London’s most expensive room rent locations climb 2% in 2019 already, up 13% in 2018

Data from leading room share platform, ideal flatmate, shows that the cost of renting a single room in the capital has already increased by 2% in 2019, having increased by 13% between 2017 and 2018.

ideal flatmate crunched the numbers across thousands of room rentals to see how much Londoners are paying on average and how this has changed over the last two years.

Between 2017, the average price of a room listed to rent on ideal flatmate was £781, increasing 13% to £855 in 2018. With a continued lack of suitable stock and a reduction in buy-to-let investors, this figure has already climbed to £902 a month barely two months into 2019.

When it comes to the most expensive, Westminster is currently the most expensive borough at an average of £1,045 a month, followed by Camden at £999 per month on average.

However, when looking on a more granular level it’s Nine Elms that currently tops the table with an average monthly rent of £2,123 a month.

Other areas to see some of the highest rents for just a single room are Covent Garden, Upper Clapton, South Kensington, Knightsbridge, Church End, Bayswater, St James’s, North Finchley and Millbank – all at £1,200 or above.

The cheapest? North Woolwich at £350, with Abbey Wood, Manor Park, Hither Green and West Norwood also some of the lowest.

Co-founder of ideal flatmate, Tom Gatzen, commented:

“Despite room sharing remaining the most affordable way of finding a place to live in London, it too is seeing prices increase as the capital’s rental market continues to strain under the pressure of a supply and demand imbalance.

We’re currently seeing the price of room rentals in London increase at a rate of at least one per cent a month on average which is pretty significant for those already struggling to afford the overall cost of living in the capital.

This cost increase has largely been driven by a reduction in the number of landlords and letting agents with rooms to rent as a result of the stamp duty shake-up, changes to tax thresholds and the impending ban on letting fees. Unless more is done to address this, we will continue to see the cost of renting lift across the board with the capital’s tenants ultimately the ones paying the price.”

Average Room Cost Across London
Year
Average Cost per Month
Change
2017
£781
N/A
2018
£885
13%
2019*
£902
2%

 

Top 10 Most Expensive Boroughs
Borough
Average Room Rent
Westminster
£1,045
Camden
£999
Kensington and Chelsea
£997
Hammersmith and Fulham
£959
Islington
£910
City of London
£900
Hackney
£898
Wandsworth
£810
Tower Hamlets
£809
Southwark
£807

 

Most Expensive Areas
Area
Average monthly rent per room
Nine Elms
£2,123
Covent Garden
£1,350
Upper Clapton
£1,350
South Kensington
£1,333
Knightsbridge
£1,300
Church End
£1,273
Bayswater
£1,248
St James’s
£1,238
North Finchley
£1,220
Millbank
£1,200
Earls Court
£1,177
Swiss Cottage
£1,150
Mayfair
£1,130
Marylebone
£1,109
Chalk Farm
£1,107
Islington
£1,102
Hammersmith
£1,096
De Beauvoir Town
£1,091
Stamford Hill
£1,087
Maida Vale
£1,082

 

Properganda PR

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

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Prime London market activity falls,

The latest market insight from Jefferies London has revealed that the prime London market slowed considerably during the second half of 2025, with average monthly transaction levels falling by 31% compared to the first half of the year. Jefferies London analysed property market transactions across prime London postcodes, looking at the average monthly number of…
Read More
Home and Living

Demand for wooden furniture remains strong as homeowners rediscover 1960s interiors

Experts reveal how natural materials and timeless design are bringing an overlooked vintage era back into modern homes Search interest in wooden furniture has remained consistently high over the past 12 months, peaking at its highest levels in spring 2025, as homeowners continue to prioritise natural materials and timeless design. Experts say this growing preference…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

UK postcode study identifies where buyers get the most space for their money

New analysis has revealed the best-value postcodes for buyers: One UK town offers FOUR times more space than the national average. The study, compiled by the experts at Sell House Fast, analysed postcodes across England and Wales to identify where buyers get the most space for their money. Where £100,000 buys the most space in…
Read More
what is happening to house prices
Breaking News

The graduate shortage: who will value Britain’s homes in 2030?

According to RICS, the average qualified surveyor is in their mid-fifties. Couple this with new entrant numbers failing to keep pace with retirements, and the profession faces a critical skills gap at the worst possible time. Ryan Mathews, Managing Director of LRG’s Surveyors division, examines why surveying struggles to attract new talent and what needs…
Read More
Breaking News

62% of letting agents failing to comply

The latest industry insight from The Letting Partnership has found that while Client Money Protection (CMP) is a legal requirement across the lettings sector, 62% of letting agents are failing to clearly display valid CMP certification on their website, highlighting a growing issue around how compliance is demonstrated to landlords and tenants. The Letting Partnership…
Read More
Breaking News

UK house prices sit above pandemic market peak

The latest research from Yopa has found that, six years on from the first Covid lockdown (23rd March 2020), the average UK house price remains 1.7% above the peak reached during the pandemic property market boom, despite the more subdued market conditions seen since. Yopa analysed* average house price data at three key points in…
Read More