London Living Rent

What is London Living Rent?

Funded by the Mayor of London, LLR is a Government-backed scheme that enables you to increase your savings by renting at a discounted rate than you would expect to pay for a similar property on the open market. This helps you to save additional money each month, which can go towards buying a home through Shared Ownership.

The main benefit to renting an LLR home is that you can go on to purchase your home, saving at your own pace. Plus, all properties that are on the LLR scheme guarantee tenants of an assured shorthold tenancy of a minimum of three years and a maximum of ten.

How much will I pay to rent a London Living Rent property?

The amount that you pay will depend on the location of the home you are renting.

To ensure that LLR continues to offer the best possible affordable option for renters in London, the Mayor publishes benchmark London Living Rent levels for every neighbourhood in the capital, which are updated annually. These are based on a third of average local household incomes and adjusted for the number of bedrooms in each home.

In most boroughs this will be a significant discount to the market-level rent.

Am I eligible for London Living Rent?

London Living Rent (LLR) is an excellent option for middle-income Londoners who want to save towards buying a home.

To be eligible for a London Living Rent home, you must:

Live or currently work in London.
Be able to provide one month’s rent in advance and five weeks’ rent as a tenancy deposit.
Have the right to rent – proven by possession of British/EU/EEA Citizenship or a valid UK residency visa.
Meet the minimum income and affordability standards – this will depend on the price of the home you are interested in.
Minimum income requirements should be used as a guide and can vary depending on a household’s circumstances and financial commitments.
Have a formal tenancy (for example, in the private rented sector) or live in an informal arrangement with family or friends as a result of struggling with housing costs.
Shared Ownership eligibility criteria will apply on your London Living Rent home, L&Q cannot guarantee you will meet future affordability requirements should you wish to buy a Shared Ownership home

London Living Rent (LLR) candidates must not:

Already own a property or be in the process of buying.
Be able to afford a similar home through Shared Ownership or on the open market.
Have a household income that exceeds £67,000.
Have an adverse rental history, for example, rent arrears or damage to a property.
Have a history of bankruptcy, defaults which include late payments, county court judgments (CCJs) or Individual Voluntary Agreements (IVAs).

Frequently asked questions about London Living Rent:

Who is LLR for?

The LLR scheme is for people who cannot afford to buy a property through Shared Ownership or on the open market. The aim is to have the capacity to buy either all or a share of the property at any time within ten years.

How long will my tenancy be?

An initial 3 years Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) will be given with an option to renew at the end of the term, for up to ten years.

How is my rent calculated?

LLR rents are based on one-third of average local household incomes, as defined by the GLA.