Average rent in Lewisham
The average private rent in Lewisham was £1,832 a month in September 2026, +2.1% on a year earlier. A two-bedroom home costs £1,793, 39% above the UK average of £1,287 and 20% below the average for London. It is the 13th cheapest of 32 areas in London. Over the past year, 3 bed homes rose fastest (+2.5%).
Rent by number of bedrooms
Average monthly private rent (pcm).
Salary needed to rent in Lewisham
Two common tests: rent at no more than 30% of gross income, and the letting-agent referencing check of an annual income at least 30× the monthly rent.
| Home | Rent (pcm) | Salary for 30% rule | Agent check (30× rent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | £1,459 | £58,360 | £43,770 |
| 2 bedrooms | £1,793 | £71,720 | £53,790 |
The median full-time salary for Lewisham residents is £45,702 (2025, £23.49 an hour). A one-bedroom at the average rent takes 38% of that before tax, above the 30% guideline.
Renting vs buying in Lewisham
How rents in Lewisham have changed
Average rent is +38.2% since 2016.
| Year | Average rent | 2 bed |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | £1,832 | £1,793 |
| 2025 | £1,796 | £1,757 |
| 2024 | £1,696 | £1,656 |
| 2023 | £1,555 | £1,519 |
| 2022 | £1,446 | £1,415 |
| 2021 | £1,423 | £1,395 |
| 2020 | £1,389 | £1,363 |
| 2019 | £1,352 | £1,330 |
| 2018 | £1,360 | £1,342 |
| 2017 | £1,365 | £1,349 |
| 2016 | £1,326 | £1,313 |
Areas with similar rents
| # | Area | Region | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | Change (12m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enfield | London | £1,426 | £1,770 | £2,106 | +5.4% |
| 2 | Kingston upon Thames | London | £1,386 | £1,765 | £2,167 | -0.5% |
| 3 | Waltham Forest | London | £1,407 | £1,732 | £2,035 | +2.4% |
| 4 | Barnet | London | £1,502 | £1,862 | £2,261 | +2.9% |
| 5 | Barking and Dagenham | London | £1,378 | £1,723 | £1,902 | +2.5% |
| 6 | Harrow | London | £1,395 | £1,718 | £2,069 | +2.8% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Lewisham?
The average private rent in Lewisham was £1,832 a month in September 2026, up 2.1% on a year earlier. A one-bedroom averaged £1,459 and a two-bedroom £1,793 (ONS Price Index of Private Rents).
What salary do you need to rent in Lewisham?
To keep a £1,459 one-bedroom rent within 30% of gross income you need about £58,360 a year. Letting agents usually ask for an annual income of 30 times the monthly rent, which is £43,770. The median full-time salary for residents is £45,702.
Is Lewisham expensive to rent compared with the rest of the UK?
A two-bedroom in Lewisham costs £1,793 a month, 39% above the UK average of £1,287. It ranks 263 of 282 larger UK areas from cheapest to most expensive.
Rents: ONS Price Index of Private Rents (September 2026), average of new and existing private tenancies — official statistics in development. House prices: HM Land Registry UK House Price Index. Pay: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, median gross pay of full-time employees by place of residence. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. See our methodology.