Manchester's rental market has become more competitive, with homes letting faster despite an increase in rents, according to new research from UK rental platform Rentaroof. The average rental property was on the market for 21 days in the second quarter of 2026, a reduction from 24 days during the same period last year.
This trend occurred as average asking rents in the city increased by 2.7% to £1,162 in Q2 2026. Nearly 40% of rental properties were let within 14 days, with Didsbury, Ancoats, and Chorlton-cum-Hardy identified as some of the fastest-moving areas.
Rentaroof's report also found that rents rose across all property types. Rooms experienced the largest annual price increase at 10.4%, while flat rents went up by 6.3% and house rents by 5.4%. Average asking rents in Manchester city centre reached £1,356 per month, an increase of 10.4% year-on-year.
Jasper de Groot, CEO at Rentaroof UK, stated that the primary driver for Manchester's rental market is the imbalance between supply and demand. He noted that the city's growing population, fuelled by universities and an expanding job market, is not matched by a proportional increase in available homes.