June 5, 2026

How to reduce void periods between tenants

Avoiding or minimising void periods – the time when your property is unoccupied – is an important task for any landlord. Everyone wants to keep a good tenant for the long term, but there will almost always be gaps between tenancies where you are not earning rental income.

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When that happens, a proactive and smart approach can help you ensure the gap is as short as possible. Read on to learn tips and strategies for reducing void periods in your property.

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Don’t wait to find new tenants

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‍The Renter’s Rights Act guarantees you will have a two-month notice period during which you know your tenant will be leaving. You will have an exact date to work towards, and it’s advisable to start the search for a new tenant as soon as you can.

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Actions you can take right away include:

Check that all your electric and gas certificates are up to date
Ensure your EPC is accurate and up to date
Start to gather marketing material and consider organising professional photography
Inform the current tenant that you will be arranging viewings and obtain their consent for entry on specific dates

These are some examples of quick, easy wins which are achievable as soon as the tenant hands in their notice. However, there are other tasks which may need more work.

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Research the local area to set the rent for the next tenant

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Charging the right rent is arguably the most important factor when it comes to securing the right tenant in good time to minimise a void period. If your rent is too low, you will have no trouble finding a tenant, but your returns will suffer. If it’s too high, you may earn more in theory, but it could take longer to find a tenant and the void period could be extended. In this case, you will lose more money than if you had charged a slightly lower rent.

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Key factors to think about when setting rent include:

The property itself
Location
Demand type and tenant profile
Local rents

Learn more about how to set the right rent level here.

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Assess what repairs and maintenance are needed

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It’s likely that you will need to do some level of repairs and/or maintenance between tenancies, especially if the current tenants have been in place for a long time. There’s natural wear and tear to consider, and it’s possible that larger problems could have built up in the background.

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Once your tenant serves notice, arrange a full inspection of the property and make a list of what needs doing. If you know ahead of time, you can arrange any works for the day after they move out, ensuring an efficient and rapid maintenance process.

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Most importantly, getting everything organised in advance can help to reduce any potential void periods. A newly decorated and repaired property is also likely to be more attractive to the next potential tenants, potentially decreasing the void period in that way too.

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Get your paperwork in order

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A tenancy coming to an end creates paperwork that all needs to be done in good time so that the next tenant can move in, including:

Inspections and inventory checks
Check out report
Deposit deduction and return administration
Creating a new contract for the next tenants

You can either complete or prepare for all of these – and whatever other administration occurs – in advance. Doing so will reduce the potential void period between tenancies.

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Be flexible and offer deals

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If your number one priority is to reduce a void period and keep your rental income flowing, flexibility is a smart landlord’s best friend. It might feel counterintuitive, but if you can secure a tenant on a higher long-term rent by offering a short-term discount, you should do it.

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That’s especially true if your property is in a more difficult or niche market. Offering an initial three months at a discount will give you more income than having the property sat empty for that time. Look at the big picture, and the case for discounts can become clear.

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Use a professional lettings agent

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The best tip of all is to use a professional lettings agent to do everything for you. They will keep all the paperwork in order and take care of all the logistics of ending a tenancy, maintaining your property and finding a new tenant.

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Using a professional is the best way to reduce potential void periods. Many will even have waiting lists of potential tenants ready to go. Best of all, you won’t have to go through any of the hassle or work. Learn more about how a professional agent can help make sure your void periods are minimised today.

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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