Zoopla: rents in cheapest markets rise 5% as stock stays 20-30% below pre-pandemic levels

Zoopla reports rents in areas under £750 a month are rising 5% a year, more than double the 2.1% national rate, even as tenant enquiries per listing fall to a six-year low of 5.6. Every region still has 20-30% fewer homes to rent than before the pandemic, so scarcity rather than demand is doing the lifting. For landlords and renters weighing buying, the squeeze is sharpest in cheaper markets. Wages have outpaced rents for 18 months, so affordability is improving — slowly.