Preventing vacant rental property – Tips for Landlords near Peterborough
By Wayne Beecham | Created on 17th November 2025
Vacant rental properties – also known the dreaded void periods – are a longstanding hazard for landlords.
If you rent out property, there may be times when a tenant has left and you haven’t replaced them quickly enough. Even in areas with high demand for rental properties, such as Stamford and Cambridgeshire, there is still a risk of void periods at some point.
Some changeover time can be useful to upgrade the place, but if the void period lasts too long, your property may become more challenging to re-let. Besides the loss of rental income from your property standing empty, there’s the threat of burglary and damage to bear in mind.
The key to minimising void periods is understanding and mitigating the risks of having a vacant rental property – while taking steps to help ensure good tenants snap it up, and hopefully stay put for the long term.
We look at some of the issues around vacant rental properties and what you can do to avoid them.
What Is A ‘Void’ Or Vacant Property?
A void property is another name for an empty property. Unlike unoccupied properties, which are not being lived in at present, vacant properties don’t have a current tenant.
Problems & Risks Of Vacant Rental Properties
1. Costs involved
As we’ve said, the main issue for landlords with a vacant rental property is loss of income, but there are void period costs to tally up too. This is more of a problem if you are a buy-to-let landlord, relying on the rent to pay your mortgage. But even if you’re an accidental landlord who owns the property outright, a void period will impact your monthly income.
You will need to pay utility bills, and landlords will need to pay the council tax between tenants too. As the residential property is classed as a second home, this may cost you more than the standard rate, depending on your local area. Peterborough City Council charges a 100% council tax premium on furnished second homes and long-term empty homes. Check your local council website for info.
When you are looking for tenants, consider whether they are likely to want to live in the property long-term or short-term. Ask prospective tenants questions about their future plans to try and gauge whether you will be looking for new tenants again in six months or a year.
2. Threats to the property
Empty homes are a concern because they are more liable to theft and damage. Even if you are renting the property unfurnished, appliances and fittings, such as copper piping, can attract the attention of thieves, if it’s obvious the home is empty.
Vandalism and arson can also be issues, as can having your home occupied by squatters. You should also inspect the property regularly to avoid problems like mould or water damage from leaky pipes. Unidentified water leaks could cause major damage over time, so regularly inspecting your unoccupied property can help ensure this type of issue is quickly rectified.
Things You Can Do If You Have A Vacant Rental Property
These are some of the actions you can take if you have a vacant property to help minimise the financial impact:
Take out landlord insurance – You can minimise the financial impact of a vacancy by taking out landlord property insurance with a policy covering loss of income. Be aware that most landlord policies will only cover unoccupied property for a maximum of 30 days.
Negotiate on utility bills – Take meter readings then get on the phone to negotiate a deal on the utility bills.
Budget for void periods – It’s also worth budgeting for void periods as part of your initial planning, before you decide on buy-to-let. You should be able to comfortably afford the mortgage and additional costs such as council tax if you are without a tenant for some time. It is common to budget for around a month’s worth of costs, as the average void period in the UK hovers around 18-30 days.
Refurb during voids – Make use of void periods to carry out any refurbishment you need to do between tenants. This will make the property more desirable and could help you re-let it quickly. If you need any major work doing, such as upgrading windows and doors, fitting a new kitchen or bathroom or even replacing carpets, this will be disruptive when tenants are in the property, so get it done during rental voids.
Arrange a deep clean – It is also a good idea to organise a deep clean of your property during voids, as this will help make the property more attractive to minimise any void periods.
Stay on top of maintenance – Avoid the problems associated with voids by keeping on top of all maintenance issues. Check the condition of the property, inspecting pipework and gutters for signs of wear that could lead to penetrating damp.
Improve security – Make sure the property is safe and secure – it is a good idea to change the locks when your previous tenant moves on. Have a burglar alarm fitted and make sure that you have window locks fitted on all the windows.
Make it look occupied – Create the illusion that someone is living at the property by leaving a light on a timer and making sure you visit regularly to remove any post and deliveries.
Set the heating timer – Maintaining some heating in winter can prevent frozen pipes – which could cost you far more in plumbing and making good than it would to maintain a low level of heating.
Consider using a letting agent – If you don’t live close by to check on the property frequently, consider using a letting agent or property management company to keep an eye on the rental and supervise any maintenance work that is needed. Letting agents are also familiar with how to choose a tenant, and can help prevent further void periods in the future.
