The Cheapest Places to Rent in London 2026
When it comes to renting in London, everyone wants to know: where are the cheapest places to rent in London? Finding a rental in the city can be tough, but it doesn’t have to be. Some boroughs and postcodes offer more affordable options than others.
If you’re thinking about renting in the UK’s capital, be sure to check out our top 10 most affordable areas to rent in London!
Cheapest areas to rent in London
London remains the most expensive UK region for private renting, with the average monthly private rent reaching £2,332 in August 2026.
Using the latest ONS Price Index of Private Rents data for August 2026, we’ve compared average monthly rents across London boroughs to find some of the most affordable places to rent.
The top 10 cheapest boroughs to rent in London are:
- Bexley – £1,537
- Sutton – £1,556
- Havering – £1,565
- Hillingdon – £1,570
- Croydon – £1,582
- Bromley – £1,684
- Barking and Dagenham – £1,698
- Redbridge – £1,726
- Waltham Forest – £1,763
- Harrow – £1,778
These figures look at average private rents across all property types. The cost of an individual home will vary depending on its size, location, condition and other factors.
Rent is also only one part of the cost of living in London. You’ll need to factor in council tax, utilities, food, transport and other everyday expenses, which can vary considerably depending on your household and lifestyle.
The median monthly pay for UK employees was approximately £2,657 in August 2026, according to the latest ONS PAYE Real Time Information.
One way of measuring rental affordability is to compare rent with gross household income. The ONS considers rent affordable where it is equivalent to 30% or less of gross household income, although there is no universally accepted affordability threshold.
Which part of London has the cheapest rent?
Outer London boroughs tend to offer more affordable rental options than many central locations.
Bexley, Sutton, Havering and Hillingdon are currently among the cheapest boroughs based on average private rents, although rental prices can vary significantly between neighbourhoods and property types.
Cheapest boroughs to rent in London
Here, we’re taking a closer look at the 10 most affordable boroughs on our list, including average rents, transport links and what each area has to offer.
Rental figures are based on August 2026 ONS Price Index of Private Rents data, published in September 2026.
1. Bexley – £1,537 average monthly rent
Bexley offers a suburban feel in south-east London, with plenty of green space and good rail links into the capital. Popular local attractions include Danson Park, Hall Place and Gardens and the Red House.
From Bexleyheath, rail journeys into central London typically take around 30–50 minutes depending on the service and destination.
Average monthly rents are around: One bedroom: £1,229, Two bedrooms: £1,526, Three bedrooms: £1,865, Four or more bedrooms: £2,424.
2. Sutton – £1,556 average monthly rent
Sutton offers a more suburban lifestyle, with plenty of parks, residential neighbourhoods and a mixture of new-build, traditional and period homes.
The borough is around 10 miles from central London, with rail services from Sutton providing connections towards Victoria, London Bridge and other central destinations.
Average monthly rents are around: One bedroom: £1,239, Two bedrooms: £1,554, Three bedrooms: £1,899, Four or more bedrooms: £2,492.
3. Havering – £1,565 average monthly rent
Havering sits on the eastern edge of London and offers a more suburban environment, with green spaces including Havering Country Park.
Romford is one of the borough’s main centres, offering shopping, restaurants and the historic Romford Market. The Elizabeth line also provides direct connections towards central London.
Average monthly rents are around: One bedroom: £1,217, Two bedrooms: £1,542, Three bedrooms: £1,847, Four or more bedrooms: £2,496.
4. Hillingdon – £1,570 average monthly rent
Located in west London, Hillingdon includes areas such as Uxbridge, Hayes and Ruislip.
Local attractions include Ruislip Lido and its surrounding woodland, while Uxbridge offers shopping, restaurants and transport links into central London.
The borough is served by several Underground and rail routes, including the Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines and Elizabeth line services from parts of the borough.
Average monthly rents are around: One bedroom: £1,252, Two bedrooms: £1,586, Three bedrooms: £1,913, Four or more bedrooms: £2,634.
5. Croydon – £1,582 average monthly rent
Croydon combines relatively affordable rents with strong transport connections into central London.
Fast rail services operate from East Croydon to destinations including London Bridge and Victoria, while the borough also has its own tram network.
Croydon offers a wide range of housing, from period homes to modern apartment developments.
Average monthly rents are around: One bedroom: £1,265, Two bedrooms: £1,573, Three bedrooms: £1,858, Four or more bedrooms: £2,667.
6. Bromley – £1,684 average monthly rent
Bromley is one of London’s largest boroughs and offers plenty of open space alongside busy town centres.
Crystal Palace Park is one of the area’s best-known attractions, while Bromley town centre offers shopping, restaurants and the Churchill Theatre.
Fast trains from Bromley South provide connections into central London.
Average monthly rents are around: One bedroom: £1,312, Two bedrooms: £1,641, Three bedrooms: £1,990, Four or more bedrooms: £2,926.
7. Barking and Dagenham – £1,698 average monthly rent
Barking and Dagenham has seen significant regeneration and new housing development in recent years.
The borough offers a mixture of established residential neighbourhoods and newer developments, with transport connections including Underground, Overground and National Rail services.
Historic attractions include the remains of Barking Abbey, while redevelopment around Barking town centre and Barking Riverside continues to change the area.
Average monthly rents are around: One bedroom: £1,377, Two bedrooms: £1,721, Three bedrooms: £1,899, Four or more bedrooms: £2,519.
