How to Reduce Void Periods

Void periods cost landlords money every single day a property sits empty. There’s no rent coming in, but you still have to pay the mortgage, insurance, maintenance, and council tax. In Scotland, the average void period runs somewhere between 15 and 21 days. It doesn’t have to be this way though; most void periods are avoidable with the right preparation and marketing.

But some void periods are unavoidable, particularly around major refurbishment work or a shift in local demand. But many come down to things you can control, from how a property is priced to how quickly it’s marketed once a tenant gives notice.

In this guide, you will understand what void periods are, what they really cost landlords, why they happen, and the practical steps you can take to reduce void periods. We also look at how retaining reliable tenants and working with a professional letting agent can protect your rental income long term.

What Are Void Periods and the Financial Impact?

A void period is any stretch of time when a rental property is unoccupied and not generating rent. This typically happens between one tenancy ending and another beginning. A void period can also happen when a property is withdrawn from the market for repairs or refurbishment.

The main financial impact of a void period is that your property does not generate any rent. Plus, you have to cover mortgage payments, insurance, council tax in some cases, and general upkeep, all without any rental income offsetting those costs.

So, void periods over a year or even a short one can noticeably reduce overall returns, which is why reducing them matters for every landlord.

For example, say you let a property for £900 a month. Three weeks of void time works out to around £625 in lost rent. Let that stretch to six weeks, and you’re looking at roughly £1,250. A full month with no tenant in place is £900 gone outright, and that’s before the mortgage, insurance, and other bills you’re still paying on top.

What Are The Common Causes of Void Periods

Void periods can happen for several reasons, but most vacancies can be traced back to a handful of common issues. Understanding what causes void periods is the first step towards reducing them and keeping your property occupied.

Common causes of void periods include:

• Tenants moving out: Whether due to a job relocation, a property purchase, or changing circumstances, every tenancy eventually comes to an end.
• Overpricing the property: Setting the rent above the local market rate can lead to longer periods without enquiries or viewings.
• Poor property presentation: Prospective tenants often overlook properties that appear dated, unclean, or in need of repair
• Weak marketing efforts: Delayed advertising, poor quality photos, or limited exposure can slow down the tenant search process.
• Seasonal changes in demand: Some times of the year attract fewer tenants, which can increase vacancy periods.
• Inflexible viewing or move-in arrangements: Limited availability for viewings or rigid move-in dates can reduce the number of suitable applicants.
• Tenant dissatisfaction: Poor communication or unresolved maintenance issues can encourage tenants to leave sooner than expected.
• Poor tenant selection: Choosing tenants without thorough referencing can increase the risk of early tenancy terminations and future vacancies.

How Can You Reduce Void Periods? 12 Practical Steps

Void periods can never be eliminated completely, but they can often be reduced with the right strategy. The landlords who experience fewer void periods are usually the ones who plan ahead, price correctly, and keep their properties attractive to tenants. Here are 12 practical ways to do exactly that.

Start Marketing Before the Property Becomes Vacant

Waiting until a tenancy ends before listing a property guarantees at least some void period. So, you should start marketing and advertising your property as soon as a tenant gives notice to leave.

In Scotland, a tenant on a Private Residential Tenancy has to give you at least 28 days’ notice before they move out. Use that time to get viewings and referencing done, so you’re already reducing the chances of a void period before the property even goes empty.

Create High-Quality Property Listings

When listing the property, make sure to use clear, well-lit photos and an honest, detailed description. A high-quality listing will always outperform dark or cluttered images with a rushed description.

In the listing, point out genuine selling points such as transport links, nearby amenities, or recent updates. Most tenants scroll through many listings and decide fast which ones are worth a closer look. So, creating a successful property listing is one of the simplest ways to reduce void periods.

Price Your Property Competitively

You should research your area properly before confirming the price of the property. Check what properties similar to yours are being let for, and set a rent that reflects the local market rather than a figure based purely on what you would like to achieve. Even a slightly high price can push a property to the bottom of a tenant’s shortlist.

When the property is priced right from day one, it usually lets faster. So to avoid a longer void period, don’t price it so high that you end up having to lower it later. If tenants have been keeping an eye on your listing and then see the price drop, it can make the property look like it’s struggling to let.

Understand Local Rental Market Trends

It’s important to understand local demand before you set expectations for how fast a property will let. Demand isn’t the same all year round. Student areas may get busy around the start of the academic year, while family lets can slow down over winter. Knowing these patterns helps you time marketing properly and set a realistic timeline for how long a let might take.

