# Empty Flat While Trying to Sell - Ideas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Landlord Discussion\ **Created:** [11 August 2026 17:37 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/empty-flat-while-trying-to-sell-ideas/91165 "2026-08-11T17:37:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tatemono](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/tatemono/32/19789_2.png) [@tatemono](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/tatemono)\ **Post date:** [19 August 2026 09:24 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/empty-flat-while-trying-to-sell-ideas/91165/24 "2026-08-19T09:24:11Z")
er… did you read the article thoroughly? > [@David240](#): > > the other half are taking less time - but those dont get a mention They explicitly cite this in a paragraph dedicated solely to the very point you say they don’t mention: > The report found the UK’s 10 fastest-selling markets were all in Scotland, with the lowest average time to sell at just 11 days in Falkirk. Carlisle and Barnsley in England were the fastest non-Scottish markets at 23 days each. The whole point of me posting is that if some areas are selling faster than average and the average is unchanged, people selling in other areas are going to be waiting much longer. People like the OP, for example. ---
**Author:** ![David240](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/david240/32/29827_2.png) [@David240](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/David240)\ **Post date:** [19 August 2026 09:56 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/empty-flat-while-trying-to-sell-ideas/91165/25 "2026-08-19T09:56:31Z")
Well not thoroughly enough. Sorry. But im not sure some places selling slower (which they lead on) and others faster means much, is surprising or really tells us anything about uncertainty in the market which they are claiming. It will be the same story of some faster than average and others slower if you looked at that sort of data for a lot of years. So it doesn’t really tell us a lot Best ---
**Author:** ![tatemono](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/tatemono/32/19789_2.png) [@tatemono](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/tatemono)\ **Post date:** [19 August 2026 10:38 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/empty-flat-while-trying-to-sell-ideas/91165/26 "2026-08-19T10:38:43Z")
> [@David240](#): > > It will be the same story of some faster than average and others slower if you looked at that sort of data for a lot of years. well that’s how averages work of course! Zoopla produced the report and the point is that the fact that the average hasn’t shifted hides the real picture: > Richard Donnell, an executive director at Zoopla, said: “While the national time to sell has barely moved, that stability is masking a real divide opening up between local markets." Other data AI scraped up includes - Rightmove’s August 2026 index recorded the biggest August price fall since 2018 - the steepest annual decline in average house price since December 2023 - new sales agreed down 7% year-on-year - transaction volumes have falledn around 41% since post-stamp duty threshold reversion in April 2025 - Mortgage rates remain stubbornly high (prob main cause and def influenced by market turmoil from Gulf war etc as per Guardian report) - London (which is relevant to OP) is down roughly 3–3.7% annually ---
**Author:** ![tatemono](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/tatemono/32/19789_2.png) [@tatemono](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/tatemono)\ **Post date:** [19 August 2026 13:19 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/empty-flat-while-trying-to-sell-ideas/91165/28 "2026-08-19T13:19:02Z")
Er… I thought your point was that they > [@David240](#): > > casually mention the overall average is unchanged It wasn’t a casual mention. It was to indicate that (because this is exactly how averages work), if the overall average is unchanged then those in slower market areas (like the OP) are going to be waiting _a lot longer_ than average if other areas are doing very well. How hard do you have to make this to understand? ---
**Author:** ![David240](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/david240/32/29827_2.png) [@David240](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/David240)\ **Post date:** [19 August 2026 16:03 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/empty-flat-while-trying-to-sell-ideas/91165/29 "2026-08-19T16:03:32Z")
@tatemono We have clearly read the Guardian article in different ways and/or are talking at cross purposes Not sure there’s anything further to discuss tbh Best ---
**Author:** ![tatemono](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/tatemono/32/19789_2.png) [@tatemono](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/tatemono)\ **Post date:** [20 August 2026 08:46 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/empty-flat-while-trying-to-sell-ideas/91165/30 "2026-08-20T08:46:55Z")
Not if you’re not willing to concede that someone might have a different opinion from you, no I suppose not 😆 ---
