Cheapest areas to rent in London (2025/26): full ranking
Havering is the cheapest borough to rent in London, at £1,550, 24% below the city average. At the other end, Kensington and Chelsea costs £3,563. Below is every borough, cheapest first, with what a typical flat costs.
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The five cheapest, up close
1. Havering · £1,550
London's easternmost borough, with Romford's shopping centre and leafy Hornchurch and Upminster. Often the cheapest London borough to rent, with lots of green belt.
Good for: Families wanting houses and gardens on a budget. Watch out for: Long commute to central London.
2. Sutton · £1,575
Outer south London borough of suburban streets around Sutton town centre, known for good state grammar schools.
Good for: Families on a budget; schools and quiet streets. Watch out for: No Tube; long trips to central London.
3. Croydon · £1,593
South London's biggest town, with an office and shopping centre around East and West Croydon, trams and many suburban streets. Among the cheapest London boroughs to rent.
Good for: Fast trains to Victoria and London Bridge for less rent. Watch out for: Town centre under regeneration; no Tube.
4. Bexley · £1,600
Suburban south-east London on the Kent border: semi-detached streets, parks and town centres like Bexleyheath and Sidcup. Abbey Wood has the Elizabeth line.
Good for: Houses with gardens at lower London rents. Watch out for: No Tube; rail and the Elizabeth line only at Abbey Wood.
5. Bromley · £1,650
London's largest borough by area, much of it green belt: leafy suburbs like Beckenham and Chislehurst, Bromley town centre and countryside towards Kent.
Good for: Families wanting space, parks and good schools. Watch out for: Most of the borough relies on rail and buses; no Tube.
All areas, cheapest first
| # | Borough | Rent £/month (2-bed) | vs. average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Havering | £1,550 | −24% |
| 2 | Sutton | £1,575 | −23% |
| 3 | Croydon | £1,593 | −22% |
| 4 | Bexley | £1,600 | −21% |
| 5 | Bromley | £1,650 | −19% |
| 6 | Hillingdon | £1,650 | −19% |
| 7 | Barking and Dagenham | £1,700 | −17% |
| 8 | Kingston upon Thames | £1,700 | −17% |
| 9 | Redbridge | £1,700 | −17% |
| 10 | Waltham Forest | £1,700 | −17% |
| 11 | Enfield | £1,720 | −16% |
| 12 | Harrow | £1,750 | −14% |
| 13 | Barnet | £1,800 | −12% |
| 14 | Lewisham | £1,800 | −12% |
| 15 | Merton | £1,800 | −12% |
| 16 | Hounslow | £1,850 | −9% |
| 17 | Greenwich | £1,900 | −7% |
| 18 | Ealing | £1,902 | −7% |
| 19 | Haringey | £1,950 | −4% |
| 20 | Brent | £2,000 | −2% |
| 21 | Newham | £2,000 | −2% |
| 22 | Richmond upon Thames | £2,188 | +7% |
| 23 | Lambeth | £2,250 | +11% |
| 24 | Southwark | £2,250 | +11% |
| 25 | Hammersmith and Fulham | £2,280 | +12% |
| 26 | Tower Hamlets | £2,300 | +13% |
| 27 | Wandsworth | £2,350 | +15% |
| 28 | Hackney | £2,400 | +18% |
| 29 | Camden | £2,650 | +30% |
| 30 | Islington | £2,650 | +30% |
| 31 | City of London | £3,100 | +52% |
| 32 | Westminster | £3,300 | +62% |
| 33 | Kensington and Chelsea | £3,563 | +75% |
These are official figures for rents tenants actually pay. New listings usually ask more, especially in popular areas. Source: ONS – Private rental market in London, April 2025 to March 2026 (2025/26).