The number of EU nationals looking to rent in the UK has dropped by a fifth.

Data from Goodlord, based on analysis of the 150,000 tenancies processed through its lettings platform, found that EU nationals went from representing 18.5% of all tenants in England in March 2018 to just 14.9% in March this year.

Goodlord said there has been a net reduction in the number of EU nationals signing tenancy agreements each month since March 2018, with the biggest falls amongst EU citizens from Ireland, Poland and France.

In contrast, the number of new residents from non-EU countries has remained fairly steady, with only a small dip of 1.5% year-on-year. Numbers arriving from China dipped, although arrivals from the US saw an increase, Goodlord said.

It comes after analysis by reallymoving.com identified a decline in EU nationals buying in the UK.

William Reeve, chief executive of of Goodlord, said: “The referencing checks Goodlord has been doing on the hundreds of thousands of tenants going through our technology platform paint a very clear picture of the impact that Brexit is having on the UK property market.

“Over the past year there has been a 20% decline in the number of EU nationals taking up rental tenancies in England.

“The figures clearly show a much steeper decline in EU nationals compared to those coming from further afield where the numbers have held almost steady. This represents a real worry not just for landlords, but for the wider economy. The talent and spending power of Europeans is being taken elsewhere.”