8. Redbridge – £1,726 average monthly rent
Redbridge offers a mixture of suburban neighbourhoods, parks and good transport connections.
Valentines Park is one of the borough’s largest green spaces, while Ilford offers shops and restaurants.
Elizabeth line services from Ilford provide fast connections towards central London.
Average monthly rents are around: One bedroom: £1,368, Two bedrooms: £1,681, Three bedrooms: £1,981, Four or more bedrooms: £2,711.
9. Waltham Forest – £1,763 average monthly rent
Waltham Forest offers a mix of green space and city living, with Walthamstow Wetlands and Epping Forest both providing easy access to the outdoors.
Areas such as Walthamstow have developed a strong independent food, arts and retail scene.
The Victoria line provides fast connections from Walthamstow Central into central London.
Average monthly rents are around: One bedroom: £1,400, Two bedrooms: £1,723, Three bedrooms: £2,023, Four or more bedrooms: £2,565.
10. Harrow – £1,778 average monthly rent
Harrow is a popular option for renters looking for a more suburban environment while maintaining convenient links into central London.
Harrow-on-the-Hill is known for its historic character, while the wider borough offers residential neighbourhoods, parks and local shopping areas.
Metropolitan line and National Rail services provide connections into central London.
Average monthly rents are around: One bedroom: £1,394, Two bedrooms: £1,715, Three bedrooms: £2,064, Four or more bedrooms: £2,789.
London rental places that just missed our top 10
These boroughs sit just outside our top 10 based on average private rents, but may still be worth considering depending on your budget, transport needs and preferred location.
11. Kingston upon Thames – £1,811 average monthly rent
Kingston upon Thames combines riverside living with a busy town centre, shops, restaurants and cultural attractions such as the Rose Theatre.
The borough also benefits from access to nearby green spaces including Richmond Park and Bushy Park.
Kingston station offers direct South Western Railway services into London Waterloo.
Average monthly rents are around: One bedroom: £1,379, Two bedrooms: £1,755, Three bedrooms: £2,154, Four or more bedrooms: £2,836.
12. Enfield – £1,827 average monthly rent
Enfield offers a mixture of suburban neighbourhoods, parks and open countryside on the northern edge of London. Local attractions include Forty Hall Estate, while rail services connect areas including Enfield Town with central London.
Average monthly rents are around: One bedroom: £1,422, Two bedrooms: £1,764, Three bedrooms: £2,098, Four or more bedrooms: £2,807.
13. Lewisham – £1,829 average monthly rent
Lewisham is a diverse south-east London borough with a mixture of residential neighbourhoods and busy urban centres. Transport links include National Rail and DLR services, while nearby attractions include Greenwich Park and Blackheath.
Average monthly rents are around: One bedroom: £1,457, Two bedrooms: £1,789, Three bedrooms: £2,057, Four or more bedrooms: £2,714.
14. Newham – £1,928 average monthly rent
Newham includes Stratford and the Royal Docks and has undergone extensive regeneration in recent years.
Westfield Stratford City, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and ExCeL London are among the borough’s major attractions.
Transport connections are extensive, with Stratford offering Central and Jubilee line, Elizabeth line, DLR, Overground and National Rail services.
Average monthly rents are around: One bedroom: £1,630, Two bedrooms: £1,993, Three bedrooms: £2,212, Four or more bedrooms: £2,672.
15. Hounslow – £1,952 average monthly rent
Hounslow offers a mixture of residential areas, green spaces and convenient access to Heathrow Airport.
Local attractions include Hounslow Heath and nearby Osterley Park, while Piccadilly line services provide links towards central London.
Average monthly rents are around: One bedroom: £1,583, Two bedrooms: £1,947, Three bedrooms: £2,241, Four or more bedrooms: £3,076.
How to get an affordable apartment in London?
There are several ways to approach finding a more affordable rental in London.
Online property portals and local letting agents can help you compare available homes across different areas.
You could also consider options such as HMOs and co-living, where sharing facilities may reduce individual housing costs. When looking at new developments, it can also be worth checking whether introductory offers or incentives are available.
Build to Rent developments are another option. These purpose-built rental developments often include additional facilities such as shared lounges, gyms or workspaces, although rents and amenities vary considerably between schemes.
Where are Londoners moving to escape high rents?
Renting outside London can often be cheaper, so commuters may choose to look at nearby commuter towns and cities to find more space or lower housing costs.
Places such as Luton, Slough and Basildon may be worth considering depending on your commuting needs and budget.
Further afield, locations such as Hull, Bradford and Stoke-on-Trent generally have considerably lower housing costs than London, although moving further from the capital may also mean changing where and how you work.
You can explore more options in our guide to places near London for commuters.
Affordable places to rent in London
Finding a more affordable place to rent in London is possible, but it usually means comparing different boroughs, property sizes and transport options carefully.
Outer London boroughs such as Bexley, Sutton, Havering and Hillingdon currently offer some of the lowest average private rents in the capital.
It’s also worth looking beyond the headline rent. Council tax, commuting costs, energy bills and other household expenses can all affect how affordable a property is overall.
If you’re eligible, you may also want to understand schemes such as London Living Rent, which is designed to help some Londoners save towards homeownership while paying a discounted rent.
Source: ONS – Private rent and house prices, UK: September 2026. Rental figures relate to August 2026 and may be revised as further data becomes available.
Last Updated: October 6th, 2026
