Single Tenants Sacrifice More Than 50% of Their Monthly Salary on Rent

With wage inflation stagnating below the rate of increased property prices, it has become very difficult to get a firm foothold on the London property ladder. Many people have therefore been forced into the private rental sector; signified by nearly one in three London household’s renting privately.

Despite the tremendous growth for the sector itself, the increased demand has driven up private rental values. Especially in London, where the average rent for a one bedroom property is a substantial £1,329 per month.

Sellhousefast.uk analysed data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), revealing that single tenant’s in 25 of London’s 32 boroughs are sacrificing more than 50% of their monthly salary (after income and council tax deductions) on rent for their one bedroom property.

Single tenants living in a one bedroom property in Kensington and Chelsea are sacrificing an astonishing 85% of their monthly salary on rent – the highest out of all the London boroughs.

Single tenants in Kensington and Chelsea are then closely followed by those in Hackney – who give up 81% of their monthly salary to pay for rent on their one bedroom property. In third place is Westminster, where single tenants use up 79% of their monthly salary to pay rent for their one bedroom property.

Single tenants in Bromley as well as Havering, sacrifice the joint lowest percentage of their monthly salary on renting their one bedroom properties in London at 42%. Redbridge (49%), Merton (49%) Richmond upon Thames (48%) and Bexley (43%) are the other London boroughs where single tenants sacrifice less than 50% of their monthly salary on a one bedroom property.

Sellhousefast.uk asked a couple of single tenants living in a one bedroom property in London about their experience of renting.

Jessica, 26, has been renting a one bedroom property in Southwark for the last two years: ‘I am giving up a lot of my monthly income on renting a one bedroom in Southwark. It’s frustrating but I only tolerate it due to the convenience of living a short distance away from my workplace. It’s ideal as I start early and finish late most days. The biggest benefit is that it eradicates any time that I would lose through commuting if I lived outside the area. A lot of my colleagues are also currently doing the same thing as me. Whilst most are unhappy about giving up such a huge proportion of their salary on rent each month, it’s ok for the short-term. But in the long-run, it isn’t sustainable, as I wouldn’t be able to secure a deposit for a property of my own.’

Chris, 29, has been renting a one bedroom property in Hounslow for the last four-years: ‘Rent in London is truly extortionate. For the past three years, over half my monthly salary has gone on covering rent. On top of that, I have to pay for my food, utilities and travel every month – so I am not left with much to save, let alone enjoy any leisure activities. With me nearing thirty I want to settle down with my partner and this tiny one bedroom flat is certainly not going to suffice for the both of us. We have started to look at bigger properties in Hounslow, as we both work in the area. With rental prices as they are in London, it might be an uphill struggle for us’.

Robby Du Toit, Managing Director of Sell House Fast commented: “Demand has consistently exceeded supply over the last few years, Londoner’s have unfortunately been caught up in a very competitive property market where prices haven’t always reflected fair value. This notion is demonstrated through this research whereby private rental prices in London are certainly overstretching single tenants; to the extent they must sacrifice over half their monthly salary. For those single tenants with ambitions to climb up the property ladder – their intentions are painfully jeopardised, as they can’t set aside a sufficient amount each month to save up for a deposit or explore better alternatives. It’s not only distressing for them but worrying for the property market as a whole – where the ‘generation rent’ notion is truly continuing too spiral further.”

(Source: Sellhousefast)