Nottingham Leads UK Cities for Letting Agent Workload

Recent analysis by tenancy platform Propoly has identified Nottingham as the UK city where letting agents handle the largest number of rental properties per office. The study found that across 106 letting agency branches in Nottingham, there are approximately 3,714 homes to rent, equating to an average of 35 listings per branch. This figure is the highest recorded among 21 major cities examined in the research.

Across all cities included in the study, there are an estimated 72,537 homes available to rent and 5,382 letting agency branches, resulting in an average workload of 13.5 listings per branch. Nottingham’s figure significantly exceeds this average, indicating a notably heavier workload for agents in the city.

Operational Pressures on Letting Agents

Sim Sekhon, group chief executive of Propoly, commented on the findings: “These figures highlight just how operationally stretched many letting agents are, particularly in high demand cities such as Nottingham, Leeds and Newcastle, where the volume of listings per agent is well above the national average.”

He explained that managing 30 or more properties simultaneously places considerable pressure on agents, extending beyond marketing and viewings to include referencing, compliance checks, document management, landlord communication, and ensuring smooth tenancy progression from offer to move-in.

“As portfolios grow, so too does the risk of delays, administrative bottlenecks and compliance oversights,” Sekhon added. This suggests that landlords in cities with high agent workloads may experience slower processes or increased risk of administrative errors.

Regional Variations in Letting Agent Workload

The data reveals significant regional variation in the average number of listings per letting agency branch. Leeds ranks second with around 30.5 listings per office, followed by Newcastle at 21.1 and Birmingham at 18.7. Leicester and Sheffield both average 18.6 listings per branch, while Bournemouth stands at 18.2.

At the lower end of the spectrum, Newport has the smallest ratio with just 5.2 listings per branch. Glasgow records 7.2, Manchester averages 10.1, and Swansea is close behind at 10.2 listings per office.

These disparities reflect differing market demands and agent capacity across the UK, which landlords should consider when engaging letting agents or managing property portfolios.

What This Means for Landlords

For landlords, the findings underline the importance of understanding the workload pressures on letting agents in their area. In cities like Nottingham, where agents manage larger portfolios, there may be increased risks of administrative delays or compliance issues. Landlords should maintain clear communication with their agents and ensure that adequate resources are in place to manage their properties effectively.

Additionally, landlords might consider the benefits of working with agents who demonstrate strong organisational capabilities or utilise technology solutions to handle high volumes efficiently.

Suggested internal link anchors

• letting agents workload UK
• rental listings per office
• tenant referencing process
• compliance checks for landlords
• property management challenges
• landlord communication
• tenancy progression
• letting agents in Nottingham
• regional rental market differences
• administrative bottlenecks in lettings
• letting agent operational pressures
• portfolio management risks

TLA update

TLA is launching a new Trusted Partners Hub in Q1 2026, featuring verified and approved service providers selected to support landlords, tenants, and property management businesses. We are inviting legal, trades, insurance, financial, mortgage, tenant screening, and other service providers to register their interest here: https://landlordassociation.org.uk/become-a-tla-service-partner/