How To Prevent Void Periods Happening In The First Place
Even better than minimising the impact of vacancies is taking steps to avoid them happening in the first place. Do this by encouraging good tenants to stay longer and attracting new ones quickly, when they do move on. Here are a few of our top tips for doing so:
Be a great landlord – Communicate well with your tenants, be responsive to their queries and concerns and attend to repairs and issues quickly. At the same time, respect their privacy, always giving them adequate notice if you wish to visit. Being more flexible with tenant requests, such as whether they are allowed to redecorate, can also help ensure longer tenancies.
Charge fair rent – Make sure the rent you are charging is fair and reasonable for your property and area – do plenty of research to check this. If you charge too much you will find it hard to attract enough interest in the rental property. If you use a letting agent, they can tell you the average rate for this type of property in the area.
Decorate to a good standard – Nice modern kitchens and bathrooms, along with well-maintained neutral decor, really do rent houses – you can achieve this without breaking the bank. In between tenants, paint over any scrapes on the wall and consider relatively low-cost improvements such as replacing vinyl flooring or carpets.
Take care of repairs – The annoyance of untended repairs and long-running problems could sway tenants to move on. Even if they do move on, staying on top of repairs will reduce the repairs list between tenancies. Equally, it’s a great time to carry out some DIY while the property is empty.
Perform comprehensive tenant checks – Doing the necessary reference and background checks before you choose a tenant can minimise the risk of problems later on. Be sure to call previous landlords to ask for a reference. A letting agent will be able to perform thorough background checks if you do not want to do this yourself.
Update your required certificates – As soon as possible, arrange the gas safety check, EICR and EPC if you need a new one, to avoid unnecessary delays while you wait for an inspector.
Consider allowing pets – Landlords who do allow pets are harder to find, and tenants with pets tend to stay longer. The Renter’s Reform Bill will introduce new rules that ensure that landlords do not unreasonably withhold consent for tenants to have pets in the property.
Choose a good letting agent – Using a letting agent can make finding the right tenants easier, shortening the time that the property is empty between lets. Choose wisely, getting at least three rental valuations and checking out their track record with properties like yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I deduct rental expenses if my property is vacant?
Yes, even when your rental property is vacant you can deduct rental expenses.
Does changing agent cause longer void periods?
Not necessarily. If your property has been vacant for a while, switching to a new letting agent could help you to find a tenant faster. You do not have to evict your current tenants when switching letting agent.
How much to budget for void periods?
It is recommended to budget for at least one month’s costs. Despite not receiving rent, you will still need to cover mortgage payments and there are other costs that you will be liable for, such as council tax, energy bills, etc. when the property is vacant. Then you also have your regular outgoings such as insurance, letting agent fees, and other costs.
Are there any tax reliefs for landlords with vacant property?
You can deduct eligible expenses from your empty rental property on your tax return, and claim exclusion from the council tax premium during structural alterations or major works. Ask a tax specialist for advice.
How common are void periods in the Peterborough rental market?
Peterborough generally experiences high rental demand, but void periods still happen, for example, between tenancies. Voids can happen to anyone, so it’s important to plan for them – even if they never happen to you.
How do void periods affect my overall rental yield and return on investment?
Void periods bring down your annual gross and net rental yield. Vacant rental properties could cost Peterborough landlords around £32 per day in lost rent, based on local average rents, plus bills.
What are the average lengths of void periods in the Peterborough area?
The average void period is 16 days, while the East Midlands average rose to 17 days as of September 2025, by Goodlord data.
Would switching to a different rental strategy reduce void risk?
Short term lets are considered less stable, while corporate lets and HMOs could potentially lower the void risk. But explore the pros and cons jumping into a new strategy. This will also depend upon the property you own. Even in a busy rental market, void property management is a key tool at your disposal.
Know how to handle vacant rental property in Peterborough?
If you’re a new landlord in the Peterborough area, we’d love to help you find the right tenants for you. Please get in touch to talk about our services today.
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Wayne Beecham
Wayne is East Midland’s answer to property management. His hard work and high standards of service have gained him a fierce reputation within the regional lettings market. He knows what it takes to own and manage a profitable portfolio himself, because he is not only a successful investor and landlord, but co-founder and “hands on” managing director of Progressive Lets.
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