Ohana

Sublets in London

Finding a place to live in London can feel overwhelming when you need to move fast. Ohana makes it easier to secure flexible housing, whether you want a room to rent in a flat share with flatmates already in place, a studio flat to rent, a furnished apartment, a short term sublet, or a month to month sublease. Browse rooms to rent, house shares, and whole flats across Bloomsbury, Holborn, King’s Cross, Shoreditch, South Bank, and Canary Wharf, so you can stay close to work, campus, and the Tube lines you’ll actually use day to day.

Ohana is powered by sublets posted by real people. You will see furnished London sublets from students and interns near University College London, King’s College London, College of the Arts London, and the London School of Economics and Political Science, plus listings from professionals who are relocating, traveling, or temporarily leaving the city. Each listing highlights the essentials, including furniture, Wi Fi, laundry, elevator access, utilities, pet policies, and clear move in and move out dates, so you can quickly compare what matters before you book.

Before you commit, guests and hosts hop on a quick intro call for a live virtual tour. It is a simple way to confirm the space, ask questions, and align on expectations. Ohana is designed to add trust and reduce risk. Hosts are paid only after the guest moves in successfully, and deposits are returned within 7 days of move out once the apartment is confirmed to be left in good condition.

Ohana also works with teams moving into London for work. We have partnered with companies in the region and helped place employees in housing, including Morgan Stanley and Barclays, so renters and hosts can feel confident the process is built for real world moves.

How subletting works in London

How subletting works in London

A sublet has three parties: the landlord, who owns the flat; the original tenant, who signed the tenancy agreement; and the subtenant, who moves in for a month or more.

The original tenant stays responsible to the landlord for rent and any damage. In London they’re often a UCL, KCL, LSE, or UAL student away for the summer, or someone leaving for work abroad, travel, or a temporary move, and subletting lets them keep their tenancy without paying for an empty flat.

For the subtenant, that means a real furnished flat, or a private room in a shared one, that’s already set up, with Wi-Fi and bills running, no agency fees, and no year-long tenancy. On Ohana, every booking has a sublet agreement covering dates, rent schedule, deposit, and house rules, and the host isn’t paid until you move in.

Flat shares and rooms to rent in London

Most rooms to rent in London on Ohana are in a flat share or house share: you get a private, furnished bedroom and share the kitchen, living room, and often the bathroom with flatmates who already live there. It’s the most affordable way to live in London for a few months, and it’s how most students, interns, and new arrivals start out.

  • Room in a flat share: your own single or double room in a flat with one to three flatmates. As of October 2026, private rooms in London on Ohana have a median rent of about £1,280 a month.
  • House share: the same setup in a house, usually with more housemates, more shared space, and sometimes a garden.
  • Ensuite room: a room with its own bathroom, usually at the top of the price range.

To see every room to rent in London, search London on Ohana and set the type to Private room.

Finding flatmates in London

If you need a room, the easiest way to find flatmates is to move into a flat share where they’re already in place. On Ohana, you meet them on an intro call with a virtual tour before you book, so you know who you’ll be living with.

If you have a spare room and need a flatmate, list it on Ohana and meet each applicant on a call first. Ohana handles the rent, the security deposit, and the sublet agreement.

Studio flats and flats to rent in London

If you’d rather not share, Ohana also has whole furnished flats in London, including studio flats, one-bedroom flats, and 2 bed flats to rent for a month or more. As of October 2026, whole flats on Ohana have a median rent of about £2,140 a month. Search London and set the type to Entire home to see them.

Is subletting legal in London?

Yes. A London sublet is legal when it follows three rules.

  1. The landlord agrees

    Most tenancy agreements require the landlord’s written permission before you sublet, and Citizens Advice (opens in a new tab) explains what can happen if you don’t have it.

  2. It isn’t social housing

    Unlawfully subletting a council or housing association home is a criminal offence under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013.

  3. Short lets stay within the 90-night rule

    Renting a whole home for fewer than 90 consecutive nights counts toward London’s 90-night yearly limit (opens in a new tab) without planning permission. A sublet of 90 nights or more doesn’t count toward it.

