Flats to Rent in London: Top 10 buildings ranked

Some of the best rental flats in London at the Sailmakers development

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.

Flats to Rent in London: 10 best buildings as rated by residents

So, it’s time to reveal the top 10 rental buildings in London, 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.

1. The Palm House, HA3

urbanbubble, Folk Co-living
4.84 (46 reviews) 4.84 (46 reviews)
Area guide to North West London
Image of The Palm House, HA3

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.

Read reviews and details of The Palm House, HA3

2. The Sessile, N17

Way of Life
4.81 (19 reviews) 4.81 (19 reviews)
Area guide to Borough of Haringey
Image of The Sessile, N17

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.

Read reviews and details of The Sessile, N17

3. The Quarters Croydon, CR0

The Quarters by Bravo
4.76 (134 reviews) 4.76 (134 reviews)
Area guide to Croydon
Image of The Quarters Croydon, CR0

Rising back up the top 10 at 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.

Read reviews and details of The Quarters Croydon, CR0

4. The Gessner, N17

Way of Life
4.74 (79 reviews) 4.74 (79 reviews)
Area guide to Borough of Haringey
Image of The Gessner, N17

Taking fourth 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.

Read reviews and details of The Gessner, N17

5. The Quarters Swiss Cottage, NW3

The Quarters by Bravo
4.78 (87 reviews) 4.78 (87 reviews)
Area guide to Borough of Camden
Image of The Quarters Swiss Cottage, NW3
The Quarters Swiss Cottage 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 […] Read reviews and details of The Quarters Swiss Cottage, NW3

6. Dressage Court, E2

Essential Living
4.73 (143 reviews) 4.73 (143 reviews)
Area guide to Borough of Tower Hamlets
Image of Dressage Court, E2

There are 104 rental-only one, two and three-bedroom apartments at Dressage Court, a development by Essential Living which occupies second place in our London rental ranking. The development is located in East London. It offers easy access to Bethnal Green’s tube and rail stations, with 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.

Read reviews and details of Dressage Court, E2

7. The Lark, SW11

Allsop Letting and Management
4.56 (58 reviews) 4.56 (58 reviews)
Area guide to Nine Elms
Image of The Lark, SW11

A relative newcomer to London’s top 10 rental developments, The Lark is an Allsop Lettings and Management development situated in Nine Elms. Residents benefit from Nine Elms Park on their doorstep and a car-free pathway between Battersea Power Station and Vauxhall Cross. Additionally, Battersea Power Station is just a 5-minute walk away, and Vauxhall Station is 15 minutes away. Furthermore, the Lark offers a co-working space, a residents’ lounge, on-site parking, an on-site gym and pet friendly living spaces.

Read reviews and details of The Lark, SW11

8. Blackhorse Mills, E17

Legal & General, urbanbubble
4.64 (231 reviews) 4.64 (231 reviews)
Area guide to Walthamstow
Image of Blackhorse Mills, E17

Blackhorse Mills takes eighth 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.

Read reviews and details of Blackhorse Mills, E17

9. be:here Hayes, UB3

be:here, Apo
4.66 (179 reviews) 4.66 (179 reviews)
Area guide to Hayes
Image of be:here Hayes, UB3
be:here Hayes is a residential development comprising of 119 one, two and three-bedroom apartments. It offers commercial units including restaurants, leisure amenities and a music venue. In addition, the development is close to Hayes & Harlington station, the M4, M25 and Heathrow Airport. Read reviews and details of be:here Hayes, UB3

10. Sailmakers, E14

Greystar
4.65 (158 reviews) 4.65 (158 reviews)
Area guide to Canary Wharf
Image of Sailmakers, E14

Finally we have 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.

Read reviews and details of Sailmakers, E14

Renting in London

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.

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What is Build to Rent?

Build to rent refers to purpose-built housing developments that are made to rent, rather than sell. Developments are usually newly-built (or newly converted) apartment blocks, 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 most expensive London borough, with a two-bedroom apartment costing on average £2,817 per month, with Westminster a close second at £2,770. This is according to the London Rental Map linked above, which was updated in April 2023. The most affordable borough for 2023 is Sutton, with a two-bedroom apartment costing an average of £1,200 per month. Havering, Croydon and Bexley also offer affordable choices, with average monthly rent of £1,225, £1,250 and £1,250 respectively. 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 buildings 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.

South West London

South West London
There’s been a huge resurgence in South West London’s property scene of late, namely because this is an area of the capital with so much potential. The term ‘something for everyone’ is thrown around wildly, but in South West London’s case it’s actually justified. Read more about South West London

South East London

South East London
South East London stretches from SE1 down to SE20, encompassing the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark. Such a huge slice of the capital naturally has lots of different guises and offerings; from out-of-this-world dining scenes to riverside living and everything Read more about South East London

South London

South London
For a long time, many of South London’s neighbourhoods had something of a bad name. But, this part of the capital has been heavily regenerated in recent years, and now has something for all backgrounds and budgets. It’s got transport links to write home Read more about South London

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HomeViews provides verified resident reviews of the UK’s housing developments. We’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to recognise high performers and help improve standards in the built environment.

written by

Jan Moys

A residential property expert with over 15 years’ experience creating content... Read all

A residential property expert with ov... Read all