Property Search 
Report maintenance June Newsletter – Quarterly Rental Market Review
This edition covers the key trends shaping Bristol’s rental market as we move through 2026. From how tenant demand and available stock have evolved, to where rents are settling after last summer’s peak. We also explore the journey to EPC C compliance, with expert insight from Retrofit West, showing why many landlords may find meeting the 2030 deadline simpler than they expect.
Quarterly Market Review
Over the past six months, Bristol’s rental market has shifted into a more balanced position. Following a particularly busy summer in 2025, tenant demand eased towards the end of the year as more properties became available. However, activity has steadily recovered during spring 2026, with average daily views per property rising from 39.8 in December to 56.5 by April. While renters now have more choice, demand remains resilient, particularly for well-presented homes in desirable locations.
Property availability reached its highest level in late 2025, with more than 6,000 homes on the market, before easing slightly into the new year. Compared with this time last year, landlords are operating in a more competitive environment, making accurate pricing and strong marketing more important than ever.
Rental prices in the South West have also begun to stabilise. After reaching a peak of £1,852 in July 2025, average monthly rents settled at around £1,220 through winter and spring. This suggests the exceptional rental growth seen during the supply shortage has moderated as stock levels have improved. However, affordability continues to influence tenant decisions.
What’s Next for Bristol Landlords
Over the next six months, we expect Bristol’s rental market to remain healthy, but increasingly competitive. Demand is likely to stay strong thanks to the city’s growing population, universities and employment opportunities. Although tenants will continue to have more choice than they did in recent years.
For landlords, this means the focus is shifting away from simply listing a property and waiting for enquiries. Success will depend on presenting properties to a high standard, setting realistic rents and attracting the right tenants from the outset. Homes that are well maintained, professionally marketed and competitively priced are expected to let quickly, while overpriced or poorly presented properties may take longer to secure tenants.
At The Letting Game, we help landlords adapt to changing market conditions. We combine expert pricing advice, professional marketing and targeted tenant matching to minimise void periods and maximise long-term returns.
Want free help bringing your rental up to EPC C?
Here’s something most landlords don’t realise. For a lot of Bristol’s older rental properties, the gap between EPC D and EPC C doesn’t require a disruptive renovation.
The improvements that make the biggest difference are often simple ones:
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Changing to LED lighting
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Draught-proofing gaps around windows and doors
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Adding heating controls
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Loft insulation
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Wall insulation
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A boiler upgrade
All of these can be done with tenants in place. From 2030, rental properties need to reach EPC C to remain compliant, but for many landlords the path to getting there is a lot less disruptive than they’re expecting.
What you actually need is a personalised roadmap to EPC C for your specific property.
Retrofit West is a not-for-profit advice service for landlords in the West of England. Starting from £80, their Landlord Energy Efficiency Plan’s will tell you exactly what your property needs to reach EPC C, in what order, what it’ll cost, and how to navigate compliance, cost caps and exemptions. The plan includes a new EPC and a free one again once the work is done, so your compliance is documented.
Free advice is available first if you want to talk it through.
