- The average monthly room rent in inner London is now into four figures (£1,002), up 2.3% on the previous quarter, and up 1.1% year on year.
- SW and SE dominate the list of postcodes with highest-rising rents but it's still possible to find sub-£800 per month rents in six postcodes, all in the east and north of the capital.
- By postcode area, east London has the cheapest average rent at £958 per month.
- Flatshare supply is falling year on year in both inner London (-7.3%) and in outer London (-1.7%).
Rental index data from flatshare site SpareRoom shows room rental supply fell 7.3% in inner London while the average rent rose to £1,002 per month in the third quarter of 2026, just shy of the record high of £1,003 set in Q4 2023. Rent in outer London - now an average £800 per month - is holding steady (-0.2%).
By postcode area, east London still has the lowest average room rent (£958 per month) and is seeing the smallest year-on-year rent increases too. By contrast, in south-west London, the average rent is now £1,065 per month and rising 2.4% year on year.
The most expensive postcode in London is SW7, spanning South Kensington and Knightsbridge, where the average monthly room rent (£1,682) is more than double that of the cheapest postcode, E12 Manor Park, at £752 per month.
This table shows how room rents and supply have changed year on year in the inner London postcode areas across the capital:
| London postcode area | Ave monthly room rent Q3 2026 | Ave monthly room rent Q3 2025 | Year-on-year rent change | Year-on-year supply change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E | £958 | £954 | 0.4% | -6.5% |
| EC | £1,289 | £1,225 | 5.2% | -11.3% |
| N | £969* | £961 | 0.8% | -7.5% |
| NW | £999 | £988 | 1.1% | -7.3% |
| SE | £963* | £951 | 1.2% | -5.8% |
| SW | £1,065* | £1,039 | 2.4% | -10.0% |
| W | £1,064* | £1,050 | 1.3% | -4.6% |
| WC | £1,464* | £1,365 | 7.3% | -30.1% |
| Inner London | £1,002 | £990 | 1.1% | -7.3% |
| Outer London | £800 | £802* | -0.2% | -1.7% |
| Greater London (inner + outer) | £932 | £926 | 0.6% | -5.8% |
*indicates highest rent on record
This table shows the 10 most and least expensive postcode districts in inner London:
| Most expensive | Least expensive | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Postcode | Average monthly room rent Q3 2026 | Postcode | Average monthly room rent Q3 2026 |
| SW7 (South Kensington/Knightsbridge) | £1,682 | E12 (Manor Park) | £752 |
| W1 (West End/Soho) | £1,519 | E6 (East Ham) | £755 |
| SW3 (Chelsea) | £1,472 | N21 (Winchmore Hill) | £761 |
| WC1 (Bloomsbury/High Holborn) | £1,447 | E7 (Forest Gate) | £781 |
| SW5 (Earl's Court/West Brompton) | £1,397 | E13 (Plaistow) | £789 |
| W8 (Holland Park) | £1,340 | N9 (Lower Edmonton) | £790 |
| SW1 (Westminster/Belgravia/Pimlico) | £1,280 | E18 (South Woodford) | £802 |
| W2 (Bayswater/Paddington) | £1,279 | SE9 (Eltham) | £810 |
| EC1 (Aldersgate/Finsbury/Holborn) | £1,273 | E4 (Chingford) | £812 |
| NW1 (Camden) | £1,248 | SE28 (Thamesmead) | £822 |
This table shows the 10 inner London postcode districts where rents have risen most year on year:
| Postcode | Average monthly room rent Q3 2026 | Average monthly room rent Q3 2025 | Year-on-year change |
|---|---|---|---|
| SW3 (Chelsea) | £1,472 | £1,262 | 16.6% |
| SW7 (South Kensington/Knightsbridge) | £1,682 | £1,484 | 13.3% |
| SW5 (Earl's Court/West Brompton) | £1,397 | £1,243 | 12.4% |
| SE19 (Crystal Palace) | £923 | £826 | 11.7% |
| SE17 (Walworth) | £1,132 | £1,019 | 11.1% |
| SE21 (Dulwich) | £935 | £843 | 10.9% |
| N2 (East Finchley) | £950 | £859 | 10.6% |
| SE7 (Charlton) | £899 | £828 | 8.6% |
| WC1 (Bloomsbury/High Holborn) | £1,447 | £1,334 | 8.5% |
| E10 (Leyton) | £868 | £808 | 7.4% |
This table shows the 10 inner London postcode districts where rents have fallen most year on year:
| Postcode | Average monthly room rent Q3 2026 | Average monthly room rent Q3 2025 | Year-on-year change |
|---|---|---|---|
| N21 (Winchmore Hill) | £761 | £917 | -17.0% |
| W8 (Holland Park) | £1,340 | £1,442 | -7.1% |
| N20 (Totteridge/Whetstone) | £860 | £918 | -6.3% |
| W11 (Notting Hill) | £1,117 | £1,179 | -5.3% |
| E18 (South Woodford) | £802 | £844 | -5.0% |
| E7 (Forest Gate) | £781 | £819 | -4.6% |
| N5 (Highbury) | £1,042 | £1,092 | -4.6% |
| SE14 (New Cross) | £933 | £977 | -4.5% |
| SW13 (Barnes) | £938 | £981 | -4.4% |
| E13 (Plaistow) | £789 | £825 | -4.4% |
Matt Hutchinson, director at flatshare site SpareRoom, comments: “With average rents now into four figures, to affordably rent an average room in a London flatshare people will need a gross salary of at least £40K. That excludes many, including some essential and service workers, and young people starting their careers. Choked supply increases rents, so tumbling rental stock in the capital should concern everyone, as should the absence of any plan to improve the situation. The Government must acknowledge the problem and do everything in its power to encourage and incentivise new supply.”