Residential landlords who haven’t been able to fill their property so far should not give up hope in the new year, as January is often a great time to find tenants. 

Here are some reasons why landlords should continue marketing their asset with letting agents in Nottingham in the new year, as they have a good chance of quickly finding a tenant and ensuring a good return on their investment. 

New year, new start for renters

Christmas is a good time for reflection, with many people starting the new year with new goals and renewed ambition, wanting to make a fresh start.

Therefore, renters who had stopped looking for their next move in December are likely to put all their energy into finding somewhere new to live.

Or people who have been living with parents, in shared accommodation or with a partner whom they have decided to part ways with over the Christmas break will all be looking for a property they can finally call their own.

Indeed, January is the busiest time of the year for divorce applications and December 11th is said to be the date when more break-ups occur than any other. 

Facebook has revealed that the two weeks before December 25th is when the biggest shift from being ‘in a relationship’ to being ‘single’ happens.

This is likely to come down to the stress of the festive season and feeling lonely in the relationship, even at the busiest time of the year. 

Therefore, anyone who has broken up with their partner will be looking for a new place to call home, increasing demand for landlords.

Corporate moves

Businesses do not tend to move employees during the last couple of months of the year, as this could take staff away from their loved ones over Christmas. 

Therefore, January is typically a time when workers are relocated to start on new projects. 

As a result of this, there is often a surge in rental demand as employees need somewhere to stay as they set themselves up in a new location. 

Get in before the spring rush

Traditionally, lots of rental properties get listed in the spring, which means there is a lower supply of homes at the start of the year. 

As a result of this, demand for properties is greater than the supply, putting landlords at an advantage as there is less competition for them. 

According to Zoopla, supply of rental properties is higher than it has been for a long time, and demand is at its lowest level for six years. 

It reported there are 15 per cent more homes available to rent than in December 2024, which means it is harder for landlords to secure a tenant. 

Advertising the property when supply is at its lowest is, therefore, a prudent move, as renters will have a smaller pool of homes to choose from.

This means landlords are more likely to fill the property sooner and could potentially achieve a higher rent than if they waited till later on in the year to list it.