2 Bed Flats To Rent in Austwick, North Yorkshire

Austwick’s rental market mirrors the broader Yorkshire Dales picture, where demand regularly runs ahead of supply because this rural village has so few homes to choose from. The village itself tends to have only a small number of rentals on the books at any one time, so Settle and Giggleswick often fill the gap for tenants happy to travel a little way. Planning permission is already in place for new housing, including an approved scheme for 8 dwellings off Pant Lane from Venturi Homes, and that should bring a bit more choice over the coming years.

House prices in Austwick have held up well, with the average sold price at £468,250 over the past year, up 3% on the previous year even though it sits 7% below the 2023 peak of £501,143. That sort of resilience gives both landlords and tenants confidence, because it points to values being underpinned by the appeal of Yorkshire Dales living. Detached homes sit at the top end, averaging £603,250, while semi-detached properties usually come in at around £400,750, which is exactly what we would expect in a place where space and privacy carry a premium.

For renters, the sold market still offers a useful clue to what is happening locally. Bigger family homes fetch higher rents, which reflects how scarce they are and how keen families are to live in the Yorkshire Dales. We also note that a recent planning application from L Preston and Sons for dwellings at Town Head, Austwick, was still awaiting a decision in early 2026, which could add a few more homes to the area. Tenants should register with several local letting agents in Settle and Skipton, because in a market like this the first suitable place can go quickly.

Life in Austwick gathers around the village green and the historic Game Cock Inn, one of 48 Grade II listed buildings that give the settlement so much of its character and architectural interest. The village has a lively community feel, with events at the village hall, a parish church that dates back centuries, and walking routes that lead straight out into the Yorkshire Dales. Austwick Beck winds through the village too, crossed by traditional stone clapper bridges, which adds to the rural setting and gives people an easy scenic walk on the doorstep.

Austwick’s 2021 Census profile shows a balanced community, with 519 residents living across 212 households, so it is the sort of place where people tend to know one another and the social fabric stays strong. Families are drawn here for the outdoor life, retirees for the peace of a Dales village, and remote-working professionals for the quality of life that rural North Yorkshire offers. Facilities within the village are limited, but the core mix is there, a pub, a church and a village hall, while Settle or Skipton are where residents usually head for supermarkets, medical services and the wider range of shops.

Agriculture and tourism shape the local economy around Austwick, which is hardly surprising given its setting in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Some residents run rural businesses from home, others commute to nearby towns for work, and many are employed in hospitality for the visitors who come into the park. The community is close-knit, and new arrivals are generally welcomed quickly. The village hall has events through the year, and the Game Cock Inn works as a social centre for locals and visitors alike.

For families thinking about a move to Austwick, there are a number of educational choices within a sensible driving distance, with the nearest primary schools in the surrounding villages and market towns. The village sits within the Craven school district, so catchment areas matter when it comes to where children can go, and renters with school-age children should check admission arrangements with North Yorkshire Council before they commit to a tenancy. Nearby village schools offer the smaller class sizes and community-led education that rural Yorkshire is known for.

Secondary schooling is available in Settle, Skipton and the surrounding area, with Settle College usually the nearest option, serving pupils from across the Yorkshire Dales region. Skipton broadens the choice further, with several secondary schools and colleges, including grammar school places and further education at Craven College. Parents should be aware that transport for rural school runs can be awkward, so bus routes and journey times need to be part of the relocation plan when moving to Austwick.

Younger children generally attend the village primary school, where one is available, or nearby village schools, and class sizes are usually much smaller than in towns, which means more individual attention and closer links between teachers and pupils. At secondary level, Settle College caters for students aged 11-18, and it has a solid reputation locally along with good examination results. Many Austwick families stay within the state system through secondary education, although others choose independent schools elsewhere in the region.

Getting into Austwick follows the usual rural pattern, with the village reached by the B6480 and A65 roads that tie it into the wider North Yorkshire network. Settle has the nearest railway station, about 12 miles away, and it sits on the Settle to Carlisle line, one of Britain’s most scenic rail routes. For people commuting to Leeds or Manchester, the drive to a station and the journey time involved are important factors when weighing up Austwick as a base for remote or hybrid working.

Bus services in rural Austwick are thin on the ground, so for most residents car ownership is close to essential, with the nearest regular routes running along the A65 main road between Settle and Skipton. Cycling is popular here because the Dales scenery is so striking, and the quiet lanes make for good recreational and everyday rides across the area. Leeds Bradford Airport is roughly 45 miles away via the A65 and the motorway network, while Manchester Airport gives a further option for international travel.

The A65 is the main route linking Austwick with the larger towns, giving access to Settle to the north and Skipton to the south-east, both of which have supermarkets, banks and other basic services. By car, Skipton usually takes around 30-35 minutes in normal traffic, while Settle is nearer at about 20 minutes. For anyone working in Leeds or Manchester, the commute is a big one, generally 1.5-2 hours by car or a rail and road combination, so Austwick tends to suit people with remote working arrangements or local jobs.

Renting in Austwick means paying close attention to the particular features of rural Yorkshire property, where older building methods and historic regulations shape maintenance duties and tenant responsibilities. With 48 Grade II listed buildings in the village, many rentals are likely to come with planning restrictions on alterations, exterior appearance and maintenance standards. Tenants should ask landlords what permissions may be needed for even minor changes, because consent rules can narrow the scope for personal touches.

On the geology side, Austwick sits on limestone bedrock, so some homes may face issues with damp penetration and ground movement that are common in older buildings. Stone walls without cavity construction can be especially prone to penetrating damp, particularly where maintenance has been left too long, which is why a proper inspection matters before any tenancy is signed. Austwick Beck runs through the village as well, so flood risk should be checked and any past flooding history, along with suitable insurance arrangements, should be discussed.

Older properties in Austwick can bring the usual problems found in historic rural homes, including electrical systems that are out of date, plumbing with older pipe materials that may need attention, and roof coverings that show wear. A full inventory check at the start of the tenancy is essential, because it records the condition of fixtures, fittings and appliances and helps avoid disputes when the tenancy ends. Homes in conservation areas may also have extra restrictions on external changes, so it pays to understand those limits before moving in.

Across England, the usual rental rules still apply in Austwick, with security deposits capped at five weeks' rent for homes with annual rents below £50,000. That deposit must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receipt, and tenants should be given the prescribed information about the scheme used. Holding deposits, which secure a property while references are checked, are limited to one week's rent and should either be put towards the final move-in cost or returned if the tenancy does not go ahead.

We also need to allow for other costs, including referencing fees, contract negotiation charges and inventory check expenses, although many landlords now fold these into the overall fee structure. First-time renters may qualify for help with upfront rent under certain schemes, and people moving into the Yorkshire Dales for work may find employer-assisted housing schemes helpful. Because Austwick is rural and services can be a fair distance away, transport costs and vehicle maintenance should sit high on the budgeting list.

Our tenant referencing service is there to help keep a rental application on track, and we can also put you in touch with providers offering competitive rates across the Yorkshire Dales area. If a move from renting to buying is on the cards, we offer RICS Level 2 surveys from £416, which can highlight structural concerns with properties in Austwick before a purchase goes any further. EPC assessments are available from £85 for anyone wanting a clearer picture of the energy efficiency of a rental home.