There was a quarterly rent rise of 0.8%, the biggest jump recorded in this time of year since 2015.
Typical asking rents outside London have hit £800 per month for the first time.
There was a quarterly rent rise of 0.8%, the biggest jump recorded in this time of year since 2015.
Notably there are 8.7% fewer rental properties available compared to this time last year and 19.4% fewer in London.
The slowdown in the buy-to-let market has contributed to this lack of choice, as there was a 14% drop in mortgage approvals compared to the same period last year and a 53% fall from three years ago.
Miles Shipside, Rightmove’s commercial director and housing market analyst, said: “Rental demand is currently outstripping supply in many locations, especially in the capital.
“The exit of more landlords from the buy-to-let market in recent years has been due to a raft of different factors, from the more onerous tax regime and more stringent borrowing criteria, to the higher stamp duty on second home purchases and extra legal obligations.
“What we’re left with is a lack of available homes for tenants looking to find their next place to rent, meaning that when the right kind of property does come along it isn’t sticking around for very long before it’s snapped up.”
Shipside added: “Although some of the shortfall in supply will be met by quality housing provided by Build to Rent schemes in the coming years, it’s likely stock shortages will remain in areas with a high concentration of renters.
“Given this backdrop and rents likely to rise, private landlords should try and look beyond the current challenges if they can and stay in the sector.
“If they concentrate on improving the spec of their existing properties and buy better quality accommodation to add to their portfolios, tenant demand should steadily improve rental yields.”
