"By integrating rent protection insurance directly into the tenancy process, agents can ensure landlords are safeguarded against missed payments or defaults from day one"
- Sim Sekhon - Propoly
Landlords in England are dealing with more than £470 million in rent arrears annually, according to new research from Propoly, a platform that manages tenancy compliance and protects landlords against financial risk.
Propoly analysed the latest available government data on rent arrears in England's private rented sector and found that in 2024-25, an estimated 210,163 rented households fell into arrears. The average amount owed stood at £2,238, bringing the national total to an estimated £470.3m.
London generated the largest share of arrears at £109.5m, while the North West also crossed the £100m mark at £103.1m. The South East (£61m), West Midlands (£58.1m) and Yorkshire & Humber (£38m) followed, with the South West recording the smallest proportion at just under £14m.
National spread
London also accounted for the largest share of households in arrears, at 23.3% of the national total. The North West came second at 21.9%, followed by the South East (13%), West Midlands (12.4%) and Yorkshire & Humber (8.1%). The South West had the smallest share at 3%.
"The scale of rental arrears we're seeing across England is significant, with more than 210,000 households falling behind on their rent in a single year," said Sim Sekhon, group CEO at Propoly.
"When this equates to over £470 million in missed payments, it underlines just how exposed landlords can be when tenant finances come under pressure. For many landlords, rental income isn't simply supplementary, it's essential to covering mortgage repayments, maintenance costs and wider financial commitments."
"It's been a challenging period for household finances, with higher living costs continuing to stretch budgets, so it's little surprise that a growing number of tenants are struggling to stay on top of their rent. However, while the pressures may be understandable, the financial impact on landlords can be severe and, in some cases, destabilising."
"That's why protection has never been more important. By integrating rent protection insurance directly into the tenancy process, agents can ensure landlords are safeguarded against missed payments or defaults from day one. The likes of Propoly make it simple to offer landlords one-click access to rent protection as part of a standard service, boosting landlord confidence, strengthening retention rates, and creating additional revenue opportunities for agents, all while reducing exposure to risk."
