at £1,065, with the South West close behind at £1,060 and the East of England at £1,059.

Rushbrook & Rathbone believe that as costs continue to rise across the private rented sector, reducing void periods is becoming increasingly important for protecting landlord profitability.

Professional property management, the firm says, can play a key role in cutting the length and frequency of void periods through proactive tenancy renewals, strong tenant retention, pre-void inspections, rapid turnaround maintenance and targeted marketing aimed at minimising the time a property sits empty between occupants.

Many landlords focus on the rent they achieve, but the rental income lost between tenancies is often just as important as the rent achieved during them, said Roma Sharma, managing director of Rushbrook & Rathbone.

Sharma said: A void period doesn’t just mean a temporary loss of rental income; landlords are also still contending with mortgage payments, insurance costs, service charges, maintenance obligations and other outgoings whilst a property sits empty.