**Author:** ![David240](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/david240/32/29827_2.png) [@David240](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/David240)\ **Post date:** [20 August 2026 15:34 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/empty-flat-while-trying-to-sell-ideas/91165/31 "2026-08-20T15:34:31Z")
@tatemono > [@tatemono](#): > > Not if you’re not willing to concede that someone might have a different opinion from you, no I suppose not 😆 Find double negatives a bit tricky to interpret sometimes Am totally willing to concede and accept others may have a different opinion to me and have never suggested otherwise. Best ---
**Author:** ![Leo5](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/leo5/32/515_2.png) [@Leo5](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Leo5)\ **Post date:** [28 August 2026 16:32 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/empty-flat-while-trying-to-sell-ideas/91165/32 "2026-08-28T16:32:52Z")
I think you’d be better off re-letting and waiting a year or two until it becomes clear what’s going to follow the leasehold system and what’ll happen to existing leasehold properties. I’m hoping it’ll pick up a bit eventually if commonhold turns out not to be a panacea (likely in my opinion), but until then you’d need to swallow a huge price cut in order to sell. Leaving it empty long-term would prove expensive. Many London boroughs double council tax on properties that are empty for more than a year and you’ll still be paying the service charges. > **[Leasehold: still a life sentence?](https://www.propertymark.co.uk/resource/leasehold-still-a-life-sentence.html)** > > Despite legislative progress, leaseholders remain trapped by rising costs, complex rules, and an uncertain market. Based on evidence from Propertymark members and leaseholders, this report sets out why we continue to campaign for reform to go further... ---
**Author:** ![LandlordTenant](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/landlordtenant/32/17370_2.png) [@LandlordTenant](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/LandlordTenant)\ **Post date:** [29 August 2026 10:36 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/empty-flat-while-trying-to-sell-ideas/91165/33 "2026-08-29T10:36:46Z")
Thanks - unfortunately, the advice I’ve been given recently is my flat is only going to keep losing money unless there is an actual miracle. The cash I have in it would do so much better in a tracker fund. Very sad because it is such a sweet flat (and my first home) - I’m just going to have to take a hit… ---
**Author:** ![Surgi](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/surgi/32/9284_2.png) [@Surgi](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Surgi)\ **Post date:** [23 September 2026 14:34 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/empty-flat-while-trying-to-sell-ideas/91165/34 "2026-09-23T14:34:17Z")
As it’s been over a month from the 15% reduction, curious to hear if it had much of an impact on viewings and offers or if it’s still overpriced in the current market. ---
**Author:** ![LandlordTenant](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/landlordtenant/32/17370_2.png) [@LandlordTenant](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/LandlordTenant)\ **Post date:** [24 September 2026 16:14 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/empty-flat-while-trying-to-sell-ideas/91165/35 "2026-09-24T16:14:40Z")
Hey Surgi, thanks for your interest… so an offer is about to be made and I expect it will be in line with the new price and will also include all white goods / curtains / bells and whistles and some hard negotiation… There is definitely more interest/ viewings (particularly as I gave my notice in with my estate agent which galvanised some more action). The service charge is still super off-putting to first time buyers (my market)… I need to remember it would be better to have the flat off my hands and the cash would be doing way better invested in _literally_ any fund… It just is such an adjustment that this brilliant little flat isn’t valued by the market the way I do! I’ve refurnished the flat (which felt pretty heroic and super wasteful) to stage it better so even reducing the price requires a little pimping. I’ve met a girl buying a different flat in the same building (for more like a 25% drop in their sellers’ case). We are right next to Europe’s biggest regeneration project so lots of the owners thought it was a pretty safe bet… Maybe it will still turn good for the ones who hold on. A little heartbroken… but actually I feel more for my parents and their pals who are looking to sell and downsize and that is a harder pill to swallow I think… but they all bought their houses for about £5 so they did okay… ---
**Author:** ![Scott42](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/scott42/32/33676_2.png) [@Scott42](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Scott42)\ **Post date:** [25 September 2026 12:57 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/empty-flat-while-trying-to-sell-ideas/91165/36 "2026-09-25T12:57:13Z")
I’d do that… And id leave it better than i found it!!. As a previous land lord i feel the pain of landlords!!. Although I’m now renting as I was bankrupt by my ex partner… [Previous page](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/empty-flat-while-trying-to-sell-ideas/91165.md?page=1)