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The number of London postcodes offering average room rents of less than \u00a3800 has dropped to just five.<\/p>\nThe number of London postcodes offering average room rents of less than \u00a3800 has dropped to just five.<\/p>\n
It is down from 81 postcodes in 2020, according to the latest figures from SpareRoom.<\/p>\n
It is the latest evidence of how cheaper housing in London is disappearing. This trend was once reserved for those looking to secure a place on the property ladder, but has now struck tenants, particular with average room rent costs having soared since the beginning of the pandemic.<\/p>\n
Cheapest room rents<\/p>\n
All five of the capital\u2019s cheaper postcodes are in the North or East.<\/p>\n
The cheapest average room rents can be found in East Ham in E6, Manor Park in E12, Chingford in E4, Upper Edmonton in N18, and Forest Gate in E7.<\/p>\n
The average rent for a room in London, for the first three months of this year, currently stands at \u00a3978.<\/p>\n
It is down 0.5% on the previous year, but is in sharp contrast to the same period in 2020.<\/p>\n
At that point \u2013 just before the pandemic \u2013 London\u2019s average room rent was \u00a3773 a month.<\/p>\n
Post-pandemic demand<\/p>\n
In addition, a much large 81 London postcodes had room rents below \u00a3800, including 50 below \u00a3700 a month.<\/p>\n
London room rents hit a record high of \u00a31,015 a month more than two years ago, at the end of 2023.<\/p>\n
Despite marginal year-on-year decreases throughout 2025 and in the first quarter of 2026, rents in the capital are still way above the ceiling of affordability for many people, after years of upward pressure on rents caused by intense post-pandemic demand, according to SpareRoom<\/a>.<\/p>\n In reality, there\u2019s no such thing as cheap housing in London now.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Matt Hutchinson, Director of SpareRoom, said: \u201cRents in the capital have been flatlining for a while. While this is clearly better than the years of uplifts that came before, it\u2019s hardly a dream scenario.<\/p>\n \u201cYears of intense demand on London\u2019s limited rental stock has inflated prices and made cheap rents all too scarce. Falling demand and slightly increased supply points to more renters being priced out of inner London, which is why we\u2019re still seeing heightened demand in the suburbs and commuter belt.<\/p>\n\n