rent increases in 2017

Letting agents are anticipating rent increases in 2017 ahead of the tenant fees ban.

ARLA’s November Private Rental Sector Report found the number of tenants experiencing rent increases continued to decrease, at 16%, from 18%, but this could all be set to change.

Following the Chancellor Philip Hammond’s announcement to ban letting agent fees for tenants during his Autumn Statement, eight in ten agents expect to see rent hikes in 2017.

The report found the number of rental properties managed per branch was 185, an increase from 180 in October, but lower than the 193 recorded in September.

Demand from prospective tenants fell again in November to 32 prospective tenants registered per letting agent branch, compared with 34 in October, however 53% of agents expect to see a rise in demand next year.

David Cox, managing director of ARLA, said: “The number of rent hikes reported by letting agents continued to decrease in November, and it’s a shame the ban on letting agent fees will have the opposite impact on rent prices when the measure comes into force.

“The buy-to-let market is becoming less attractive for investors as the ban on fees, combined with the scrapping of mortgage interest relief and the stamp duty increase on second homes push costs up for landlords. So unfortunately, regardless of the uplift we saw in supply this month, we expect to see the number of properties available to rent fall next year.”