Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Team from a report by Landlord Today. Read the original article for full details.
Closer EU Ties Could Add Pressure to Stretched UK Rental Market
Analysis from LegalforLandlords warns that any increase in European workers coming to the UK could tip the balance of an already overstressed rental market. The warning comes as the prime minister calls for closer ties with the EU.
According to LegalforLandlords, competition for rental homes has increased from 23.6% in Q2–Q4 2019, before Brexit, to 25.5% in Q1–Q3 2026. Over the same period, the average baseline number of rental listings has dropped 22.9%, from an estimated 160,517 before Brexit to 123,797 in 2026.
Demand is running higher than it did before Brexit, at a time when the supply of rental listings has fallen sharply. LegalforLandlords warns that any rise in European workers arriving in the UK could add further pressure to that already overstressed market.
For letting agents and inventory clerks, the figures underline the supply-and-demand squeeze across the private rented sector (PRS). With fewer rental listings available and competition already above pre-Brexit levels, any additional demand would be felt across lettings offices and at the property inspection stage.
The source report does not set out specific policy proposals or further detail beyond the LegalforLandlords analysis. The brief is limited to what the report states: competition for rental homes has risen since before Brexit, rental listings have fallen, and closer EU ties could create further pressure for the PRS.
Source: Landlord Today