A recent study conducted by Wayhome, a Gradual Homeownership provider, has brought to light a serious imbalance in the property market in England. It has been revealed that in some regions, rental properties account for a mere 5% of the available homes. The research studied the proportion of properties listed online for rent compared to those that are listed for sale.

Wayhome found that owner-occupiers made up nearly 15.6 million people in England, representing 64% of the total market. With renters making up the remaining 36%, it reveals that the availability of rental properties is at a disproportionately low level.

Out of the combined 758,351 properties that are listed for rental and sales purposes across England, a whopping 619,942 are up for sale while only 138,409 are listed for rent. Such a massive discrepancy indicates that the housing market stock constitutes 82% of all listed homes, compared to just 18% for rental market stock.

Interestingly, the Isle of Wight boasts the most skewed market, with rental properties making up only 5% of the total stock. Several other regions such as Herefordshire, Cumbria, Cornwall, and Northumberland have rental market stocks below 10% of the total.

However, not all regions showcase such stark disparities. For instance, the City of London has been identified as the most balanced market, with a 50/50 split between properties for sale and those to let.

Wayhome’s co-founder and CEO, Nigel Purves, expressed his thoughts on the matter, stating, “The imbalance of available property stock really highlights everything that is wrong with the property market in England and demonstrates why so many aspiring homeowners find it impossible to make the jump between the rental sector and buying for themselves.”

Purves further added that the disproportionate stock availability increases demand for rental properties, ultimately pushing rental costs higher and making it harder to transition between the two sectors.