Rental housing demand in Prime Central London (PCL) and Outer London is still high, with supply unable to catch up, and this is healthy for property investors in the UK. According to the latest available statistics from Knight Frank, new lettings property volumes in the first quarter of 2025 were 10% below the same period of last year, and 15% below the same period in 2023.
This declining supply, coupled with increasing tenant demand, is driving up rents, providing rich opportunities to UK property market investors. As the rental market becomes tighter, the shortage between demand and supply is emerging as a primary driver of increasing rents.
Increasing Demand, Decreasing Supply
The proportion of new renters to new lettings homes for the first quarter of 2025 was 5.0, versus 4.6 for the past two years. This means that demand for renters is increasing more rapidly than the supply of rental homes, which is one of the main drivers of rent growth.
As fewer rental properties become available, renters are fighting for the limited supply and, therefore, pushing up the rental price. This can quite clearly be witnessed in Prime Central London (PCL) and Prime Outer London (POL) as competition is keen for decent rental properties from very sought-after locations.
Increases in rent in Prime London and Outer London
The impact of supply tightening is already evident in the rental sector, with rents increasing in both Prime Central London and Outer London.
Prime Central London rents increased by 0.6% in the last quarter to March 2025, the largest quarterly rise since November 2023. In the last year, PCL rents increased by 0.8%, the largest annual rise since October 2024.
Prime Outer London (POL) also recorded a growth, with rents increasing by 0.1% in the last quarter, the biggest increase since November 2024. The annual increase in POL rents stood at 1.2%, a rise from the 1% that was seen in the first two months of 2025.
What This Means for UK Property Investors
While rents in Prime Central London and Outer London continue to rise, the future for property investors is getting more and more profitable. As there are fewer properties to compete for, existing owners or would-be buyers who already have these highly sought-after areas on their books will likely reap higher rental yields. As demand outstrips supply, rent will likely continue to rise, providing safe cash flow and long-term appreciation potential for owners or those looking to purchase rental property in the capital.
For investors, this tightening of the rental market is a sure sign of the state of the UK property market, especially in London's prime locations. With increasing rents and an escalating shortage of available homes, the scenario at hand is providing a perfect setting for real estate investment in the UK.
We are here at Magnate Assets to assist you through the potential of the UK property market and deliver to you the most up-to-date information and techniques to generate the maximum return on your investment. Whether you want to invest in Prime Central London or the currently trendy Outer London boroughs, we possess the knowledge to assist you through each step.