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Average tenancy reaches 20 months

John Fitzsimons
Written By:
Posted:
August 23, 2017
Updated:
August 23, 2017

The average tenancy length in the UK has increased to 20 months, up 18% from 2014, according to data from Your Move.

The estate agents said it was outside of capital where rental contracts were getting longest, with Sevenoaks in Kent boasting the longest tenancy lengths in the UK at an average of 44 months.

Your Move noted that it was a popular area for commuters from the capital, with rents steadily rising over the last three years, increasing from £780 per month in June 2014 to £885 in June this year.

At the other end of the scale, the shortest tenancies were found in the south west at just 15 months on average. In fact, tenants in the towns of Filton and Taunton were subject to even shorter tenancies, at an average of as little as six months.

In Wales, the typical renter stayed in the same property for two years, though tenants in the market town of Abergale enjoy average tenancies of 30 months.

Meanwhile in Scotland tenancies last for 18 months on average, though those renting on the east coast enjoyed tenancies of 20 months on average.

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Tenancies in Northern Ireland last for an average of 17 months.

UK regions in order of tenancy length

Region Tenancy length
Wales 24 months
West Midlands 22 months
South East of England 21 months
East of Scotland 20 months
East of England 20 months
London 20 months
East Midlands 20 months
North West 20 months
Yorkshire and The Humber 19 months
South of Scotland 18 months
Edinburgh & Lothians 18 months
Glasgow & Clyde 18 months
North East of England 18 months
Northern Ireland 17 months
Highlands & Islands 16 months
South West of England 15 months

The government’s Housing White Paper this year promoted the benefits of long term tenancies to landlords and tenants alike, while a recent tenant survey from LSL (part of the same family of companies as Your Move) found that more than a third of tenants would prefer a tenancy agreement of a minimum of three years.

Richard Waind, director at Your Move, noted that it was not so long ago that the nation saw a rise in the number of short-term lets, with landlords seeing them as lucrative and tenants enjoying the flexibility they provided.

“However, we’re now seeing a shift towards longer term rentals and the security that they can provide both landlords and tenants,” he added

“Our research has shown that tenants want to feel settled and if landlords can provide a suitable living space and service, tenancy lengths may increase across the UK.

“Through this type of extended agreement, we hope to see more cooperation between landlords and renters who both benefit from the affordability and stability long-term renting can provide,” he added.