Homes available for rent in Birkenhead and Wallasey attracted an average of 30 enquiries each during July and August, making them the most competitive rental locations in Great Britain. Both towns also had average monthly rents below £1,000.
Rightmove's analysis of 1,000 locations placed Carlisle third, with 29 enquiries per available property. Prenton, also in the Wirral, joined Birkenhead and Wallasey among the six most competitive locations, with average monthly rents of £1,089, £874, and £975 respectively in the three towns.
Across Great Britain, the average number of enquiries per property was 11 during the summer months, a decrease from 12 in the same period last year. This figure is below the peak of 28 recorded in July and August 2022 but remains above the pre-pandemic average of eight.
The North West featured prominently in the findings, accounting for six of the 10 most competitive locations. Scotland recorded the highest average level of competition across Great Britain, with 19 enquiries per property, followed by the North West at 16.
Colleen Babcock, a property expert, noted that while rental supply has rebalanced, competition remains strong in some areas. Nationally, advertised rents maintained a record average of £1,580 a month, although the pace of rent growth has slowed.
Kim Ledbury, ARLA Propertymark's president, suggested that tenants are increasingly looking at more affordable areas, partly due to increased flexibility from remote and hybrid working. This allows some to manage housing costs by living further from traditional employment centres.