Rental hotspots hit 30 enquiries per property on the Wirral

Rental competition in Britain's most sought-after areas has reached 30 enquiries per property, according to PropertyWire (24 September 2026). Birkenhead and Wallasey, both on the Wirral in Merseyside, recorded the highest tenant competition, at 30 enquiries per property on average. Typical monthly rents there stand at £874 and £975 respectively.

Where are the rental hotspots?

Carlisle in Cumbria came next with 29 enquiries per property and average rents of £913 a month (PropertyWire). Glasgow ranked fourth with 28. East Kilbride and Prenton each recorded 27. The top 10 also included Kingswood in Bristol, Chorlton Cum Hardy in Manchester, Morecambe and Salisbury.

Here's the angle. PropertyWire reports that the North West accounts for six of the 10 most competitive locations. It also reports that Scotland recorded the highest average level of competition anywhere in Britain.

Weighing up tenants on housing support here? Our free Local Housing Allowance rates map shows the LHA (the housing benefit cap for private renters) by area.

How does this compare with the rest of Britain?

Across Britain as a whole, rental properties attracted an average of 11 enquiries each during July and August (PropertyWire). That is down from 12 during the same period last year. It is also well below the peak of 28 recorded in summer 2022. But it remains above the pre-pandemic average of eight.

PropertyWire reports that July and August are typically the busiest months of the year for the rental market. National average asking rents stand at £1,580 a month, which PropertyWire describes as maintaining record levels. And the hotspot pressure persists despite overall improvements in supply, according to the same report.

The gap is the story. PropertyWire's own reading is that national pressure has eased from that peak while specific regional markets still see significant tenant demand.

What is driving demand, and what is the opportunity?

Kim Ledbury, President of ARLA Propertymark, links the shift to affordability and flexible working. She said "many tenants are now looking at areas of greater affordability than ever before", according to PropertyWire. She pointed to rental costs that have increased substantially over the last decade. She also said technology makes it easier for people to work remotely or in hybrid locations.

Ledbury added that renting has become more popular because of the flexibility it offers. She also cited the challenges many face in saving a deposit to buy. PropertyWire concludes that affordability is reshaping rental demand, with implications for investors considering regional buy-to-let (BTL, a property bought to rent out) opportunities.

The margin on this depends on the purchase price, and the enquiry data does not cover prices. More enquiries can mean more applicants to choose from. It does not tell you whether the rent covers the mortgage. You may wish to test any Wirral, Carlisle or Glasgow deal in our free stress test calculator. It checks whether rent clears a lender's ICR (interest cover ratio, rent as a percentage of the mortgage interest).

It is worth watching over the next few months. PropertyWire notes July and August are typically the busiest months, so the same towns topping the table outside summer would be a stronger signal. Our guide to property investment strategies covers how to weigh regional BTL against other routes.

If you want to compare postcodes side by side, consider using deal-sourcing software for area analysis before you shortlist.

Key takeaways

• Birkenhead and Wallasey recorded the highest tenant competition in Britain, at 30 enquiries per property on average (PropertyWire, 24 September 2026).

• Typical monthly rents in those two towns are £874 and £975 respectively (PropertyWire).

• Across Britain, rental properties averaged 11 enquiries each during July and August, down from 12 in the same period last year (PropertyWire).

• The Britain average peaked at 28 enquiries in summer 2022 and was eight before the pandemic (PropertyWire).

• Six of the 10 most competitive locations are in the North West, according to PropertyWire.