Local factors matter too, such as new transport links or a big local employer expanding. Also, keeping an eye on how quickly comparable properties nearby are letting gives a useful, up-to-date benchmark rather than relying on assumptions from a previous tenancy.

Keep Your Property Well Maintained

Ongoing maintenance keeps a property in good condition for letting and prevents small issues from becoming reasons tenants walk away during a viewing. So, to prevent void periods from happening, you have to keep your property well maintained.

You should be addressing repairs promptly, servicing appliances, taking care of mould, and keeping shared or external areas tidy. All of it contributes to a property that presents well whenever a viewing is booked.

Refresh the Property Between Tenancies

A quick refresh between tenancies can make a real difference. So, before the next tenant moves in, take care of a deep clean, any minor repairs, a fresh coat of paint where it’s needed, and check for pests. Tenants are more likely to commit quickly to a property that feels genuinely move-in ready rather than one that shows signs of the previous tenancy.

Offer Flexible Viewing Times

If you only offer viewings during standard working hours, you’re cutting out anyone who works those same hours. So, try offering evening or weekend slots too. It makes it far easier for working tenants to come and see the property without needing to take time off.

The more viewings you can get booked in quickly, the faster you’re likely to find the right tenant, and the shorter your void period ends up being.

Be Flexible with Move-In Dates

Sometimes a strong applicant gets held back by a notice period or an existing tenancy that has not quite ended. So, where you can, try to be flexible on the move-in date rather than sticking rigidly to what you had in mind.

Even offering a week either side of your preferred date can help. It’s often the difference between securing a good tenant and losing them to a different property that was more flexible.

Retain Good Tenants for Longer

Reducing void periods isn’t only about relisting faster; it’s also about not needing to relist in the first place. Therefore, respond quickly to repairs, communicate clearly, give proper notice for inspections, and keep rent increases fair. Tenants who feel looked after are far more likely to renew rather than look elsewhere.

You don’t have to do anything big; small things help too. Check in ahead of a renewal date, be reasonable about minor requests, handle complaints promptly and give tenants confidence that issues actually get sorted. Landlords who only get in touch when something’s gone wrong tend to see tenants leave more often than those who stay in touch throughout the tenancy.

Improve Your Tenant Referencing Process

A thorough referencing process reduces the risk of a tenancy breaking down early, which in turn reduces the chance of an unplanned void period further down the line. So, make sure you’re properly checking affordability, employment, and rental history at the start, rather than rushing it to fill the property faster.

Good referencing also gives landlords a clearer picture of how a tenancy is likely to play out. A tenant with a strong rental history and steady income is far less likely to leave unexpectedly or fall into rent arrears. Both of those tend to create voids that are much harder to plan around than a straightforward end of tenancy.

Work with a Professional Letting Agent

If you don’t have the time or local knowledge to market a property well yourself, working with a professional letting agent can help a lot. They bring established marketing channels, a pool of prospective tenants, and day-to-day experience of the local market. This often results in properties being relet faster than you managing the process alone, particularly where time or local market knowledge is limited.

Letting agents also tend to have a clearer, more current sense of what tenants in a given area expect from a property, from pricing to presentation, and can flag issues before a listing goes live rather than after weeks of low interest.

Create a Long-Term Void Reduction Strategy

Reducing void periods works best as an ongoing strategy rather than a one-off fix. So, review your rent levels annually, keep the property well maintained year-round, and keep investing in the tenant relationship. Doing this contributes to a portfolio that spends less time empty and generates more consistent income over time.

It also helps to track void periods over time rather than treating each one as an isolated event. Looking back at how long a property usually takes to relet, and at what time of year, gives you a realistic benchmark. It also makes it easier to spot when a void is running longer than it should.

Conclusion

Void periods are one of the easiest things to avoid in rental income, but first-time landlords and even experienced ones lose money to them unnecessarily. Small adjustments throughout the letting process, such as accurate pricing, strong listings, flexible viewings, and proper maintenance, can lead to significantly reduced time without a tenant.

The landlords who consistently avoid long void periods are usually the ones who plan ahead, price realistically, and treat tenant retention as seriously as tenant acquisition. Building these habits into how you manage your property protects your income far more reliably than reacting to a void once it has already started.

At Westport Property, we’ve been helping landlords manage and let their properties across Dundee for over 13 years. We understand what it takes to keep a property occupied, from pricing it right to presenting it well and finding tenants who stay. If you’re a landlord in Dundee or the surrounding area and want help reducing void periods, get in touch with our team today and find out how we can help you keep your property let.