Houses Hold Two-Thirds of High-Demand UK Rental Stock

Houses represent 65.7% of all properties identified as having high rental demand in England. This figure comes from an analysis of 15,583 specific rental units. The data indicates a structural shift in tenant preferences across the residential market.

Flats remain the single most common property type at 34.3% of high-demand listings. However, the collective share of houses has outpaced flats in terms of total demand volume. This trend is consistent across multiple regions in the country.

Detached homes lead individual segments

Detached houses account for 27.3% of the high-demand pool. Semi-detached properties follow with a 22.8% share. Terraced homes make up the remaining 15.6% of the house category. These three types together form the majority of sought-after rentals.

Regional demand varies by location

The South East contains the largest number of high-demand properties. This region holds 27% of the national total, equal to 4,191 units. London ranks second with 18% of the total, or 2,869 properties. The East of England contributes 16%, comprising 2,562 units.

Property type preferences differ significantly by geography. Flats dominate the London market with a 71.9% share of high-demand stock. In contrast, houses account for 77% of high-demand rentals in the East of England. The East Midlands shows the strongest preference for houses at 97.4%.

Longer tenancies drive house demand

Rushbrook attributes the shift to tenants renting for longer periods. Affordability barriers prevent many prospective buyers from purchasing homes. Consequently, housing requirements become more diverse over time. Landlords must manage maintenance and compliance to retain these tenants.