The ARLA survey is conducted through the offices of member letting agents, the frontline of the private rented sector and the latest quarter shows that well over half (58%) believe that rents have stabilised or even risen. Nationally, a quarter (25%) of all agents believe that rents had risen at the end of February. Exactly a third (33.3%) believe rents have remained the same while 41.3% believe rents are down.
The rental market in prime central London is still having a disproportionate effect on the national average figures as only 5.3% of ARLA members in the Capital see signs of rents rising. 71.3% believe rents are down and 23.3% believe they have stayed the same. However, in the rest of the South East there is more optimism. A quarter, 24.3%, believe achievable rents are up, 35% that they have stayed the same and 40.8% believe them to be down. For a different picture, go to the rest of the UK. 43.5% believe that prospects are bright for rents with achievable rents rising. 40.6% believe they have stayed the same and only 16% believe they are down.
