A shorter commute, more room to work from home or a fresh start in a new neighbourhood: tenants have different reasons for moving this autumn. For landlords, knowing what draws people to a particular part of London can help them understand where their property fits.
Chestertons’ latest lettings figures reveal three trends worth watching: increased viewing activity in North and East London, a rise in corporate searches in prime central London and a search for more space in the South West. We explore what these mean for landlords, with a closer look at neighbourhoods from Islington to Battersea.
Chestertons’ data show viewings across North and East London rising by 19.55%, making tenant activity an important trend to watch this autumn.
Neighbourhoods such as Islington and Canary Wharf offer distinct propositions. Islington combines period homes and residential streets with the restaurants, shops and cultural venues around Upper Street. Canary Wharf offers modern apartments, waterside surroundings and connections through the Elizabeth and Jubilee lines.
For landlords, the regional increase in viewings is encouraging, but the next step is to understand demand for the particular home. A period conversion and an apartment in a modern development will attract different comparisons, even at a similar rent.
Layout, condition, storage and the journey to work can all influence a tenant’s decision. Clear marketing should explain those practical advantages, while an accurate valuation should reflect what comparable properties are achieving locally.
Nearly half of Chestertons’ move-ins across North and East London are also into managed properties. For landlords considering professional management, it is worth discussing how maintenance, tenant communication and the everyday running of a tenancy will be handled from the outset.
Corporate searches in prime central London have increased by 38%, according to Chestertons’ regional snapshot. Alongside this, super-prime instructions are up 20%, while tenancies agreed have grown by 10% year on year.
For landlords with homes in neighbourhoods such as Kensington, Chelsea and Mayfair, these figures provide a useful backdrop to conversations about positioning a property for relocating professionals and international tenants.
A relocation involves more than choosing an address. Prospective tenants may be balancing a start date, a new commute and practical arrangements for settling into London. Accurate information about furnishings, availability and the condition of a home helps them make decisions with greater certainty.
Landlords can prepare by resolving maintenance issues before viewings and agreeing a clear marketing approach with their agent. Where tenants are coordinating a move from elsewhere, prompt answers and well-organised next steps can make the process considerably smoother.
The increase in instructions also reinforces the importance of understanding the competition. Presentation and pricing need to reflect the alternatives a tenant can view today.
Chestertons’ South West London figures show rents rising by 6.6%, with renters looking for more space.
For landlords in neighbourhoods such as Fulham, Battersea and Wandsworth, this makes the way a home functions particularly relevant. An additional bedroom, a useful home-working area or well-planned shared living space can give prospective tenants more flexibility.
Outdoor space may add to the appeal, but the details inside matter too. A clear floorplan and photographs that show room proportions can help tenants understand how they would live in the property.
The regional rise in rents should inform a local valuation rather than become an automatic increase for every home. Property type, condition and location all need to be considered, alongside evidence from comparable lettings.
Before spending on improvements, landlords should ask which changes are likely to make the greatest difference to prospective tenants. Addressing worn finishes, poor lighting or a maintenance problem may be a more useful starting point than a larger refurbishment.
These regional trends tell different stories, but tenants’ searches often cross neighbourhood boundaries. Someone who begins looking in one postcode may find a better fit elsewhere once they compare space, transport and budget.
Chestertons’ branches work together as one connected London team, sharing knowledge of tenants’ requirements and introducing suitable homes across the network. A property can therefore reach prospective tenants whose search began with another branch, while landlords receive advice grounded in the streets and market around their home.
That connection helps simplify a process that can otherwise involve repeated conversations and disconnected decisions. Local teams provide practical guidance on pricing and preparation, communicate viewing feedback and coordinate the detail as a tenancy progresses. When questions arise, experienced people help resolve them and keep everyone clear about the next step.
For landlords this autumn, the starting point is understanding where their property fits: who it will suit, what competing homes offer and how to bring it to market with confidence.