London’s housing market shows a sharp imbalance between homes for sale and those available to rent, with some boroughs offering far fewer rental options than others.

Demand for two and three-bedroom homes is outpacing smaller properties in six regional markets, reflecting renters staying in the sector for longer.

London renters now spend 49.5% of their income on rent, down from around 50% in 2024, according to newly released market data from Benham and Reeves.

Scotland records 64.5% of listings open for instant occupation.

Wage growth of 4.7% is forecast for 2026, outpacing the projected 2.9% increase in house prices and continuing the trend of improving affordability.

The price of a typical UK home during Q2 2025 reached £305,680, according to data from Benham and Reeves, up 0.7% from Q1.

The average London houseboat costs £245,371 — 56.7% less than a traditional home.

The UK property market as a whole saw a 3% annual rate of growth during 2024, whilst London house prices increased by 0.9% year on year.

Data shows that average rents climbed across the capital by 4.3% per month over the last year.

The number of properties purchased and held by foreign buyers increased by 2.6% last year, according to figures obtained by Benham and Reeves.