Room rents in London have climbed 37% over five years, rising from £721 per month at the end of 2020 to £985 per month in Q4 2025, according to flatshare site SpareRoom.
Along the way, they briefly broke through £1,000 per month in late 2023 before easing slightly from that peak.
The rises have not been felt equally across the capital. Eight postcodes have seen increases of more than 50% over five years, including two areas once considered relatively affordable, West Norwood (SE27) and Abbey Wood (SE2).
The steepest rise in inner London has been recorded in E2, covering Bethnal Green, Haggerston, Cambridge Heath and parts of Shoreditch, where rents have jumped 56% in five years. In Q4 2020, the average room rent in E2 stood at £706 per month, slightly below the London average of £721. Today, at £1,104 per month, it sits 12% above the capital's average.
At the other end of the spectrum, N12, covering North Finchley and Woodside Park, has seen the most modest increase, with rents rising 22% over the same period.
"Room rents have risen disproportionately all over the capital, but demand for cheaper pockets like West Norwood, most likely spillover from flatsharers priced out of places like Clapham and Streatham, is pushing up rents there," said Matt Hutchinson, director of SpareRoom. "And the Elizabeth Line has had a bearing on above-average rent rises in Abbey Wood."
"It's interesting that some hyper-central, expensive postcodes like the Strand and the West End have seen such steep increases when we usually see rents in cheaper areas rising fastest at times like this. It could be that people with higher incomes are being priced out of renting solo and are sharing more."
"The broader picture in London is that intense demand from mid-2021, after the pandemic, forced rents sky high. Eventually, demand returned to normal but rents haven't reverted. Some marginal falls in recent quarters, and from the record high in 2023 might sound positive, but only meaningful decreases would help people struggling with affordability."
"Today there are only a few London postcodes left with sub-£800 per month rents. It's why we're seeing more flatsharers exploring satellite and commuter towns around the capital. More and more people simply can't afford to rent in inner London, even in shared accommodation."
