Cambridgeshire Rental Market Update: Higher Rent, Less Income?

Cambridgeshire rents are higher - but could pushing your rent too far actually leave you with less income? Our September figures show the average rent across the Maxine Lester managed portfolio reached £1,250 per month, 7% higher than a year ago. Tenant demand remains strong too, with the properties we marketed receiving an average of 26 enquiries each. But there's another side to the market. Available rental properties were 24% higher, according to the Rightmove figures in our September report, giving tenants more choice in some parts of Cambridgeshire. So how should landlords respond? In this month's Cambridgeshire Rental Market Update, Maxine Lester looks beyond the headline figures and explains what they could mean for your rental income. We cover: • Why a 7% rise in the overall average doesn't mean every landlord should increase their rent by 7% • Why genuinely comparable local properties matter when reviewing rent • The £180 difference between our two-bedroom postcode averages in PE27 and CB23 • Why an advertised rent isn't proof that a tenant will actually pay it • What a 24% increase in available rental properties could mean for landlords • Why holding out for an extra £50 per month could cost considerably more if it creates a longer void • Why enquiries aren't the same as successful applications • How presentation, maintenance and everyday practicality affect tenant choice • Why retaining a good existing tenant can be an important part of protecting your overall return For example, if £1,250 is the realistic market rent but you advertise at £1,300, that additional £50 would produce £600 over a full year. But if holding out for £1,300 resulted in just one additional empty month, you would lose £1,250 in rent. It would take more than two years of that additional £50 per month to recover the lost income - before accounting for any bills or other costs during the void. That's why rental performance isn't simply about achieving the highest possible monthly rent. It's about making informed decisions that produce the strongest overall income from your property. At Maxine Lester Lettings & Property Management, we've specialised in residential lettings since 2005 and manage properties across St Ives, Huntingdon, Cambridge, Ely and the surrounding Cambridgeshire villages. 📅 FREE LANDLORD WEBINAR - WEDNESDAY 14 OCTOBER AT 6PM We'll be looking in more detail at what's happening to Cambridgeshire landlords, what has changed since May and what you should be preparing for next. 👉 Book your free place here: https://www.maxinelesterwebinar2.co.u... If you'd like a rental review for your own property, speak to the Maxine Lester team. 📞 01480 494939 Subscribe to Maxine Lester TV for evidence-led advice on the Cambridgeshire rental market, landlord compliance and property management. #CambridgeshireLandlords #RentalMarketUpdate #CambridgeshireProperty #LandlordAdvice #RentalIncome #StIvesLandlords #CambridgeLandlords #HuntingdonLandlords #PropertyManagement #MaxineLesterTV