Looking to rent a two-bedroom flat in London? You’re in good company.
‘Two-bedroom flat’ is the most commonly searched-for property type on Zoopla by those looking to rent in the capital.
So what else is important?
Almost two-thirds (63%) of London renters say budget is their top priority according to a Zoopla survey, while 24% prefer to fix on location first.
We’ve combined this insight with a raft of Zoopla data on London rental costs to show which pockets of the capital your earnings might stretch to.
To assess the maximum rent, we’ve used a universally-acknowledged calculation of 35% of gross household income – that’s your income plus that of whoever will be renting with you.
It’s comparative with the calculations that landlords and lettings agents run on you when assessing whether you can afford to rent.
Household income: £35,000
Maximum rent: £1,020 Top affordable post code: D8, Bexley
Rental prices for two-bedroom homes start in the borough of Bexley, south east London, at £1,023 a month, according to Zoopla data.
This requires a minimum £35,000 income – just a whisker above the average £34,300 London wage.
Remember though, if there’s more than one of you moving in, it’s the household income that’s key.
Erith, which has undergone significant regeneration in the last 20 years – including new flats on the banks of the River Thames – falls under the D8 post code.
Frequent trains run from Erith station direct into the City’s Cannon Street in less than 40 minutes.
Where else could you rent?if you have your heart set on a two-bed, Bexley really could be the only option, although it's worth having a snoop around Thamesmead, Sutton and Redbridgeto try and snag a bargain.
Household income: £40,000
Maximum rent: £1,166 Top affordable post code: RM12, Havering
On a £40,000 income, RM12 becomes your best bet.
Hornchurch, which sits east of London in Essex, falls under this post code, where average two-bedroom rents are exactly £1,166 - at the ceiling of your affordability.
As well as a central shopping area, Hornchurch has its own country park, theatre and Tube station (at the end of the District Line).
Where else could you rent? For this outlay, you'restill quite restricted for options and will need to look towards the South and South East in areas such as Bromley, Croydon and Woolwich.
Household income: £50,000
Maximum rent: £1,548 Top affordable post code: NW10, Brent
With a salary of £50,000 and subsequent rental affordability of £1,548, your choices start to widen.
Top of your budget will be north-west London’s Willesden Green where an average two-bedroom rental home costs £1,454 a calendar month.
The north-westerly London spot near Kilburn, sits on the boundaries of zones 2 and 3 and is serviced by the Jubilee and Metropolitan underground lines.
Where else could you rent?Earning an extra £10,000 really is a game-changer. East Dulwich, Herne Hill, Tooting and Wimbledon in south London are now within scope, as are Blackheath to the east and Clapton, Tottenham and Muswell Hill to the north of the city. For those looking west, West Ealing is well within budget too.
Household income: £60,000
Maximum rent: £1,750 Top affordable post code: SW8, Wandsworth
Making full use of your rental budget on a £60,000 income, means looking in SW8 where two-bedroom rental homes cost an average of £1,747.
South Lambeth and Nine Elms account for the majority of the SW8 post code – the latter having been totally transformed in recent years with homebuilding and regeneration.
SW8 is flanked by sought-after Battersea, with its large park on the south bank of the Thames, and Vauxhall which offers speedy Tube links into central London on the Victoria Line.
Where else could you rent?Leafy Chiswick is an alternative option for this budget, with the whole of travel zone 3 opening up to you along with the likes of Putney and Highgate. If you want to be more central, you can now look towards Rotherhithe and Bethnal Green.
Household income: £70,000
Maximum rent: £2,041Top affordable post code: SW6, Hammersmith and Fulham
A SW6 post code falls into your financial grasp when your income hits £70,000 – which means you can start looking in some parts of Fulham in the south west.
Original home of the ‘London Sloane’, the area is historically well-heeled but still draws a young party crowd to the bars of Fulham Broadway.
The Tube station sits in zone 2 on the Wimbledon branch of the District line.
While average rents in SW6 are £1,747, expect some pockets of this affluent suburb to be much more costly.
Where else can you rent?You really are spoilt for choice for two-bed flats now, with Balham and Clapham to the south, or Highbury or Hackney to the north. Or, if you're a sports lover and want to try something a little different, then how about the Olympic Park in Stratford?
Household income: £80,000
Maximum rent: £2,333Top affordable post code: EC1A, City of London
Two-bedroom rental homes in the City start to open their doors to renters with salaries of £80,000 or more.
The EC1A post code, where average two-bedroom rental costs stand at £2,311 a month, includes both Farringdon and Barbican.
Both are relatively quiet spots yet brim with history and cultural attractions such as museums and theatres.
Where else can you rent?At this price-point it becomes less about where you can rent and more about being discerning over the quality of the property. Area such as Barnes and Maida Hill are available, and more salubrious two-bed homes in St John's Wood or Hampstead could be yours too.
Household income: £90,000
Maximum rent: £2,625Top affordable post code: SW5, Kensington and Chelsea
With the average two-bedroom rental home costing £2,622, London’s SW5 will be at the pinnacle of your rental affordability if you earn £90,000.
Leafy Earl’s Court is the main contender in this west London post code. But with affluent Kensington and Chelsea on your doorstep, expect some rents for two-bedroom homes to be much higher.
Earl’s Court Tube station is serviced by both the District and Piccadilly lines. The latter will deliver you into the heart of the West End in 14 minutes.
**Where else can you rent?**All the central boroughs are now affordable on this type of income, so how about including West Brompton or Notting Hill in your search?
Household income: £100,000
Maximum rent: £2,916Top affordable post code: WC2H, City of Westminster
Ever dreamt of living in Covent Garden? You can if you’re prepared to spend an average £2,864 in monthly rent and are grossing £100,000 a year.
You’ll be right at the centre of the Tube network in WC2H but – given the world-class theatres, shopping, restaurants, galleries, museums, markets and gyms right outside your front door – you may not want to travel far.
Where else can you rent?Bloomsbury and Southampton Row are also desirable - and affordable areas - for two-beds with this kind of budget. Or how about a two-bed flat in the WC1B post code near the British Museum in central London?
Household income: £160,000
Maximum rent: £4,666Top affordable post code: W1K, City of Westminster
But you’ll need to earn a lot more than £100,000 if you want to rent at the very top of the London market.
There’s a reason Mayfair – which falls under W1K – is the most expensive property on the Monopoly board.
Average costs of a two-bedroom flat there sit an eye-watering £4,543 and require a household income of at least £160,000.
Doable? Positioned among the designer stores and exclusive clubs, with Hyde Park just across the road, you can either party with the super-rich or just stay anonymous.
Either way, with W1K in your address the only person more envied than you will be your landlord.
Where else can you rent?Simple. If you can afford to rent in Mayfair, then you can take your pick from the whole of London.