Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset Lettings Market and Rental Yields
July Bristol Snapshot
In Bristol, competition for rental homes remains intense, especially in central areas like Clifton, Southville, and Redcliffe, which continue to command the highest rates.
Average rent: £1,753/month, down 1.1% year-on-year from £1,773
Rental listings: Up 24% compared to June 2024, giving tenants more choice but not yet easing demand pressures
There are currently 3,089 properties available to rent in Bristol which is 117.2% higher than a year ago.
55.2% of homes listed to rent in the past 12 months were flats.
Properties rented in the last month had been on the market for an average of 14 days which is 53.5% longer than a year ago.
Market Insight
The slight dip in Bristol rents suggests amore balanced market, but demand still outpaces supply in key neighbourhoods. With affordability slowly improving and more homes entering the market, the second half of 2025 may offer greater stability for renters - though competition is likely to remain strong.
Rental Yields
Gross Yields - Gross rental yields across Bristol average between 4.5% and 5.5%.
Gross rental yields (annual rent as a percentage of property price) vary by area, generally inversely related to house prices.
Our top tips
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Higher-yielding areas
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Easton
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St. George
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Bedminster
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Horfield
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These districts tend to offer better returns due to -
- Lower property acquisition costs
- Strong tenant demand
- High demand from young professionals
In the BS8 (Clifton) postcode – where values are highest – yields are tight, around 3% on average. In the more moderately priced North Bristol suburbs (e.g. BS7), typical yields are closer to 4%.
South-of-river districts like BS3 and BS4 can achieve around 4–5% yields, reflecting their lower entry prices and solid rent levels.
Notably, properties in student-heavy or HMO markets (e.g. parts of BS6 around Cotham/Redland) may see even higher yields (5–7% gross) due to multiple tenants sharing.
Some of the strongest performance areas such as Easton, St. George, and Bedminster are showing the strongest income performance due to tenant affordability constraints in more expensive north and west Bristol postcodes.
In North Somerset, Portishead (BS20) offers yields roughly in the 4–5% range (family homes renting for £1,300+ PCM against purchase prices in the £300k’s), whereas Clevedon (BS21), with higher average prices, sees closer to 3–4% yields.
Market Trends
Bristol remains one of the UK’s most desirable rental markets. Strong demand from professionals, students, and families remain. Bristol's population growth and a dynamic job market. Hybrid working trends attracting relocators seeking a balance of urban life and green space.
Student demand continues to underpin the market, especially in areas like Clifton, Redland, and Bishopston. Family homes and HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation) remain in high demand, particularly in North Bristol and BS7 areas.
Demand
In Bristol properties rented in the last month had been on the market for an average of 14 days which is 53.5% longer than a year ago.
The average tenancy in England and Wales now lasts more than 1,000 days, almost 40% longer in properties compared with four years ago, according to Deposit Protection Service (The DPS).
The UK’s largest protector of deposits says that renters are spending an average 1,085 days – equating to nearly three years – in a property as of April 2025. The organisation said this was 179 days or 19.75 percentage points more compared with the average for the whole of 2024 (906 days).
The organisation added that renters are now staying almost 37.25% longer in properties (1,085 days) compared with 2021 (773 days).
National view point
While demand for rental properties has declined by 16% in the last year, it remains more than 60% above pre-pandemic levels.
This is likely related to lower levels of migration for work and study, with the ONS reporting a 50% decline in net migration in 2024. Although lower, migration levels remain above average.
The decrease in rental demand is also a result of mortgage rates stabilising, alongside improved access to mortgages for first-time buyers, with more renters now able to get on the property ladder.
Changes to how banks assess affordability will make it easier for renters on higher incomes to access home ownership, further easing demand for rentals. (Zoopla)
Rental supply increases off a low base
With a 17% increase in the number of rentals on the market, properties are taking slightly longer to let. Despite this, rental supply still remains 20% lower than pre-pandemic levels. With mortgage rates falling, there is an increase in landlords purchasing properties. Although rental growth has slowed, renters still face strong competition for rented homes.
