London’s best rental spots for lonely hearts as lockdown eases

With lockdown measures easing this weekend, many isolated Londoners will finally be able to venture out in search of other singletons and the best chance of finding them is in Islington, Hackney or Lambeth.

However, for those on a more long-term mission, the latest research by international rental marketplace Spotahome has looked at which London boroughs offer the best mix of affordable rental costs coupled with the highest percentage of single people.

Spotahome ranked each borough based on the average cost of renting for every percentage of the population that is single.

On average across London, 44% of people are single and with the average rent costing £1,644, that’s £37 per month in rent for every percentage of single people.

Lewisham ranks as the best place in London to break lockdown boredom and expand your bubble. With 50% of people in the borough listed as single and an average rental cost of £1,316, the rental cost per single score is just £26; the lowest across the capital.

Croydon also ranks high, with 40% of people in the borough classed as single, an average rental cost of £1,140 and a cost per single score of just £29 per month in rent.

Barking and Dagenham, Waltham Forest and Southwark are also some of the most affordable boroughs with the highest number of singles, coming in at £31 per month in rent for every percentage of single people living there.

Hackney, Newham, Bexley, Lambeth and Hillingdon also rank highly.

The least affordable rental spots for lonely hearts are Kensington and Chelsea (£63), Westminster (£59) and Richmond (£50). All are home to a rental cost per percentage of single people of £50 or above.

Lowest rental cost for every one percentage of single people in each London borough.
London borough
% of singles
Average rent pm
£ cost per % of singles score point
Lewisham
50%
£1,316
£26
Croydon
40%
£1,140
£29
Barking and Dagenham
39%
£1,208
£31
Waltham Forest
43%
£1,352
£31
Southwark
55%
£1,718
£31
Hackney
58%
£1,842
£32
Newham
45%
£1,453
£32
Bexley
34%
£1,092
£32
Lambeth
58%
£1,908
£33
Hillingdon
36%
£1,200
£33
Sutton
35%
£1,151
£33
Kingston upon Thames
39%
£1,306
£33
Tower Hamlets
55%
£1,835
£33
Haringey
50%
£1,669
£33
Islington
60%
£2,003
£33
Enfield
38%
£1,292
£34
Greenwich
43%
£1,476
£34
Hounslow
39%
£1,352
£35
Havering
33%
£1,169
£35
Brent
42%
£1,502
£36
Wandsworth
54%
£1,958
£36
Hammersmith and Fulham
56%
£2,117
£38
Redbridge
35%
£1,311
£38
Ealing
41%
£1,569
£39
Bromley
34%
£1,307
£39
Barnet
37%
£1,499
£40
Merton
40%
£1,640
£41
Camden
55%
£2,302
£42
Harrow
32%
£1,387
£43
City of London
51%
£2,274
£45
Richmond upon Thames
37%
£1,835
£50
Westminster
51%
£3,046
£59
Kensington and Chelsea
48%
£3,023
£63
London
44%
£1,644
£37

Properganda PR

National and local media coverage for property businesses. Journo quotes delivered in minutes.

You May Also Enjoy

Rightmove logo
Breaking News

New record rents as rental supply falls for first time since 2022

The average advertised rent of homes outside London has risen by 1.9% this quarter to a new record of £1,397 per calendar month, the first quarterly rent record since Q3 2025: The average advertised rents outside London is now 2.3% higher than a year ago, an increase from 1.6% last quarter London also reaches a…
Read More
Breaking News

Our predictions for the property market in the second half of 2026

Allison Thompson, Chief Lettings Officer, Leaders part of LRG. There is a lot going on right now that’s impacting the property market, both in terms of direct legislation and the wider economy: Global conflicts affecting consumer confidence and interest rates Ongoing cost of living issues challenging affordability for homeowners and renters The recent introduction of…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 14/7/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   REVIEW: The Future of Real Estate Education: From Pedagogy to Technology Author Mr. Hugh Kelly, Ph.D., CRE Emeritus   Edited by Karen M. McGrath, Elaine M. Worzala, and Pernille H. Christensen. (Routledge, New York and London, 2026). 330 pp. ISBN 9781032625041. Paperback $70.99; hardcover $170.00; ebook…
Read More
Breaking News

Why 2026 is redefining responsibility in the private rented sector

The landlord rulebook has changed  Insurance experts warn that understanding where landlord obligations end and tenant responsibilities begin has never been more important, following the biggest legislative shake-up of the rental market in a generation. The implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act on 1st May 2026 has transformed the relationship between landlords and tenants, introducing…
Read More
Breaking News

Mortgage demand slowed in Q2

Mortgage demand softened as anticipated in the second quarter due to affordability pressures exacerbated by rising borrowing costs, Stonebridge reveals today. However, mortgage rates remain tricky to accurately predict while borrowers face being wrong-footed by renewed clashes in the Gulf, which sent oil prices and inflation expectations higher last week. Stonebridge mortgage and protection network’s…
Read More
Breaking News

Prime London buyer demand strengthens in Q2

aThe latest Prime London Demand Index by London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, reveals that buyer demand across London’s prime property market strengthened during the second quarter of 2026, with overall demand reaching 14.5%. The capital’s family-focused prime neighbourhoods continued to lead the way, with Clapham, Wandsworth, and Chiswick among the strongest performing…
Read More