Whoever sublets the flat also has to check that the subtenant has the right to rent (opens in a new tab) in England before they move in.

How to sublet your London flat

If you’re leaving for the summer, a work placement, or a stretch of travel, subletting lets you keep your tenancy without paying for an empty flat.

  1. Read your tenancy agreement

    Find the subletting clause, and check whether your home is council or housing association property, since subletting those is usually not allowed.

  2. Get your landlord’s permission in writing

    Send the request by email or letter with the sublet dates, the subtenant’s name, and a copy of the proposed agreement, and keep the written approval.

  3. Check the subtenant’s right to rent

    You must see and copy their documents before the move-in date.

  4. List on Ohana

    Guests meet you on an intro call with a virtual tour, and Ohana handles payment, the security deposit, and the sublet agreement.

  5. Remember the tenancy is still yours

    You stay responsible to your landlord during the sublet, so keep every term in writing.

Where to find a sublet or flat share in London

Besides searching on Ohana, many London sublets and flat shares are posted in Facebook groups and Instagram communities, including:

When you post in a group, include your dates, budget, preferred areas or Tube lines, and whether you want a room in a flat share or a whole flat. Before paying anyone you met in a group, check for the warning signs below.

How to spot a sublet scam

Most London sublet scams, especially on Facebook Marketplace and flatshare sites, follow the same patterns:

  • The rent is far below market. Compare it with the London median rents on this page.
  • You can’t see the flat. A real host will show it in person or on a live video call.
  • They want a bank transfer or crypto before a viewing. Money sent outside a platform usually can’t be recovered.
  • They say they’re abroad and will post the keys. A real host can always arrange a viewing.
  • The photos appear on other listings. A reverse image search takes seconds.
  • They won’t show you their permission to sublet. A legitimate tenant can share their landlord’s written consent.

On Ohana, you meet the host on an intro call before booking, the host isn’t paid until you move in and confirm check-in, and Ohana holds the security deposit and refunds it within 7 days of move-out when there are no claims.

When to look for a London sublet

Start four to eight weeks before your move-in date, and earlier for summer.

  • Summer (June to September) has the most sublets, as students leave and interns and summer-school students arrive. Start in March or April.
  • September is the busiest month for renters, as the academic year starts. Start in July.
  • January brings new terms and new jobs. Start in November.

About London

Avg rent £1,647/mo

Frequently asked questions about London sublets

In London, “sublet” is the more common term, and “sublease” is often used to mean the same thing. In both cases, you are typically renting from the current tenant rather than signing a brand new lease directly with the head landlord. On Ohana, the terms are clearly documented, including dates, rent schedule, deposit handling, and house rules, so expectations are simple from day one.

Subleasing is legal in London and widely used for internships, relocations, and short term work moves. In most UK tenancies, subletting is handled through the tenancy agreement and landlord consent when required, which is usually a straightforward written yes.

People usually choose based on commute and vibe. For central access, Bloomsbury, Fitzrovia, Holborn, and King’s Cross are popular. For finance and commuting, City of London, London Bridge, Canary Wharf, and Wapping are common picks. For nightlife and food, Shoreditch, Hackney, Angel, and Soho are favorites. For a classic “London neighborhood” feel, Notting Hill, Kensington, Fulham, and Hammersmith are strong options. For value and newer builds, Stratford and parts of East London are popular. These areas also work well for University College London, King’s College London, University of the Arts London, and the London School of Economics and Political Science, plus offices near Morgan Stanley and Barclays.

Ohana subleases are a strong alternative when you want more independence, more space, and your own routine. Student housing can be convenient, but it is often priced like a bundled product. For example, King’s College London lists average monthly accommodation costs around £1,141 as part of its student living cost breakdown for 2025 to 26. With an Ohana sublet, you can often find a furnished room in a real flatshare, choose the exact neighborhood you want, and live like a local for the duration of your stay.

