Houses To Rent in Dartmoor Forest

Dartmoor Forest sits within a wider Dartmoor market that has seen clear price growth over the past few years. In West Devon, which includes Dartmoor Forest, house prices rose by 9.0% in November 2024 compared with the year before, reaching an average of £330,000. That rise was ahead of the South West average of 2.2%, which says plenty about the pull of moorland settings. Sold prices across Dartmoor over the last year have stayed close to the previous year, and sit about 4% below the 2023 peak of £414,837, so the pace has cooled a little since the pandemic-era jump.

Housing in Dartmoor Forest comes in a surprisingly mixed range, though some sizes are far more common than others. Parish stock shows 52.4% of homes have three bedrooms, so that size is particularly well represented for families or anyone wanting a bit more room. Two-bedroom homes make up 25.5% of the stock, four-bedroom or larger properties account for 17.9%, and just 4.2% are one-bedroom homes. Recent sales data from home.co.uk for the wider Dartmoor area is dominated by detached properties, which fits a rural parish where generous plots and moorland views are part of the appeal. You will find stone cottages dating from before 1919 alongside newer homes from the 1990s, so there is real variety on offer.

New development in Dartmoor Forest has been very limited. West Devon Borough Council records show only two affordable units have been built in the parish since 2008, and that lack of supply, together with the tight planning controls that come with National Park status, keeps rental choice narrow and competition strong. Anyone hoping to rent here should move quickly when a suitable home appears, because the moorland setting keeps drawing interest from people who want that way of life.

Dartmoor Forest is a parish with a strong sense of place, reflecting the character of one of Britain’s best known national parks and offering a quality of life shaped by landscape and local ties. Open moorland, hidden valleys and ancient woodland define the area, while granite tors rise above the countryside as familiar landmarks for walking and getting about. Life here follows the seasons more closely than it does in town, with spring flowers on the moor, long summer evenings for being outdoors, autumn colour in the woods and winter turning the land into something stark and beautiful.

Household data points to a community that is very much rooted in rural living. 44.8% of households contain two people, while single-person households account for 23% of the population. Three-person households make up 18.1%, and 14.1% are made up of four people or more, so families still form an important part of the picture. On the economic side, 43.9% of the population is economically active and in work, and 36.1% mainly work from home, which makes the parish attractive to remote workers who want a better setting. The median household income of £15,550 for those registered on Devon Home Choice with a local connection reflects how tough the numbers can be in rural areas.

The built environment carries its own history too, with The Old Farmhouse, a Grade II listed property, showing how much heritage sits within Dartmoor Forest. Planning controls across the National Park are strong, and the high number of second homes on Dartmoor has been linked to local housing pressure and reduced affordable supply, something renters looking for a long-term home should bear in mind. Local amenities are smaller in scale than those in larger towns, but there are traditional pubs, farm shops and visitor attractions, all of which support residents and the tourism economy that underpins much of the area.

For families renting in Dartmoor Forest, schooling is available through a network of primary schools serving the moorland communities, though secondary education usually means travelling to market towns nearby. The immediate area is served by Meavy Church of England Primary School in the village of Meavy, which teaches children from Reception through to Year 6. It is a small rural school with close community links, and its position near the National Park often feeds into outdoor learning, field studies and wider use of the natural surroundings in lessons.

Secondary choices sit mainly in Tavistock, where schools such as Mount Kelly and The School of Torquay offer full secondary provision and good Ofsted ratings for pupils who meet the catchment requirements. Parents should check current catchment boundaries with Devon County Council, because admission rules can change which schools children can attend from Dartmoor Forest. For sixth form and further education, Okehampton College Sixth Form is nearby, while Exeter and Plymouth provide a broader mix of further and higher education within sensible commuting distance for older students.

Childcare for younger children is available in Dartmoor Forest and the surrounding villages, with flexible options for pre-school families, although availability can dip at times because of the local tourism pattern. Home education is also well established in National Park communities, and local networks give support and social contact to families who choose that route. Before picking a rental, families should check school catchment details with the Devon County Council admissions team, as rural catchments do shift and the exact location of a property can affect school allocation.

