London is a diverse and vibrant city of almost nine million people. The city attracts people from all over the country and the world thanks to its cultural heritage and career opportunities. Verified residents on HomeViews have had their say about the best flats to rent in London. Their reviews provide first-hand accounts of what it’s like to live in some of the city’s most desirable locations.
Read on to learn about London’s best rental buildings. The top 10 list contains many of the most desirable yet reasonable rental apartments the capital has to offer.
Flats to Rent in London: 10 best buildings as rated by residents
So, it’s time to reveal the top 10 developments in London for renting flats, according to the reviews of verified residents. Everything from design and facilities, to the management team, services, location and value for money have been considered. Take a look at the list to see the very best purpose-built rental properties that London has to offer. Note that to qualify for this list, the development needs to be an apartment complex with units available to rent.
*PLEASE NOTE these rankings take into account how many reviews a scheme has and how recently those reviews have been submitted, so may not match the overall star ratings shown. Buildings with a larger number of more recent reviews are given a greater weighting to reflect current building performance.
Firing straight to the top of the charts for rental flats in London, Harrow’s The Palm House offers fully-furnished apartments and shared spaces in a highly convenient location just 12-minutes from Euston by train. The development features an on-site co-working space, a gym, a cinema, a café and two panoramic roof terraces, all included in the monthly rent.
The Palm House is a 4-minute walk from Harrow and Wealdstone station. You’re also a 25-minute walk from the quaint Harrow on the Hill, with its cafés, restaurants and independent shops.
Another newcomer to the top 10 rental developments in London, The Sessile is a companion development to Way of Life’s other much vaunted Tottenham Hale development, The Gessner. The development offers studio, one, two and three-bed apartments in the heart of Tottenham Hale. Amenities include a sizeable gym, yoga studio and spaces to work throughout The Sessile to support your working week, evenings and weekends alike. Furthermore, a private dining room and a 24/7 concierge are also available.
The ever-popular Quarters Swiss Cottage has snuck up into 3rd place in recent months. This development accommodates 102 self-contained spacious units for short-term stays. Guests can enjoy a range of services and amenities, including in house maintenance and housekeeping. Similarly, Finchley Road station is less than a minute’s walk away, meaning easy access to transport links. Likewise, there is a great selection of shops, restaurants, bars and outdoor space close by.
Rising back up to 4th in our latest update, long-term letting scheme The Quarters Croydon offers residents a stylish and convenient base in this thriving South London suburb. There are 151 high-specification studios at the development, with Croydon station only a 4-minute walk away. Trains reach London Bridge in just 14 minutes, while Gatwick Airport is also easily accessible.
Occupying the middle spot for London’s top-ranked apartment complexes is Dressage Court. It contains 104 rental-only one, two and three-bedroom apartments offered by Essential Living. The development is located in East London and offers easy access to Bethnal Green’s tube and rail stations, with excellent views towards the City and Canary Wharf. In addition, residents can access a 24-hour on-site team along with shared spaces that are free for all residents to enjoy.
Taking 6th place for rental developments in London is The Gessner. The development in Tottenham Hale offers 164 apartments to rent. These include a mix of studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments. In addition, the development offers a range of amenities, including a gym, smart parcel lockers, free super-fast Wi-Fi and an 24-hour on-site team. Furthermore, residents can enjoy rooftop garden views, cosy lounges and an on-site café.
In 7th, Bloom Nine Elms by Greystar, is a collection of rental apartments located in Zone 1. Each apartment is pet-friendly and offers all the amenities you need for better living. Situated in south west London, Bloom Nine Elms has a collection of studio, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments. Onsite amenities include a 24/7 gym, swimming pools, rooftop terraces, pet spa. Additionally, WFH in a dedicated co-working space or your choice of the resident lounges.
One very happy resident goes so far as to call this development a “Magnificent Oasis”.
