Winter is generally a quieter market, so with fewer properties to come to market in London through Q4, the landlords who let this winter could benefit from less competition, as long as the asking rent is right. Rents rose to £610 a week in September and new listings held level after the summer peak. Landlords with a licence still to sort should act before the arrival of the landlord database, the next stage of the Renters' Rights Act.
Letting in London this winter: why pricing matters
Gareth Atkins, Managing Director of Lettings at Foxtons, on what the Renters' Rights Act changed this summer and what comes next:
"The biggest change in renter behaviour we've seen from the Renters' Rights Act has been in the student market. The traditional September rush moved earlier and spread across July and August, bringing more properties to market and a different mix of renters with it. As we move into Q4, we expect fewer properties to come to market, which means landlords choosing to let this winter could benefit from less competition. That makes getting your pricing right even more important. Now is a good time to refresh your valuation and make sure it reflects both the latest market data and what we're seeing on the ground. Looking ahead, the next major change from the Renters' Rights Act is the landlord database, starting from 15 December."
Gareth Atkins
Managing Director of Lettings at Foxtons
Read the Lettings Market Report - September 2026
📈 London rental market numbers for September 2026
• Renter registrations fell 21.1% from August as the summer peak passed. West London was the exception, 3.2% ahead of the same period last year.
• 20 new renters per new instruction, down 16.4% from August's peak.
• Market new listings were flat on August, down just 0.1%, and every month of 2026 has beaten the same month in 2025.
• Average rent achieved rose 0.9% to £610 a week.
• Renters spent 99% of their budget on rent (100% would be exactly on budget).
Source: market new listings data from TwentyCi. All other figures are Foxtons internal data, up to and including 30 September 2026.
See Foxtons Lettings Market Reports
Landlord database: what to do before it arrives
Fran Giltinan, Managing Director of Property Management & Customer Experience at Foxtons, has a clear message for any landlord with a licence still on the to-do list:
"The landlord database will show councils and tenants which properties are registered. For most landlords, that changes very little. But for anyone who has put off getting a licence, or completing the works needed to get one, now is the time to act... Licensing schemes vary by borough and change over time, making them difficult to keep on top of from a distance. Having a Property Manager who deals with these councils every day makes staying compliant much easier."
Fran Giltinan
Managing Director of Property Management & Customer Experience at Foxtons
If a licence has slipped down the list, our Property Management team will get it moving before the database starts.
Collect Avios when you let with Foxtons
Collect up to 50,000 Avios with Foxtons, enough for a return reward flight to Barcelona.
There is a certain thrill in watching the world slip by beneath the wing, knowing everything at home is ticking along beautifully. With Foxtons securing the right tenancy and keeping it on course through full management, your time becomes your own again.
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Collect Avios** with Foxtons:
• Let a new property with Foxtons and collect up to 50,000 Avios across the first 12 months of the tenancy.
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*TwentyCi data, 2025 new lettings instructions at a brand level
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Source: This article draws on Foxtons Business Analytics, who turn the lettings activity recorded across our network into the monthly Lettings Market Report. It reflects what Gareth Atkins and Fran Giltinan see first-hand leading the Foxtons lettings and Property Management teams. If you have any questions on this article, email us to ask a Foxtons expert.