Getting around from Dartmoor Forest is shaped by the parish’s moorland location, so most residents rely on private cars for day-to-day journeys and commuting. The A386 runs through the area, linking to Tavistock around 10 miles to the west and to Okehampton to the north, where the A30 trunk road gives access to Exeter and Cornwall. Rail services are found at Okehampton and Exeter, and Okehampton station offers trains on the Exeter to Plymouth line, with onward links to Exeter St Davids, Plymouth and beyond across the national network.

Bus travel is available, but only in a fairly limited way compared with urban areas, so those without a car usually need some other transport arrangement. Stagecoach services connect Dartmoor communities with Tavistock and Plymouth, and a few routes go on to Exeter, though weekend and evening services are cut back sharply. Community transport schemes also operate in parts of the National Park, giving vital help to people who cannot drive, including lifts to medical appointments and shopping trips.

From Dartmoor Forest, commuting to Exeter or Plymouth usually takes around 45 minutes to an hour by car, although weather, peak traffic and moorland conditions can push that up quite a bit. The A30 gives relatively quick access to Exeter, which makes the parish workable for hybrid workers who travel in two or three days a week. Cycling is popular on the minor roads and designated routes through the National Park, but the hills call for a fair level of fitness, and mountain biking opportunities are plentiful for leisure riders. Parking differs from place to place, and while most homes have private parking, village centres may only have a small amount of public parking.

Renting in Dartmoor Forest means paying attention to a few local issues that do not crop up as often in more urban areas, starting with the effects of National Park designation on maintenance and alterations. Properties within Dartmoor National Park are subject to strict planning controls, so check with the landlord what changes would be allowed during your tenancy. The area’s traditional stone construction, which reflects Dartmoor's granite geology and long-standing building methods, can bring different maintenance needs and thermal performance from modern homes, and that is worth discussing before you sign.

Heating systems deserve a close look in Dartmoor Forest, because the exposed moorland setting can mean colder temperatures and higher bills than in more sheltered places. Ask what fuel is used, whether oil, LPG, electric or solid fuel, and include those running costs in your budget alongside the rent. Solid fuel systems need more hands-on management and regular chimney sweeping, while modern heat pumps can work well in properly insulated homes. Checking the EPC rating of any place you are considering will help you understand its energy performance and any likely upgrade needs.

It is sensible to think about flood risk with any Dartmoor Forest property, given the rivers and streams that run through the moorland landscape, although the available records did not give detailed parish flood data. Homes near watercourses or in lower valleys can be affected from time to time, so ask the landlord or previous tenants about any flooding in the past. The landlord will usually arrange buildings insurance for a let property, and that should be checked to make sure it covers the property type and location. For older homes, a RICS Level 2 Survey can be a good idea to spot structural concerns or maintenance needs before you commit, especially where period properties may hide costly defects.

There are several upfront costs involved in renting in Dartmoor Forest, beyond the monthly rent, and it helps to know about them from the start so you can plan properly. The deposit is usually capped at five weeks rent for annual rents below £50,000, which means a home let at £1,000 per month would need a £1,150 deposit. That deposit must be protected within 30 days in a government-approved scheme such as the Deposit Protection Service, MyDeposits or Tenancy Deposit Scheme, and you should receive the prescribed information about which scheme is holding it.

Tenant referencing fees are often charged when applying for homes in Dartmoor Forest, and the cost can vary by provider, usually sitting between £100 and £300 depending on how detailed the checks are. Some agents roll these into one administration fee, while others separate out the credit check, employment verification and previous landlord references. Right to rent checks are required and are normally included in the referencing process, as they confirm your eligibility to rent in the UK. Immigration checks must be completed before the tenancy starts, so keep your documents ready.

Moving to Dartmoor Forest can bring extra costs, and removal charges may be higher than average because of the rural location and the distance from major towns and cities. You may also need storage if your move-in date does not line up with your move-out date, and temporary accommodation can be sensible where the logistics are more complicated. Before you start viewing, a rental budget in principle can help you understand what you can afford and can strengthen your position with landlords, and Homemove can connect you with providers offering competitive rates. Ongoing costs to plan for include council tax, which varies across West Devon Borough Council bands, utility bills, Contents Insurance and the heating bills that come with the Dartmoor climate.