South East tops table for shared living demand
The South East is home to the most competitive house share rental market in Great Britain.
That is according to the House Share Demand Index for Q2 2025 from COHO, the HMO management platform, which found that one in five (19.9%) house share opportunities in the region were snapped up by tenants in the second quarter of 2025.*
The second-highest level of demand was recorded in the East of England, where 15.8% of rooms were let, with the South West coming in a close third at 15.3%.
Scotland is by far the slowest rental market, with just 2.8% of shared rental opportunities finding a tenant, followed by the North West and Yorkshire & Humber, at 6.5% and 7.2% respectively.
City demand table topped by Bradford
On a city level, Britain’s most in-demand house share location is Bradford, where a quarter (25%) of available rentals were let.
After that comes Brighton, where 21.4% of rentals were let, followed by Newcastle, at 19.9%.
Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh attracts the lowest houseshare interest from tenants, with just 2.9% of rentals finding an occupant.
Demand also sat at 2.9% In Birmingham, followed by Leeds at 5.8%.
As for London, perhaps the most well-established and heavily populated shared living city in Britain, demand was recorded at 12.9%.
COHO Founder and CEO, Vann Vogstad, commented:
“The house share market provides tenants with two things that, you could argue, are more important now than ever before: affordable homes and community.
In 2025, the cost of living and the price of rent are extraordinarily high, particularly in major cities. Our cities remain the focal point of opportunity and promise in Britain, and if you’re trying to build a successful career or find your path in life, it’s almost essential that you make one of them your home. For singletons or couples arriving in a new city to pursue their dreams or ambitions, a one-bed flat is often unaffordable, so shared houses act as a vital lifeline, providing a level of affordability that doesn’t only enable you to survive, but also provide the financial freedom to actually enjoy life.
But in our digital-first world where remote working dominates, shared living doesn’t only provide financial freedom, it also offers a much needed and increasingly sought-after sense of community, connection, and belonging. Living with people, as opposed to living alone, does wonders for our wellbeing and happiness, which is why we’re seeing the housemate demographic evolve away from those who move in because of financial necessity towards those who move in for the sheer joy of living with other people and all of the wonders of life that this opens us up to.”
You May Also Enjoy
Private rent and house prices, UK: August 2026
Scrapping Stamp Duty could unlock 300,000 extra home moves a year
New-build property across Great Britain increased in price
Where London leavers are paying a premium for green space
Breaking Property News 18/8/26
