August 14, 2025

Are renters moving out of cities?

One of the most interesting trends to emerge from the Covid-19 property market shake-up was the number of people leaving cities for the countryside or the coast.

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People wanted more space, more freedom and separate work-from-home areas as they adjusted to the new lifestyle the pandemic created. Now, years after the lockdowns ended, it looks like that trend may be reversing, and cities are leading the way once more.

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Renters are moving back into cities in 2025

In March 2021, Cornwall was a more popular search term on Rightmove than London for the first time. Fewer than half (47%) of people were looking to stay in the capital compared to 59% just one year earlier.

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This trend of people looking to leave cities was repeated in all major urban centres, but Rightmove now believes that the trend has reversed again. Property searches in big city locations are up again, and those elsewhere are down. For example, coastal areas in Cornwall are less popular than they were at the height of the pandemic.

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Steve Pimblett, Rightmove’s Chief Data Officer, says: “Five years on from the pandemic, many short-term trends brought about by the unique circumstances of lockdown have reversed. Coastal homes are taking longer to find buyers, and price growth has stabilised as more supply has come onto the market, some likely from movers heading back to the city.

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“At the same time, fewer people are looking to escape cities as life has returned to normal and the debate continues about remote versus office working.”

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What does this mean for landlords?

The changing priorities of renters mean that landlords should again look to the big cities and prioritise those locations for their portfolios. City centre properties, especially premium apartments, are likely to be more popular than ever in the coming years.

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A growing population, more renters and rising rents make this the perfect time to be a landlord letting out city centre properties. The overall housing market trend is firmly in your favour, and the market is likely to stay that way for years to come.

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It also means landlords should make sure their existing city centre properties are performing as strongly as possible. If you have existing city centre buy-to-let properties, this could be the perfect time to refresh, review and reinvest to secure the maximum long-term income available to you.

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How can landlords maximise rents on city centre properties?

If you already have a premium city centre property, there is a list of tasks and checks you can do to make sure it is performing strongly, including:

Ensuring maintenance and repair work has been completed
Furnishing the property
Carrying out a market audit to check your rent is in line with other similar properties
Create a first-class property listing with strong images
Make sure the property meets all current and incoming legislation
Upgrade the interior design so it is modern, stylish and relevant

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All of that can be done or arranged on your behalf by a professional lettings and management agency. You can rest assured that you are receiving the maximum rent possible and that your tenancy is being managed properly, without lifting a finger.

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For a small monthly fee, a lettings and management company will take care of everything on your behalf so you can enjoy all the benefits of being a landlord with none of the hassle.

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At Northbank Residential, we believe letting your property should be simple. Whether it is your first time as a landlord or a seasoned professional, our experts are always on hand to help.

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Want to learn more about the benefits of using a professional property lettings and management service? Contact our team today for a free, no-obligation discussion.

Arrange a call with our team today.

Contact us today regarding all property management and lettings enquires.

0161 388 7848

contact@northbankresidential.com

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