Brexit and the housing market: 'rental sector is stable'
07-28-2016
By Kate_Edser
While a tenth (12 per cent) of agents reported an immediate dip in rent, an overwhelming three quarters (77 per cent) saw no change.
Last month's Brexit result has not rocked the rental market yet, according to the Association of Residential Letting Agents' (ARLA) June Private Rental Sector report.
Immediately following last month's Brexit result, the rental market is stable, with little to no movement in terms of rental costs. While a tenth (12 per cent) of agents reported an immediate dip in rent, an overwhelming three quarters (77 per cent) saw no change. This contradicts expectations, as prior to the result a fifth (19 per cent) predicted rents would increase, and a fifth (20 per cent) expected them to fall. Only three in five (61 per cent) thought they would stay the same.
Similarly, the supply of available properties and demand for housing remained the same immediately following the result. Almost one in seven (67 per cent) ARLA members reported no change in supply, and a further 64 per cent reported no change in the number of prospective tenants looking for properties.
However, since the result almost half (45 per cent) of letting agents have witnessed uncertainty from landlords looking to let properties, which could cause waves in the rental market over the coming months.
David Cox, managing director, Association of Residential Letting Agents said: "The rental market has responded to Brexit in a calm fashion, with no immediate fallout amid extreme political and economic uncertainty. What we need is some certainty from the new Government that housing remains a priority with the rental market playing a central. For example, we want to avoid a situation where institutional investors start pulling away from the market because ultimately this will impact tenants by squeezing supply further and pushing up rents.
"Although we've seen some hesitation from landlords this is relatively mild and it's important they do not act in haste. Any inevitable longer term changes will then be taken on board with greater ease."
Supply and demand
Month on month, demand for rental accommodation was up in June, as was the supply of properties managed on letting agents' books. There were 37 prospective tenants on average registered per ARLA member branch in June, up 12 per cent from 33 in May. The supply of rental properties rose by three per cent in June, from 171 in May to 176 properties on agents' books this month.
David Cox continued: "If one thing is clear following Brexit, it's that supply and demand remains a real issue in the rental market. If supply continues to dwindle against growing demand, no matter what the eventual implications of Brexit are, renting will become more difficult and expensive for tenants."