Securing a roof over your head in London is becoming less and less of an easy (or affordable) feat, but new stats demonstrate just how tough it is to rent in the UK’s capital right now.
Across the country, rents have jumped by an average of 6.7 percent since June 2024 – the cost of living is up, wages aren’t keeping pace, and renters are feeling the squeeze. But nowhere is the crisis more acute than in London, where rents have soared by 7.3 percent in just one year.
In the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, it will come as no surprise that London dominates the list of top 10 most expensive places in Britain. The data, collected from June and July 2025, makes the renting woes of Londoners painfully clear by comparing average rent rates across the country.
Taking top spot as the most expensive place to call home in the UK is Kensington and Chelsea – when you have the Prince and Princess of Wales as your neighbours in Kensington Palace, this does make some sense. The average rent in the Royal Borough can set you back a hefty £3,601 a month, with it costing renters over 74 per cent of their income last year.
Due to its central location, beautiful houses, excellent transport connections and a plethora of green spaces on your door stop, Kensington and Chelsea is incredibly sought after, contributing to a higher demand for homes and, therefore, competitive market prices.
Photograph: Shutterstock
Ranking in at the second most expensive place to live is Westminster at £3,244 a month, followed by Camden at £2,877. At spot number 10 sits Merton in southwest London, costing £2,059 a month – which still isn’t exactly a bargain, especially when that often only buys you a glorified shoebox.
Londoners typically spend £2,252 a month on rent – a brutal 60 percent higher than the England-wide average of £1,399. This is down to the capital’s higher costs making it the least affordable city in the UK.
Top 10 most expensive places to rent in the UK right now
- Kensington and Chelsea – £3,601
- Westminster – £3,244
- Camden – £2,788
- Hammersmith and Fulham – £2,759
- Islington – £2,694
- Wandsworth – £2,522
- Haringey – £2,250
- Lambeth – £2,417
- Richmond upon Thames – £2,230
- Merton – £2,059
Interactive map of the UK’s most expensive places to rent
The ONS has made an interactive map showing the cost of rent in every area of the UK. You can explore that below.
Here’s how much it costs to rent in every London borough.
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