A south Birmingham letting agent has reported a 79% increase in new rental properties added to its portfolio during the first four months of 2026, contrasting with wider market trends showing declining rental demand across the UK.
Partridge Homes, which operates offices in Solihull and Yardley, arranged 129 new lettings between January and April 2026, compared to 72 during the same period in 2025. The figure represents the highest four-month total since the family-run company commenced operations in 2007.
Regional market divergence
The growth comes amid broader market uncertainty following the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act, which has prompted some landlords to exit the rental market. National data indicates rental demand in the UK has fallen by 20% over the past year.
Charlotte Partridge, managing director at Partridge Homes, stated: “Despite rental demand in the UK falling by 20% in the past year, exacerbated by some landlords exiting the market due to the Renters’ Rights Act, we are not seeing any evidence of this at Partridge Homes.”
She added that May 2026 is tracking to become the company’s strongest month on record for new lettings.
Expansion through partnerships
The firm, which currently manages 500 tenancies, has set a target of 365 new lettings for 2026. If maintained at the current rate, this would exceed the company’s previous annual record of 215 new tenancies achieved in 2025.
Partridge Homes has recently formed partnerships with two Solihull estate agents to manage their lettings divisions and is in discussions with a third local competitor regarding a similar arrangement. This trend reflects broader consolidation patterns observed in the UK estate agency sector.
According to Partridge, demand in the Solihull, Birmingham and Warwickshire areas remains elevated, with tenants seeking quality accommodation. She cited workers relocating to the West Midlands region as a contributing factor to sustained rental demand.
Market outlook
The performance of Partridge Homes suggests regional rental markets may be experiencing divergent trends, with some areas maintaining strong demand despite national headwinds and regulatory changes affecting the lettings sector. The company’s growth trajectory indicates localised factors, including employment migration patterns, may be offsetting broader market pressures in certain locations.