How to Reduce Void Periods: 12 Proven Strategies for Landlords

A void period is every landlord's silent profit killer. When your property sits empty between tenancies, you are paying the mortgage, insurance, and council tax with no rental income to cover them. On a property renting at £1,200 per month, just one month of void costs you £1,200 in lost rent plus £150 or more in ongoing expenses — and the average UK void period is four to six weeks.

The good news is that void periods are largely within your control. Landlords who follow a systematic approach to tenant retention, property presentation, and marketing consistently achieve void rates well below the national average. This guide gives you 12 proven strategies to minimise void periods and keep your properties generating income year-round.

These strategies work whether you manage a single buy-to-let or a portfolio of twenty properties. The key is implementing them proactively — not scrambling to find a new tenant after your current one hands in their notice.

The True Cost of Void Periods

Most landlords underestimate the cost of an empty property because they only think about lost rent. The real cost includes every expense that continues regardless of whether the property is occupied:

Strategy 1: Price Your Property Correctly

Overpricing is the single biggest cause of extended void periods. A property priced 10% above market rate does not just take slightly longer to let — it can sit empty for months while correctly priced properties in the same area let within days.

Research comparable rents on Rightmove, Zoopla, and SpareRoom for properties of similar size, condition, and location. Price at or slightly below the average to attract a larger pool of applicants quickly. Filling a property one week faster at £50 less per month saves you far more than holding out for a higher rent.

Strategy 2: Start Marketing Before the Tenant Leaves

Do not wait until the property is empty to start advertising. As soon as you receive notice from your current tenant, begin marketing the property immediately. In many cases, you can conduct viewings during the notice period (with the current tenant's agreement and reasonable notice) and have a new tenant ready to move in the day after the old one leaves.

• List the property on portals within 48 hours of receiving notice
• Schedule viewings during the final two weeks of the outgoing tenancy
• Have referencing completed before the outgoing tenant's move-out date
• Aim for zero-day void — new tenant moves in immediately after changeover

Strategy 3: Present the Property Professionally

First impressions matter enormously. A clean, well-maintained, and professionally photographed property lets faster than a tired-looking one at a higher rent. Before listing, invest in these high-impact improvements:

• Professional deep clean including carpets, oven, and bathrooms
• Touch up paint on scuffed walls — neutral colours photograph best
• Replace any broken or dated fixtures (door handles, light fittings, taps)
• Ensure the garden or outdoor space is tidy and presentable
• Professional photography — not phone photos taken in poor light
• Create a floor plan — listings with floor plans receive 30% more enquiries
• Stage key rooms with minimal, attractive furnishing if letting furnished

Strategy 4: Use Multiple Advertising Channels

Do not rely on a single platform. The more places your property appears, the faster you will find a tenant. Combine portal listings with social media and local advertising for maximum reach.

Strategy 5: Respond to Enquiries Within Hours, Not Days

Speed matters. Tenants searching for a property are typically contacting multiple landlords simultaneously. The landlord who responds first, schedules a viewing first, and processes an application first is the one who secures the best tenants.

Aim to respond to every enquiry within two hours during business hours. Latch centralises all tenant enquiries and sends you instant notifications so nothing falls through the cracks. If you cannot respond personally during working hours, set up automated acknowledgement messages to hold the applicant's interest until you can follow up.

Strategy 6: Offer Flexible Move-In Dates

Many landlords lose good tenants by insisting on a specific move-in date that does not align with the tenant's needs. If your property will be ready on the 15th but the best applicant cannot move until the 1st of the following month, consider whether the two-week void cost is worth losing a strong, well-referenced tenant.

Strategy 7: Retain Your Existing Tenants

The cheapest void period is the one that never happens. Tenant retention is the most effective strategy for reducing voids because it eliminates the changeover entirely — no cleaning costs, no re-advertising, no referencing, no void days.

• Be responsive: Handle maintenance requests promptly and communicate clearly. Tenants who feel looked after stay longer.
• Keep rents fair: Annual increases should reflect the market, not maximise short-term profit. A modest increase retains a good tenant; an aggressive one drives them away.
• Invest in the property: Small improvements — a new kitchen worktop, updated bathroom fixtures, redecorated rooms — show tenants you care about the property and encourage them to care too.
• Build the relationship: Professional, respectful communication builds loyalty. A tenant who likes their landlord is far less likely to move for marginal savings elsewhere.

Strategy 8: Allow Pets (With Conditions)

Under the Renters' Rights Act, landlords cannot unreasonably refuse a tenant's request to keep a pet. But beyond the legal requirement, allowing pets opens your property to a much larger pool of tenants — around 62% of UK households have a pet, and pet-friendly rentals are in high demand with low supply.

Mitigate risk by requiring pet insurance, adding a reasonable pet deposit (within the five-week cap), and specifying conditions in the tenancy agreement regarding property damage and cleaning at the end of the tenancy.

Strategy 9: Target Under-Served Tenant Groups

While many landlords compete for young professionals, other tenant groups are actively under-served and can be excellent, long-term tenants:

Strategy 10: Streamline the Changeover Process

When a void is unavoidable, minimise its duration by having every step of the changeover pre-planned:

1. Conduct a pre-checkout inspection two weeks before the tenant leaves to identify necessary work
2. Book cleaners and contractors in advance for the day after move-out
3. Complete the checkout inspection and deposit reconciliation within 48 hours
4. Have professional photos ready to upload and the listing live within 24 hours of the property being ready
5. Process applications and referencing within 48 hours of receiving them
6. Aim for a total changeover of 7–10 days from one tenant leaving to another moving in

Strategy 11: Consider Short-Term Lets During Gaps

If a void looks likely to extend beyond two weeks, consider short-term options to generate income while you find a permanent tenant. Platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and SpareRoom offer short-term or room-by-room letting. Check your mortgage terms, insurance, and local authority regulations before offering short-term lets — some mortgages prohibit it and some areas require planning permission.

Strategy 12: Use Data to Predict and Prevent Voids

Latch tracks tenancy end dates, historical void durations, and seasonal letting patterns across your portfolio. This data helps you anticipate when voids are likely and take preventive action — opening renewal conversations early, adjusting rents proactively, and scheduling changeovers during peak letting months (typically February to September).

Void Period Benchmarks

How does your void rate compare? Here are benchmarks based on UK market data: