The rental shortage hotspots have been revealed, with the Isle of Wright, West Devon and Cornwall leading the way.
Rental shortages are so acute that in some towns and villages in these areas, there is only one property available to rent.
In the West Devon market town of Tavistock, for example, the only property listed on Rightmove to rent is a basement studio flat costing £460 a month.
The rental shortage hotspots have been revealed, with the Isle of Wright, West Devon and Cornwall leading the way
In other areas, the listings are reading that ‘viewings are fully booked’ within a day of the property being advertised online.
Rightmove’s findings were based on more than 400,000 rental listings in June and July this year and comparing them to the same period two years ago.
It revealed the true extent of a lack of homes to rent compared to pre-pandemic levels, with the Isle of Wight topping the list with a fall of 82 per cent in available rental stock.
We have picked a property in each of the top 10 rental shortage hotspots to provide a snapshot of what is on offer to rent in each of these locations. (Scroll down for the selection of property listings.)
The Rightmove research did not analyse what type of homes were hardest hit – such as a flat or family homes – and instead focused on locations only.
The areas with the biggest reduction in stock compared to the summer of 2019 are in seaside locations and holiday resorts.
The only property to rent in the West Devon market town of Tavistock is a basement studio flat costing £460 a month
Tim Bannister, of Rightmove, said: ‘Landlords in the typical tourist destinations around Britain have been chasing the huge surge in demand for holiday lets this summer, which has led to a temporary drop in the stock available for permanent tenants.
‘However, as the summer holidays are coming to an end, agents are now reporting more landlords turning their attention to longer-term tenants as a more secure and stable option for the rest of the year and into 2022.
Landlords in the typical tourist destinations around Britain have been chasing the huge surge in demand for holiday lets this summer
Tim Bannister – Rightmove
Jeremy Leaf, north London estate agent and a former RICS residential chairman, said: ‘As the commitment to commute has declined, so has demand to live in coastal or country areas increased.
‘Others have enjoyed being by the seaside so much they have turned temporary stays into more permanent ones.
‘The result has been an increase in demand, which supply has struggled to match, particularly recently in the staycation season. Other owners have taken refuge in the short let and Airbnb market, which also kept longer-term rental stock levels down.
‘Although traditionally September and October are the busiest months for rentals, the demand and supply imbalance is likely to continue at least until the end of the year when poorer weather should dampen demand to the extent that rents will inevitably soften.’
Properties to rent in ‘shortage hotspots’…
1. Three-bed semi-detached house, Isle of Wight, £895 per calendar month
This three-bedroom semi-detached house in Brading on the Isle of Wight is available for rent for £895
This property on the Isle of Wight is available to rent for £895 a month via letting agents Hose Rodes Dickson.
It is in the town of Brading, on the east of the island, and within reach of the railway station and main bus routes.
It is semi-detached, unfurnished and has three bedrooms. It is available to rent from October 18.
2. Three-bed semi-detached, North Devon, £975 pcm
This three-bedroom semi-detached house in Fremington, North Devon, is for rent for £975 a month
This North Devon home is in the village of Fremington, three miles west of Barnstaple.
It has three bedrooms, a driveway and a single garage. It is available to rent to non-smokers without pets.
It is being let for £975 a month by letting agents Phillips, Smith & Dunn. It is available to rent from September 20.
3. Studio flat, West Devon, £460 pcm
This basement studio in is the only property in Tavistock available to rent on Rightmove
This basement studio flat costing £460 a month is currently the only property available to rent on Rightmove for tenants looking in West Devon’s Tavistock.
It is two minutes from Tavistock town centre and includes a garden and off-street parking. It is available via letting agents Mashroom.
4. Four-bed house, Northumberland, £1,500 pcm
This detached house in Northumberland has four bedrooms and is available to rent for £1,500 a month
This four-bedroom unfurnished farmhouse is in the countryside near Gunnerton in Northumberland.
The detached property includes a large front garden, outbuildings and a half acre paddock. It is available to rent for £1,500 a month via letting agents Galbraith.
5. Three-beds, Blackpool, £650 pcm
Viewings on this property to rent in Blackpool are ‘now fully booked’, according to the listing on Rightmove
Within a day of this three-bedroom property in Blackpool being advertised online, the listed read that viewings ‘now fully booked’.
The rental is being handled by Tiger letting agents and the semi-detached property is being let for £650 a month.
6. Three-bed detached house, Torridge, £925 pcm
This detached home in Torridge has three bedrooms and is for rent for £925 a month
This three-bedroom home is in Milton Damerel, in the local government district of Torridge in North Devon.
It is available to rent via letting agents Kivells, from September 20 and is unfurnished. It has been recently decorated and costs £925 a month.
7. Three-bed semi-detached house, South Tyneside, £620 pcm
This family home in Hebburn has three bedrooms and is available to rent for £620 a month
This semi-detached home is in the town of Hebburn, on the south bank of the River Tyne.
It is available immediately and is being rented unfurnished via letting agents Reeds Rain. It has three bedrooms and a enclosed garden.
8. Three-bed detached house, Neath, £950 pcm
This award-winning rental home has three bedrooms and costs £950 a month
This detached chalet bungalow is in the village of Crynant, in Wales’ Neath.
The property won the LABC Cymru award for Best Individual New House and the NPRCB Building Excellence Award for 2020.
It has three bedrooms and costs £950 a month to rent via letting agents Payton Jewell Caines. However, the listing online had set a deadline of September 15 at 5pm for tenants to apply.
9. Three-bed cottage, Cornwall, £950 pcm
This Cornish cottage is costs £950 a month to rent and is available either furnished or unfurnished
This cottage in Cornwall’s St Just includes a feature fireplace, three bedrooms and an enclosed garden.
It is available to rent for £950 pcm via letting agents Marshall’s, and is available either furnished or unfurnished.
10. Three-bed semi-detached house, North Tyneside, £800
This family home is in the village of Shiremoor in Newcastle Upon Tyne and costs £800 a month to rent
This semi-detached family home is in the large village of Shiremoor in Newcastle Upon Tyne.
It has three bedrooms and is available to rent via letting agents Your Move for £800 a month. It is available immediately and is unfurnished.
