The rental market remains strong, with Rightmove reporting that the average advertised rent outside London reached a new record of £1,397 per month during the second quarter of 2026.
That’s an increase of 1.9% during the quarter and 2.3% compared with a year ago.
At the same time, the number of available rental properties has fallen below last year’s level for the first time since 2022, showing that the shortage of rental homes is still supporting rents.
Here in Solihull and the wider Midlands, good quality rental homes continue to attract tenant interest, particularly family homes in popular locations with good schools and transport links.
However, the rental market is becoming more balanced. Tenants generally have a little more breathing space than they did during the height of the rental shortage, which makes sensible pricing and good presentation increasingly important for landlords.
There are also significant differences between locations. Recent Zoopla figures show annual rental growth across the West Midlands at just 0.4%, with Birmingham rents actually falling by 1.1%, suggesting affordability is putting a ceiling on how quickly rents can continue to rise.
Good properties can still let quickly, but landlords shouldn’t assume that every property will attract a queue of tenants immediately.
Rightmove reports that the average rental property is now receiving around 10 enquiries, compared with 11 a year ago and 22 at the height of the market in 2022.
Competition is therefore much more manageable for tenants, although it remains above the pre-pandemic average of five enquiries per property.
For landlords, getting the rent right and presenting the property well from day one can help reduce void periods and attract the right tenant.
We expect rental demand to remain healthy, but rent increases are likely to be more measured than we’ve seen over the last few years.
The continued shortage of available rental homes should support the market, but affordability is becoming increasingly important for tenants.
For landlords, the focus should be on achieving a sustainable market rent, retaining good tenants and ensuring properties remain compliant and well maintained.
Whether you’re considering letting a property for the first time or you’re an existing landlord wondering if you’re achieving the right rent, we can provide an up-to-date rental valuation and advice on the current Solihull market.
