Every void period — the time your rental property sits empty — costs you money. There is lost rental income, ongoing mortgage payments, council tax liability, and additional insurance requirements. The average void period in Kent and South East London is 2-4 weeks between tenancies; managing them well can bring this down to a week or less while also protecting you against the specific risks that empty properties carry.
The Costs of a Void Period
For a property renting at £1,200 per month, a two-week void costs approximately £600 in lost rent. For a month-long void, that is £1,200 gone — before considering the costs of any works needed and the administrative time involved.
For a landlord with a portfolio of five properties, even modest void periods across the portfolio represent thousands of pounds in lost income annually. Reducing void periods — even by a few days each — compounds into significant benefit.
Risks Specific to Void Properties
Empty properties carry risks that occupied ones generally don't:
Insurance: Most standard landlord insurance policies have conditions around void properties. Commonly, you must notify your insurer if the property will be empty for more than 30 days. Failure to notify can invalidate your insurance. Some insurers reduce cover during voids (e.g., no cover for escape of water or malicious damage). Check your policy carefully and consider specialist void property insurance if needed.
Burst pipes: An unoccupied property in winter is far more vulnerable to frozen and burst pipes than an occupied one. Tenants generate heat and notice problems quickly; empty properties do neither. Maintaining minimum heat (at least 12°C) throughout the void period is essential.
Break-ins: Empty properties are more vulnerable to opportunistic break-ins, particularly if it becomes obvious the property is unoccupied. Regular checks, securing all access points, and maintaining a lived-in appearance all reduce risk.
Water damage: Slow leaks in an occupied property are usually noticed and reported quickly. In an empty property, they can run for weeks — causing structural damage, mould growth, and flooring destruction far exceeding the cost of the original repair.
Squatters: A long-term void property may attract squatters. While squatter law changed in 2012 making residential squatting criminal, eviction can still be a lengthy and costly process.
Reducing Void Periods
The best void strategy is a short one. Here are proven approaches to minimising void duration:
Start marketing before the tenancy ends: Serve Section 21 notices at the appropriate time (usually two months before you want vacant possession), and start marketing 4-6 weeks before expected vacancy. In most markets, you can start viewings as soon as you have a confirmed end date, showing the property occupied.
Price correctly: Pricing just above the market rate for a period then having to drop the rent is far more expensive than setting the right rent from the start. Research comparable properties in your area using Rightmove and Zoopla before listing.
Prepare the property quickly: Have your maintenance company on standby to carry out any required works as soon as the previous tenant vacates. A clean, freshly decorated property photographs well and lets quickly.
Professional photography: Properties with professional photographs receive significantly more enquiries and let faster. Given that a single week's additional void costs £300 for a £1,300/month property, professional photography at £150-200 is an extremely good investment.
Use the void productively: Don't view void periods as entirely negative. They are your opportunity to carry out planned maintenance, redecoration, and upgrades that would be disruptive with tenants in situ.
Void Property Maintenance Checklist
When a property becomes vacant:
1. Carry out a full inspection and document condition against the outgoing inventory 2. Identify all works required — cosmetic and maintenance 3. Arrange professional cleaning as soon as the property is empty 4. Carry out all maintenance works and decoration 5. Re-photograph the property professionally 6. List on Rightmove/Zoopla and arrange viewings
During the void:
- •Visit or have someone visit at least weekly to check for problems
- •Maintain minimum temperature of 12°C
- •Check post is cleared regularly (or arrange redirection)
- •Keep all access points secure
- •Ensure insurance company has been notified if void exceeds 30 days
Void Works: What to Prioritise
When assessing void works, prioritise:
1. Safety: Smoke alarms, CO detectors, fire door closers (HMOs), gas safety, electrical safety 2. Compliance: Current gas safety certificate, EICR, any outstanding council notices 3. Presentation: Fresh decoration, carpet cleaning or replacement, kitchen and bathroom refresh 4. Maintenance backlog: Fix anything that was reported during the tenancy but deferred
Premier Property Solutions and Void Works
We specialise in turning around void properties quickly. Our teams can carry out multi-trade void works — cleaning, decoration, carpentry, plumbing checks, and electrical checks — with coordinated scheduling that minimises void duration.
For landlords with properties across Dartford, Gravesend, Bexley, and the surrounding areas, a single call to our team puts all trades in motion. Contact us on 01322 251520 to discuss your void property requirements.
Premier Property Solutions
Property maintenance specialists serving Dartford, Kent and South East London since 1996.