The South Devon rental market has taken on a life of its own in 2025. With rents at all-time highs, new rules shaking up the sector, and shifting realities on the ground, both landlords and tenants are feeling the impact. Here at Your Home Let Devon, as a family-run business led by Director Veronica Beaver and daughter Rebecca Beaver, we’ve been supporting our local landlords and tenants every step of the way. In this post, we break down the facts, figures, and realities to help you make sense of the current rental landscape across the South Hams, Teignbridge, Torbay and beyond.
The Rental Reality: Rents Surge Amid Squeezed Supply
It’s no secret that finding affordable rentals in South Devon is a growing challenge. Currently, across all types of properties, the average rent in Devon stands at £911 per calendar month, but in the ever-popular South Hams, it’s even higher at £965 pcm. Demand in this area stays fierce as buyers, priced out of ownership (with average house costs reaching 14 times the average income), turn to the rental market for a home.
For families, professionals, and older tenants alike, the situation has produced more competition for quality homes—especially as South Devon continues to attract those seeking a better lifestyle, coastal charm, or a slower pace of life.
Why Are Rents Still Rising?
Several overlapping factors are driving prices up:
- Limited supply: Not enough new long-term rentals coming onto the market as some landlords sell up or switch to holiday lets.
- Pent-up demand: Locals, relocators, and even returning overseas workers competing for the same properties.
- Holiday let switchback: While the short-term letting sector saw a robust 2024, some stricter taxes and new licensing pressures now have a handful of landlords considering switching back to long-term tenancies.
For tenants, this means you need to be quick off the mark, ready with references and deposits, and open-minded about areas or property types. For landlords, it’s about ensuring your property stands out, meets legal standards, and offers value for money.
New Rules: The Renters’ Rights Bill & What It Means
2024 saw huge waves ripple through the rental sector with the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Bill—the most sweeping set of changes to the private rented sector in years. If you own a rental property or are thinking of letting one out, it’s crucial to understand these updates. Our team at Your Home Let Devon have been right at the sharp end of helping landlords adapt to this new regime.
What’s Changing?
1. Tenancy Reform:
Assured Shorthold Tenancies are largely being replaced with periodic tenancies, which essentially mean open-ended contracts. Landlords will need a legitimate reason to end a tenancy (the days of a simple ‘no fault’ Section 21 notice are numbered).
2. Stricter Eviction Procedures:
Evictions must follow a much stricter process, with clear evidence needed for anti-social behaviour or rent arrears. Expect longer timelines where legal action is required.
3. Property Standards:
The minimum property standard is being raised, with more frequent inspections and compliance checks required.
4. More Regulation:
Licensing, compliance paperwork, energy efficiency standards, deposit protections, and fitted carbon monoxide detectors—landlords who neglect these rules are at serious risk of hefty fines.
5. Tenant Rights & Transparency:
Prospective tenants have more access to information—about landlords, property history, previous issues and expected repairs.
The Impact: Navigating the New Normal
For Landlords
The new rules mean a bigger emphasis on professionalism. Paperwork, record-keeping and property maintenance aren’t optional extras anymore—they’re must-haves. As a family business, we understand that many landlords didn’t get into property to become full-time administrators. That’s why working with a dedicated, locally expert team like ours can save you loads of stress and keep you compliant.
Veronica Beaver, our Director, puts it this way:
“We know the rules can feel overwhelming—even for experienced landlords. Our job is to keep on top of every legislative change for you, offer honest advice, and make sure you’re protected while providing a safe and legal home for your tenants.”
And Rebecca Beaver, who manages our marketing and tenant liaising, adds:
“Being family-run makes us agile. We’re big enough to be professional but small enough to care about each client’s experience. It’s the personal touches and transparency that set us apart from faceless agencies, especially as the law changes.”
For Tenants
Stronger rules should mean you have more rights, better security and healthier homes. However, high demand and rising rents can still make securing a quality place challenging, especially in hotspots along the coast or Dartmoor fringe.
We always advise tenants to:
- Prepare your paperwork in advance
- Move quickly on properties you like
- Communicate clearly about needs and concerns
- Build good relationships with reputable letting agencies
Other Forces at Play: Holiday Lets, Tax, & Supply
The holiday let market is particularly strong in Salcombe, Dartmouth, and Kingsbridge, where occupancy rates reached 78% in summer 2024. However, government moves such as sharper council tax on second homes, increased stamp duty on buy-to-lets, and reduced mortgage interest relief are already starting to have an effect.
A number of holiday let owners are now evaluating whether a switch to the stability of long-term tenancy makes more sense. If this shift continues, we could see an uptick in available family homes and flats in the long-term market, easing supply pressure just slightly for locals and newcomers alike.
South Devon’s Market in Numbers
- Average rent (Devon): £911 pcm
- Average rent (South Hams): £965 pcm
- Holiday let occupancy (summer 2024): 78% (short breaks up 5.6%)
- House price affordability (South Hams): 14x average local salary
The basic reality? Whether renting or letting, you can expect robust competition, a heavily regulated market, and ongoing demand for quality homes.
Family-Run, Devon-Focused: Our Commitment
Big, national agencies are buying up smaller local letting agencies across the Southwest, but at Your Home Let Devon, we believe real peace of mind comes from working with a family-run firm that knows the local market inside out.
Director Veronica Beaver has roots in the region and decades of experience guiding landlords through tough markets and shifting rules. With daughter Rebecca Beaver’s involvement, there’s always a friendly face and a practical, transparent approach. We take pride in:
- Clear, jargon-free advice
- Up-to-the-minute compliance
- Practical, hands-on service for both landlords and tenants
We encourage open conversations about your goals and challenges, whether you’re listing a first investment property or searching for the perfect family rental.
Looking Ahead: 2025 and Beyond
No one can predict exactly how the rental market will evolve, but a few things are clear:
- Devon remains in demand, and coastal/countryside living is still highly prized.
- Government regulation is likely to keep increasing.
- Efficient, professional property management is now a necessity, not a luxury.
- Family-run, local knowledge helps landlords and tenants navigate uncertainty with more confidence.
If you want friendly, expert support—without the red tape or impersonal service—get in touch with our team at Your Home Let Devon. Whether you’re a landlord looking to adapt to new rules, or a tenant seeking a new home, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Need advice?
We’re happy to help—give us a call, or drop a message via our website. Let’s navigate South Devon’s ever-changing rental landscape together.
