Guides for London renters

Plain-English help with the rent: what to pay, how to check it, how to negotiate, and your rights under the 2026 rules. Each guide links to its official sources.

• How much rent should I pay in London? (2026)

  Average London rents by bedrooms and borough, how much of your pay should go on rent, what agents check, and the real monthly cost once bills and council tax are added.

• Is my rent fair? How to check a London rent

  How to tell if a London rent is fair: compare like for like, why borough averages mislead, what adds or takes away value, and the red flags to look for.

• How to negotiate rent in London (2026 rules)

  How to negotiate a lower rent on a new London flat, or a smaller rent increase, under the 2026 rules — including the ban on bidding wars and what you can and can't offer.

• How to challenge a rent increase in England (2026 rules)

  Your landlord wants to raise the rent? How Section 13 rent increases work from 1 May 2026, how to check your notice, how to negotiate, and how to apply to the rent tribunal.

• The Renters' Rights Act 2026: what changed for renters

  What the Renters' Rights Act changed for private renters in England from 1 May 2026: no more section 21, rolling tenancies, no bidding wars, one month's rent in advance and more.

• Wandsworth council tax rise 2027: what it means for renters

  Wandsworth plans to raise council tax by 94% from April 2027 — about £958 a year for Band D. What's proposed, how much more each band would pay, and what it means if you rent.

• Average rents in every London borough

  Official figures by bedrooms and property type, plus council tax, for all 32 boroughs.