deverellsmith launches 2026 rental living salary guide in partnership with SAY Property and The Land Collective

A more active but selective market

Vacancy levels have increased 20% year on year, with successful placements rising 38%, driven predominantly by operational hiring as schemes complete and portfolios mature across the UK. However, the talent market has become notably more discerning, with candidates stable in roles and selective about their next move.

Maintenance and facilities positions have experienced particularly strong upward salary pressure. Heightened resident standards and increasingly complex compliance requirements have repositioned these roles from cost centre to critical drivers of asset performance and resident satisfaction.

The progression gap

Analysis of workforce sentiment data highlights career progression as the central retention challenge facing rental living operators. While progression emerged as the leading reason professionals left their previous role, only around a quarter of survey respondents feel opportunities to advance in their current organisation are "very clear".

The research also reveals that the single most common entry route into rental living remains unplanned. More professionals report they "fell into" the sector than those who actively chose it for career prospects, pointing to significant untapped potential in intentional talent attraction and structured career pathways.

The Land Collective's insights focus on addressing the "accidental careers" challenge. Their work with employers demonstrates that structured pathways and early exposure to diverse opportunities can transform how young people access roles in the sector, highlighting the importance of intentional talent attraction strategies that engage under-represented groups and address both the progression gap and lack of awareness.

On compensation, most respondents view their overall package as fair or average, but only a minority consider it highly competitive. Higher base salary or stronger bonus potential ranks as the top factor that could prompt a move, though work–life balance, flexibility, supportive culture and meaningful work all feature prominently as reasons to stay.

 "Hiring across rental living is active, but the talent market is more discerning than ever. Candidates are stable in their roles and willing to wait for the right move. Employers who understand the balance between progression, flexibility and compensation, and can evidence it, will be the ones who win."

 Hannah Taylor, manager – living EMEA, deverellsmith

Debra Yudolph, founder and CEO of SAY Property, added: "Rental living relies on motivated, skilled teams at every level, from on-site and maintenance teams to senior operations and asset management. Our research shows the sector has huge appeal, but careers are still too often accidental and progression can feel opaque. Turning that into intentional, well-supported pathways is one of the biggest opportunities for owners and operators over the next few years.

The 2026 rental living salary guide is available to download from deverellsmith's website. A dedicated episode of devcast, featuring senior industry leaders from Related Argent, Realstar and John Lewis Partnership discussing the findings and their implications for talent strategy, is available here.