At the start of the fourth quarter, the British residential market presents a differentiated picture between stable annual momentum and a slight softening on a monthly basis. Recent figures from the lettings platform Goodlord show that annual rental price growth in the United Kingdom remained unchanged at five per cent in October 2026.
At the same time, growth in a direct month-on-month comparison experienced a noticeable cooling. While rents had still risen by 0.9 per cent in September, the increase slowed to 0.6 per cent in October. This deceleration highlights waning momentum in short-term price trends, even though the overarching rent level continues to show a clear gain compared with the prior-year period.
Significant lengthening of void periods
Alongside subdued monthly price performance, the Goodlord report points to a clear shift in void periods between successive tenancies. The length of time properties remained unoccupied widened appreciably during the reporting month.
In October 2026, rental properties stood vacant for an average of 28 days before a new agreement was finalised. This represents a noticeable increase compared to the previous month of September, when the average void period was 20 days.
Overview of key UK market figures
- —Annual rental price growth: Unchanged at 5.0 per cent in October 2026
- —Monthly price increase: Slowdown from 0.9 per cent in September to 0.6 per cent in October
- —Average void period: Rise from 20 days in September to 28 days in October
The figures from Goodlord illustrate two parallel trends within the British rental sector. Although the underlying return base proves stable year on year with five per cent growth, the extended re-letting intervals alongside slower monthly growth necessitate forward-looking management during tenant turnovers.
