UK Property Market Monthly April 2026
The UK housing market entered spring 2026 showing mild resilience rather than momentum.
Read More...
How Have Rents Changed in Your Area This Year?
While London's overall rent growth has been moderating, there are significant differences between areas. Here we look at the latest data for the key neighbourhoods where Japanese expatriates tend to live.
London Rental Market: The Bigger Picture
The London-wide average rent stands at £2,253 per month as of January 2026, up just +1.1% year-on-year. This is a significant slowdown from the sharp annual increases of 9–11%+ seen between 2022 and 2024 (ONS). The market is now in a period of stabilisation, and the area-by-area figures below are best read with this context in mind.
Rental Data by Area (2025–2026)
| London Average (all areas) | £2,253 / month | 1.1% year-on-year |
| Area | Profile | Avg. Rent (pcm) | YoY Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West — Ealing | Near Japanese school & shops Popular with families | £2,051 | +1.4% | Near London avg. Room to negotiate |
| North — Barnet | Finchley area Excellent local primary schools | £1,923 | +6.3% | ~6x London avg. growth rate |
| South West — Richmond | Incl. Wimbledon area Popular with expat families | £2,254 | +5.2% | High competition for quality homes |
| North West — St John's Wood / Swiss Cottage | Near Japanese School in London Camden borough (Nov 2025) | £2,743 | +2.3% | Strong demand from Japanese families |
| East — Tower Hamlets | Canary Wharf area Suited to singles & couples | £2,389 | +2.1% | Steady market |
エリア別 最新家賃データ（2025–2026）
London Average (all areas)
- Avg. Rent (pcm):
- £2,253 / month
- Year-on-year Change:
1.1%
West - Ealing
Near Japanese school & shops Popular with families
- Avg. Rent (pcm):
- £2,051
- Year-on-year Change:
+1.4%
Near London avg. Room to negotiate
North — Barnet
Finchley area Excellent local primary schools
- Avg. Rent (pcm):
- £1,923
- Year-on-year Change:
+6.3%
~6x London avg. growth rate
South West — Richmond
Incl. Wimbledon area Popular with expat families
- Avg. Rent (pcm):
- £2,254
- Year-on-year Change:
+5.2%
High competition for quality homes
North West — St John's Wood / Swiss Cottage
Near Japanese School in London Camden borough (Nov 2025)
- Avg. Rent (pcm):
- £2,743
- Year-on-year Change:
+2.3%
Strong demand from Japanese families
East — Tower Hamlets
Canary Wharf area Suited to singles & couples
- Avg. Rent (pcm):
- £2,389
- Year-on-year Change:
+2.1%
Steady market
Area Notes
- North — Barnet / Finchley:
- At +6.3%, Barnet is rising at approximately six times the London average. While rents at £1,923 remain below the London average, the pace of increase is fast. Tenants approaching renewal should be prepared for a potentially significant uplift. The area is well known for its high-quality local primary schools, making it particularly popular with families.
- South West — Richmond upon Thames:
- Rents are up +5.2% year-on-year. Including the Wimbledon area, this remains a firm favourite with Japanese expat families. Demand for quality family homes is strong and competition for available properties remains fierce.
- North West — St John's Wood / Swiss Cottage:
- Located close to the Japanese School in London, this area has long been a firm favourite with Japanese expat families. The latest available data for Camden borough (November 2025, ONS) shows an average rent of £2,743, up +2.3% year-on-year. Note: January 2026 figures for Camden borough have not yet been published by ONS.
- West — Ealing:
- At +1.4%, rent growth is broadly in line with the London average. With strong transport links via the Elizabeth line and proximity to the Japanese community, this area offers relatively good negotiating opportunities for tenants. Compared with the 2022–2024 surge, the market here is now very settled.
- East — Tower Hamlets / Canary Wharf:
- Growth of +2.1% reflects a stable market. Well-suited to singles and couples, this area continues to attract those working near Bank and Liverpool Street stations.
Figures are averages across all property sizes regardless of number of bedrooms.
2026 Rental Market Outlook
Average advertised rents are forecast to rise by a further 2% in 2026. The balance between supply and demand has improved significantly, and competition among tenants is less intense than in recent years. However, a chronic shortage of rental homes continues to put upward pressure on rents.
Changes to Tenancy Law
Important reforms to tenancy agreements, renewals and terminations are currently being introduced in stages. The Renters' Rights Act is already beginning to affect day-to-day rental practice, and some approaches that were previously standard may no longer apply.
For further information, please see our article on this topic or contact us directly.
Questions About Your Tenancy or Looking for a New Home?
Kens Estate offers bilingual Japanese-English support across all aspects of renting in London.
020 4506 0270 | 218 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5QP | kensestate.com
Sources
ONS Price Index of Private Rents — Housing prices in your area
- Ealing (January 2026): ons.gov.uk/visualisations/housingpriceslocal/E09000009/
- Barnet (January 2026): ons.gov.uk/visualisations/housingpriceslocal/E09000003/
- Richmond upon Thames (January 2026): ons.gov.uk/visualisations/housingpriceslocal/E09000027/
- Tower Hamlets (January 2026): ons.gov.uk/visualisations/housingpriceslocal/E09000030/
- Camden / St John's Wood & Swiss Cottage (November 2025): ons.gov.uk/visualisations/housingpriceslocal/E09000007/
- Market forecast: Rightmove Rental Trends Tracker (January 2026): rightmove.co.uk/press-centre/average-rents-rise-by-2-in-2025-predicted-to-rise-by-further-2-in-2026/