The cost of void periods has climbed almost 58% in three years, with the average landlord now losing almost £1,100 in rent each time a property sits empty between tenancies, according to research by residential property management specialist Rushbrook.
Rushbrook analysed average void periods across England alongside average monthly private rents to estimate the rental income lost while a property stands empty, comparing 2026 figures with 2023. It drew on the Goodlord Rental Index and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) private rent and house prices data.
The average cost of a void across England rose from £696 in 2023 to £1,097 in 2026, an increase of 57.5%. Voids are also getting longer, with the average stretching from 17.5 days to 23.2 days over the period.
Void period costs almost double in some regions
The North East saw the largest rise in the cost of a void, up 92.4% from £318 to £612. The West Midlands recorded the second-largest increase at 62.5%, with the average cost climbing from £528 to £859.
London follows at 61.9%, where the cost of the average void period rose from £838 to £1,357, making it the most expensive region in England for landlords in cash terms. The South East's average void cost increased 60.1%, from £658 to £1,053, while the North West rose 59.5%, from £457 to £728. Elsewhere, costs climbed 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.
Preventing unnecessary void periods
Rushbrook says a void cannot always be avoided when one tenancy ends and another begins, but the rising financial cost shows why landlords should avoid leaving a property empty for longer than necessary.
The firm adds that managing ahead of a tenancy ending can limit avoidable delays, whether that means identifying maintenance needs in advance, arranging contractors, coordinating the check-out process or completing any required works before the next tenant moves in. Portfolio landlords face particular exposure, as relatively small delays across multiple properties can quickly add up to a much larger loss of rental income.
The longer-term trend shows void periods lengthening. The average void stood at 18 days in 2022 and 17.5 days in 2023, before rising to 18.4 days in 2024, 20.3 days in 2025 and 23.2 days in 2026.
"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," said Roma Sharma, managing director at Rushbrook.
"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.
"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."