An Ohana London sublet is often the best balance of flexibility, authenticity, and price. Rightmove reported average advertised rents in London at about £2,736 per month in late 2025, and sublets typically sit closer to normal market rent because they are real apartments. Serviced and corporate style options can run significantly higher for central, furnished, move in ready inventory, with premium furnished rentals reaching £3,000 to £8,000+ per month in some buildings and locations. Ohana gives you both, sublets from real tenants and move in ready furnished options from experienced property managers.

Ohana protects you from common Facebook Marketplace and SpareRoom sublet scams with verification, a structured process, and real payment safeguards. First, Ohana sets up an intro call so you can meet the host, tour the place virtually, and confirm it feels legitimate before anything is finalized. Second, you pay through Ohana, and the host only gets paid after you move in and confirm check in, which helps prevent send money then get ghosted situations. Third, Ohana holds the security deposit to prevent deposit scams and refunds it within 7 days after move out if there are no claims or deductions. ID verification and optional LinkedIn or Instagram connections add another layer of trust.

Most London flat shares open up when a flatmate moves out, leaves for a work placement, or goes travelling for a few months, so the room is usually furnished and the bills, Wi-Fi, and council tax are already set up. On Ohana, search London and set the type to Private room to see rooms to rent in flat shares and house shares across the city, each with photos, the monthly rent, and clear move-in and move-out dates. You can also check London flat share communities like Girls Who Sublet London, Moving to London!!!, and London House, Flats, and Spare rooms. Start looking four to eight weeks before you move, and meet your future flatmates on an intro call before you commit.

If you're looking for flatmates to live with, the quickest route is usually to take a room in an existing flat share, where the flatmates are already in place and you can meet them on a video call before you move in. If you already have a room to rent and need to find a flatmate, list it on Ohana: you meet each applicant on an intro call with a virtual tour, and Ohana handles the rent payment, the security deposit, and the sublet agreement, so you're not chasing a stranger for money. Student communities like UCL Subletting, KCL Subletting, and LSE Sublets, and groups like Girls Only Houseshares London, are also good places to find flatmates in London.

As of October 2026, private rooms to rent in London on Ohana list at a median of about £1,280 per month, and most fall between roughly £1,030 and £1,550. Rooms in Zones 1 and 2, near hubs like King's Cross, Shoreditch, and Canary Wharf, sit at the top of that range. For a cheaper room to rent in London, look further out in areas like Walthamstow, Leyton, Tottenham, Streatham, and Greenwich, and check whether bills are included, since that can make a lower rent cost more each month. A room in a flat share is usually the most affordable way to live in London on a short or flexible stay.

Yes. Alongside rooms in flat shares, Ohana has whole furnished flats in London, including studio flats, one-bedroom flats, and 2 bed flats to rent, from tenants subletting for a month or more and from property managers offering furnished short term lets. Search London and set the type to Entire home to see them. As of October 2026, whole flats on Ohana list at a median of about £2,140 per month. A short term sublet of a studio flat is often cheaper than serviced apartments, and you skip the year-long tenancy, agency fees, and buying furniture.

A flat share is a room in a flat you share with flatmates. A house share is the same arrangement in a house, usually with more housemates and more shared space. In both, you have your own bedroom and share the kitchen, living room, and often the bathroom. A lodger rents a room in a home where the landlord also lives. Lodgers have fewer rights than tenants: a live-in landlord usually only has to give reasonable notice to end the arrangement, and the deposit doesn't have to go into a deposit protection scheme. On Ohana, you sublet a room from the current tenant, and the dates, rent, deposit, and house rules are written into a sublet agreement up front.

Before you take a room to rent in London, check:
  • The room: whether it's a single or double room, and whether it has an ensuite or a shared bathroom.
  • What's included: bills, council tax, Wi-Fi, and any cleaning.
  • The commute: the nearest Tube, Overground, or Elizabeth line station to your work or campus.
  • Your flatmates: meet them on a call so you know who you'll be sharing with.
  • The paperwork: a written agreement with your dates, rent, and deposit terms, and the landlord's permission to sublet.
You'll also need to show your right to rent documents before you move in. On Ohana, you meet the host on an intro call first, and the host isn't paid until you move in.