Beat London rents: Postcodes where rent is rising slowest
London is infamously an expensive place to rent. While most people have prepared to make that financial sacrifice when they move to the capital, they probably didn’t expect to compete with how quickly average rents are rising.
For context - at the end of 2020, renting a room in the capital would set you back £721, on average. But by the end of 2025, average rent reached £985. In just five years, that’s a rise of almost 40%*.
Naturally, some postcodes have seen more dramatic hikes than others. But they may not be the ones you’d expect. For instance, E2 (Bethnal Green, Haggerston, Cambridge Heath, and parts of Shoreditch), which has typically been popular with younger renters, saw the biggest increase of all. Renting a room in the area now costs an average £1,104 per month, which is a staggering 56% higher than five years ago and is way above the London average. Click here to see which other postcodes made the list of top-10 biggest increases...
But it’s not all bad news.
Rents may be rising, but there are still postcodes in the city where this is happening at a much slower rate. The good news? Out of the top 10 postcodes that saw the slowest rent increases, seven are still under the average rent for a room in London.
These aren’t by any means the cheapest areas to rent a room, but they won’t do as much damage to your wallet. You might be surprised how many of them are pretty damn cool, too.
Chingford (E4) = £768 pcm
Located on the edge of Epping Forest, Chingford is a great place for walking, cycling, and wildlife spotting. You can enjoy the local reservoirs and charming cafés and still be at Liverpool Street in half an hour.
*33 mins to Liverpool Street from Chingford *
South Woodford (E18) = £838 pcm
Neighboring trendy Walthamstow but with the benefit of being on the Central Line, the neighborhood centres around George Lane which features everything from independent shops to large supermarkets, as well as its historic 18th-century pub, The George.
20 mins to Liverpool Street from Snaresbrook
North Finchley (N12) = £839 pcm
A suburb of north London which is extremely well connected to the city centre via the Northern Line and Thames Link. The area is particularly great for arty-types thanks to Artsdepot which includes theatres, dance and drama studios and a gallery.
25 mins to Tottenham Court Road from West Finchley
Muswell Hill (N10) = £874 pcm
Close to Highgate and Hampstead, this area gives the feeling of an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city - ideal for walks, not to mention the incredible views from Alexandra Park.
20 mins to Euston from Muswell Hill
Herne Hill (SE24) = £893 pcm
Often described as feeling ‘like a village’, Herne Hill is filled with independent shops, cafes and breweries. It also borders zone 2 and 3, making it just a 12 minute train to Blackfriars.
11 mins to Victoria from Denmark Hill
Mortlake (SW14) = £897 pcm
While only connected by mainline trains, Mortlake is undeniably beautiful, featuring plenty of traditional English landscapes and architecture. Enjoy the riverside pubs, dining spots, and great connections to Richmond Park and Kew Gardens.
23 mins to Waterloo from Mortlake
Camberwell (SE5) = £904 pcm
Named one of Time Out’s 2025 coolest neighborhoods in the world, the area oozies chicness with an exciting food scene and great nightlife spots, as well as being a hub for arts.
11 mins to Victoria from Denmark Hill