Flatshare Demand in London Drops as Rents Remain High, Says Spareroom
UK Property News

Flatshare Demand in London Drops as Rents Remain High, Says Spareroom

By Jordan Hale, Senior Lettings Editor · 18 May 2026 · 1 min read

Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Landlord Today. Read the original article for full details. Many UK teams now handle this with dedicated property inventory software.

Flatshare Demand in London Drops as Rents Remain High, Says Spareroom

Demand for flatshares in London has declined, according to new data from the website Spareroom. The number of people searching for rooms to rent in the capital fell by 18% between January 2020 and January 2026, while demand for rooms elsewhere in the UK increased by 11% over the same period.

Spareroom attributes this trend to steep rent increases followed by persistently high rents in London, which appear to have reduced the appeal of flatsharing in the city. The data is based on user activity on the Spareroom platform, including analysis of more than 241 million area search terms entered by site visitors in 2025 compared to the previous year.

For letting agents and inventory clerks, these figures highlight a shift in renter demand away from London and towards other regions of the UK. The ongoing high cost of renting in the capital may continue to impact the flatshare market and influence where tenants are seeking accommodation.


Source: Landlord Today
About the author
Jordan Hale
Senior Lettings Editor

Jordan Hale leads The Property AI's lettings coverage with a focus on UK rental legislation, agent compliance, and the day-to-day pressures facing letting agents. Articles bylined Jordan Hale combine current trade reporting with practical guidance for letting agents and inventory…

Specialises in: Renters' Rights Act, EPC regulations, tenancy deposit schemes, agent licensing, Right to Rent compliance.

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