Over the last decade there has been a huge increase in the demand for rented property with the number of people renting increasing by over a million and the rented sector is feeling the strain!  With tenant demand being higher than ever, tenants are having to move quickly to secure their property.  There is a real shortage of good quality property on the market, caused by several factors:

• Lack of buy-to-let mortgages
• Landlords not increasing their portfolios
• Increased demand for rented property
• Low levels of new build housing

Social & demographic changes have had their impact - the UK population is forecast to brow still further to 71 billion by 2033!  Groups of people who usually rent not buy are still growing, eg students, migrants, single person households.  Due to economic pressures, people are marrying and starting families later in life, delaying the traditional need & time for home ownership.

Demand growing, supply falling ... a few interesting years ahead in this area of the property market and we keep watch to see what measures the new coalition government propose to support the private rented sector.