Next up we have a perennial favourite in the form of Greystar’s Sailmakers, a Build to Rent scheme comprising 327 units within the mixed-use Galliard Homes development, Harbour Central. The site is situated on the Isle of Dogs, close to the River Thames and less than a 10-minute walk from the heart of Canary Wharf. In addition, transport links come courtesy of nearby South Quay DLR and Canary Wharf’s DLR and Underground services. Residents enjoy fast and frequent connections to the likes of Bank and Monument.
Blackhorse Mills takes 9th place in our list. This popular development overlooking the wilds of Walthamstow wetlands offers a high level of freedom for its residents, including the right to decorate their apartments. The development also allows pets and includes a lido, a roof terrace, a gym, dining rooms and a yoga studio. Central London is just 20 minutes away on the Victoria Line from Blackhorse Road station.
Wrapping up the top 10 for flat rentals in London is Union Wharf from developer Essential Living. It features 249 rental-only apartments on the banks of Deptford Creek near Greenwich’s town centre. Here you’ll find an appealing collection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. In addition, Union Wharf is close to the Cutty Sark DLR station for fast and frequent connections to Canary Wharf.
London’s regions and boroughs provide a wonderful choice of locations and lifestyles, with something to suit every taste and need. South and South-east London has a wide range of communities. There is village-like Dulwich, the major hubs of Croydon and Lewisham and the culturally diverse Brixton and Peckham.
South-west London has upmarket Richmond, Wimbledon and Putney, with their boutique shops and busy high streets. Sought-after west-London locations include Fulham, Chiswick, Kensington and the famously fashionable Notting Hill and Chelsea.
North London’s most desirable areas are within touching distance of central London. They include vibrant Camden, desirable Islington and exclusive Hampstead. East London’s popular communities include Hackney and Dalston, as well as the luxury developments of the Docklands.
One of the world’s finest public transport systems connects the city, making it easy to commute to central London. Each area has its own unique appeal and attractions.
Recently, London has also seen a new property development trend for purpose-built rental buildings, or ‘Build to Rent’. These new buildings are providing fresh options for people looking to settle in the city.
What is Build to Rent?
Build to rent refers to purpose-built housing developments that are made to rent, rather than sell. Developments usually take the form of a newly-built (or newly converted) apartment complex, offering an alternative to the traditional private rental sector.
Build to rent apartments can offer some benefits that traditional rentals don’t often provide. Many developments feature on-site management teams, communal areas and green spaces. Some include perks like health club and spa facilities or concierge services, all included in the rental package.
Build to rent properties can offer the security of longer-term tenancies. Some developments offer tenancy terms of three years or longer.
Short-term tenancies can also be offered, depending on your needs. Choosing a build to rent apartment may mean paying more compared to private rental properties. The package on offer, though, tends to include numerous extras that aren’t available to the private renter.
Rental prices in London
Rental prices in London can differ depending on the area and the type of property. Using London.Gov’s London Rental Map, we have put together the definitive list of London rental prices by borough. The list outlines the most expensive and most affordable boroughs to rent in.
Kensington and Chelsea is the second most expensive London borough, with a two-bedroom apartment costing on average £2,903 per month, with Westminster topping the charts at £2,925. This is according to the London Rental Map linked above, which was updated in July 2023. The most affordable borough for 2023 was Sutton, with a two-bedroom apartment costing an average of £1,250 per month. Havering, Croydon and Bexley also offer affordable choices, with average monthly rent around £1275-£1300. To find out more about the average prices of flats to rent in London, take a look at our guide.
Have any of our top 10 rental apartment complex developments in London caught your eye? If you’re relocating to London and are wondering which areas to consider, head to our dedicated area guides.
You can view some of our Greater London area guide here. Alternatively, our most popular London area guides are below. You can find all our London guides by visiting our homepage, scrolling down to the ‘Explore by area’ section and selecting ‘Greater London’. From there, you can read about life in each of London’s distinctive regions, and find rental opportunities in each area.
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