20 most in-demand locations for renters
If you’ve followed the trends of the rental market in recent years, it’s been a pretty consistent picture. It’s been incredibly busy, and a lack of homes for sale plus record rents have meant it can be difficult for tenants to secure the home they want, in the area they want, too.
But we’ve seen a slight easing of the pressure on the rental market as we move through 2024. The number of tenants looking to move has dropped by 16% compared to 2023, and the number of homes available to rent has increased by 8%. Though we’ve by no means moved into a quiet rental market: when we compare 2024 to 2019, there are currently 17% more tenants looking to move, and 32% fewer homes.
However, we’re not seeing the same easing in demand play out in all areas of the country, and some areas are attracting almost three times the national average of 19 enquiries per property available to rent.
So where topped the list?
The city of Wrexham has been in the spotlight in recent years, as hit TV series Welcome to Wrexham follows Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney take the helm at one of the world’s oldest football clubs. And it’s emerged as the most in-demand area with renters at the moment, with an average of 54 enquiries per home. Glasgow (52 enquiries) and Bristol (51 enquiries) are the second and third most in demand areas.
Our property expert, Tim Bannister, says: “Whilst at a high-level there has been an easing in the rental market compared with last year, from speaking with agents, we know that many local markets are yet to feel the effect from these improvements. At the same time, prospective tenants are still likely to be experiencing a very hot and competitive market. To be receiving upwards of 50 enquiries per available rental property in some local areas is an astonishing figure, which goes to show the significant amount of work still to be done to improve the balance of supply and demand across different areas of Great Britain.”
Take a look at the 20 busiest rental markets:
| Area | Average number of enquiries per available rental property | Average advertised rent per calendar month |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Wrexham | 54 | £967 |
| 2. Glasgow | 52 | £1,078 |
| 3. Bristol | 51 | £1,658 |
| 4. Plymouth | 50 | £1,137 |
| 5. Wirral | 47 | £999 |
| 6. Salford | 47 | £1,232 |
| 7. Stockport | 46 | £1,384 |
| 8. Oldham | 45 | £1,022 |
| 9. Tameside | 45 | £1,091 |
| 10. Bath and North East Somerset | 45 | £1,784 |
| 11. Blackpool | 44 | £805 |
| 12. Rochdale | 42 | £1,048 |
| 13. Lancaster | 41 | £992 |
| 14. Liverpool | 41 | £1,018 |
| 15. Edinburgh | 41 | £1,582 |
| 16. Manchester | 41 | £1,362 |
| 17. Norwich | 41 | £1,229 |
| 18. Telford and Wrekin | 40 | £1,030 |
| 19. Bury | 40 | £1,088 |
| 20. Wigan | 39 | £895 |
If you’re looking to rent a home soon, there are things you can do to put yourself in the best possible position to secure the home you want. Take a look at our tips to boost your chances of getting a viewing.
READ MORE: 10 cheapest cities for renters
