While it is far from an exact science, there are certain times of the year when demand for homes and property activity booms. The start of a new year is one of these times, as interest from people looking for a fresh start is acted upon in January and February.

There is also often a spring bounce in March and April as the warmer weather and longer days start to hit, and many more people actively think about moving before the summer.

Generally speaking, the summer is one of the most popular times for viewings and moving home because of the much better weather and the longer hours of daylight (the latter is useful when it comes to fitting in viewings before darkness descends).

What’s more, there can often be an autumn bounce in September and October as students return to university and the kids go back to school from their summer holidays. Equally, people are often eager to move between rental properties before the depths of winter grip.

For understandable reasons, as the mercury drops, the temperatures plummet and the days become much shorter, viewing and renting homes in the winter months is a less popular activity – although it does still happen. It’s unlikely people will want to move the closer it gets to Christmas, but often listing in early to mid-December can bring benefits as your property is then on the rental market during the Christmas break where visits to the property portals soar.

Times of relative political certainty (for example after a decisive general election result) are usually good times in which to let, while letting when the market is performing well and tenant demand is high – if at all possible – is well-advised.

Unlike the sales market, the rental market moves very quickly and many tenants will not have the luxury of choosing when they want to move. This means that provided your marketing strategy appeals to the right tenants and fits the time of year, your chances of letting all year round remain high.

Your agent will play a key role in helping you to decide when to list, working out when is best for maximum exposure of your property. The more eyes on your property, the better your chances of letting quickly and generating the best returns.