With almost 43,000 rental properties currently available across the London market, the latest research by London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, has revealed which London boroughs offer tenants the most varied choice of rental properties.
Hillingdon, Havering and Barnet standing out for their availability of different property types, versus other boroughs heavily dominated by a particular kind of property.
Benham and Reeves analysed 42,598 rental properties currently available across London’s 32 boroughs and the City of London, examining both the overall volume of rental stock and the proportion of detached, semi-detached, terraced and flat listings in each location.
Flats dominate London’s available rental stock, accounting for 84.7% of all listings (36,061 properties). However, tenants seeking a house also have options, with 3,692 terraced, 1,723 semi-detached and 1,122 detached properties currently available across the capital.
Westminster accounts for the largest share of London’s rental supply
Westminster accounts for the largest proportion of London’s available rental stock at 11%, followed by Kensington and Chelsea (8.2%), Tower Hamlets (7%), Brent (5.6%) and Barnet (5.1%).
Together, these five boroughs account for more than a third of all rental properties currently available across London.
London’s most balanced rental markets
While some boroughs are heavily dominated by flats, others offer a greater mix of rental accommodation, particularly for tenants seeking houses rather than apartments.
Hillingdon stands out, ranking first for the proportion of semi-detached rental properties (15.5%) and fourth for detached homes (7.6%), while Havering ranks second for both semi-detached (13.5%) and terraced properties (25.3%).
Barnet also offers a strong mix of rental accommodation, accounting for 5.1% of London’s total available rental stock while ranking joint second for the proportion of detached homes (8.3%).
Bexley also features among the top five boroughs for both semi-detached and terraced rental availability, highlighting how the choice of property types can vary considerably across the capital.
Tower Hamlets and Islington lead for flat availability
For tenants specifically seeking a flat, the City of London has the highest proportion of available rental stock made up of flats, at 99.4%.
Tower Hamlets ranks second, with flats accounting for 95.2% of available rental properties, followed by Islington (94.5%), Westminster (93.8%) and Hackney (92.7%).
These locations offer a rental market heavily weighted towards flats, making them particularly relevant for tenants prioritising apartment living.
Kingston and Barnet offer greater choice of detached rental homes
At the other end of the property spectrum, Kingston upon Thames has the highest proportion of detached properties within its available rental stock, at 8.7%.
Barnet and Bromley follow, both at 8.3%, with Hillingdon (7.6%) and Enfield (6.9%) completing the top five.
While detached properties account for just 2.6% of all available rental stock across London, these boroughs offer a considerably greater concentration of detached homes than the capital-wide average.
Hillingdon and Havering stand out for semi-detached homes
For tenants seeking a semi-detached property, Hillingdon leads the way, with this property type accounting for 15.5% of its available rental listings.
Havering ranks second at 13.5%, followed by Hounslow (12.7%), Harrow (12.6%) and Bexley (10.3%).
All five boroughs sit comfortably above the London-wide average of 4%, highlighting the greater relative availability of semi-detached rental homes in these locations.
Barking and Dagenham leads for terraced rental properties
Barking and Dagenham offers the highest proportion of terraced properties within its available rental stock, with 28.9% of listings falling into this category.
Havering ranks second at 25.3%, followed by Redbridge (20.1%), Newham (18.1%) and Bexley (17.1%).
By comparison, terraced properties account for just 8.7% of available rental stock across London as a whole.
Director of Benham and Reeves, Marc von Grundherr, said:“There’s been no shortage of doom and gloom surrounding London’s rental market, particularly as landlords and letting agents adjust to the changes brought about by the Renters’ Rights Act. However, it’s important that we don’t lose sight of the fact that London remains a substantial and diverse rental market, with almost 43,000 properties currently available to tenants across the capital.
Of course, there’s a general perception that renting in London means living in a flat or apartment and, to an extent, that’s understandable. Flats are by far the most common rental property type, with both lifestyle preferences and affordability making them the most accessible option for many tenants.However, renters certainly aren’t restricted to flat living alone, with thousands of houses also available across the capital.
The key is knowing where to look, as the type of rental accommodation on offer varies considerably from one borough to the next. Whether tenants are looking for a flat, a terraced house or a larger family home, an experienced letting agent can help them identify the areas best suited to their needs and budget.”
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