In the UK, finding the ideal rental property can be very difficult because there is so much information available online. Your research might be more focused if you know which rental website can offer the information you’re looking for. This article presents 10 rental property websites to assist you in finding the best rental websites in the UK.
10 Best UK Rental Websites: Key Features
A user-friendly layout, thorough listing and property information, and expert customer support are all essential components of a good rental website. The salient characteristics of the top 10 property rental websites in the UK are briefly shown in the table below.
| Best Rental Websites UK | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Rightmove | • Largest property selection • Helpful tools • Most popular property portal |
| OpenRent | • Cost-effective: no hidden cost • Contact the landlord directly • Transparent safety guaranteed |
| uhomes.com | • Verified student accommodation • 1-on-1 professional support • Exclusive offer • All-inclusive |
| Gumtree | • Private landlord • Wide range of rentals |
| iQ Student Accommodation | • Purpose-built student housing • All-inclusive • Safety and security |
| SpareRoom | • Largest flatshare website • Connect with roommate • Renting a room |
| Zoopla | • Extensive listings • Advanced map tools • Neighbourhood insights |
| PrimeLocation | • Quality properties • Top estate and letting agents |
| OnTheMarket | • Early access to listings • “Only with us” properties • No third-party ads |
| Find a Hood | • Personalised questionnaire • Algorithm-based approach • Focus on neighbourhood |
10 Best Rental Websites in the UK
The sections below show you the 10 top picks of the best rental websites in the UK. The brief introduction and key features of each rental website will be illustrated. To help you find the best website for finding a home.
Rightmove
Rightmove is one of the best rental websites in the UK. It has the largest property portal in the UK; you can find the most extensive choice of property listings on their website. When you start browsing for a property to rent, Rightmove presents you with the most recent market trends and rental price adjustments in addition to a comprehensive view of rental statistics. Their website offers advanced search filters that let you filter rentals by price, room type, and location.
The property map is an essential tool for strategising. You can look for rentals in your favourite neighbourhood and plan your commute. The secret to renting a property you find appealing on Rightmove is to get in touch with the agent right away. Renting a home needs getting in touch with the listing agent; Rightmove does not handle the homes it lists.
OpenRent
If you want to rent directly from the landlord with safety guaranteed, OpenRent is one of the best websites for renting in the UK. On its website, thousands of rental listings are available. The service makes renting more equitable and simple by bringing tenants and landlords into closer contact. You can rent without an admin fee and finish the whole process online with no hidden costs. Price-conscious renters can save an average of £ 300 by avoiding the administrative fee.
Additionally, you can find the best property using filters for students, pets, and other preferences. You can message the landlord on the website to schedule a viewing if you’d like additional information about the property. OpenRent ensures a secure rental process by offering rent, contract, and deposit protection services approved by the government.
uhomes.com
uhomes.com is also one of the best rental websites in the UK, especially for university students. Suppose you are looking for a new home in the UK. In that case, uhome.com offers a wide selection of student accommodation in London, student housing in Glasgow, and in other major cities such as Leeds, Coventry, Manchester, etc. It provides a comprehensive filter engine that lets you filter by many factors, such as university, lease term, room type, amenities, and more. All of the listings are 100% verified and guaranteed to match the lowest market price. You can view the property both online (with pictures, 3D views, and live stream recaps) and in person. If you want to learn more details or have any queries, 1-on-1 professional support is available to you. Otherwise, if you don’t want to spend time searching, experienced consultants will help you choose your ideal rental more quickly.
A bundle of advantages of the uhomes.com is that the site offers rentals with all-inclusive bills, fully furnished units, security services, and detailed amenities such as study spaces and gyms, all designed to help students find a home away from home. At the same time, uhomes.com lists properties near universities, city centres, and student hotspots, ensuring you can make the most of your student life. Additionally, the platform provides exclusive offers. The platform cooperates with well-known student accommodation providers, such as iQ Student Accommodation. Notably, the site offers exclusive listings and discounts so students can enjoy the lowest rents on the most popular local properties. Plus, you will enjoy additional discounts, including rewards for referring a friend, booking early, booking as a group, or booking a particular featured property, and much more.
Gumtree
Gumtree is the largest classifieds website in the UK. Here, you can find thousands of rentals from private landlords for free. Gumtree gives a cost-effective way to rent. It’s suitable for renters with a limited budget who want to rent directly from the landlord. Although the platform offers a cheaper way to rent, it requires greater awareness of how to prevent scams. Thus, be careful; you shouldn’t trust anything if you feel something is wrong.
Gumtree is unique among rental websites. In addition to rental listings, the website offers information on jobs, cars, and other essentials. The information shared on this website is invaluable for new arrivals as they integrate into local life.
iQ Student Accommodation
iQ is a leading student accommodation provider in the UK. Its core advantage is providing an all-inclusive, high-quality renting experience for students. iQ’s buildings are spread across 29 main university cities in the UK and feature top locations, 24/7 security, and all-inclusive bills. Furthermore, many amenities, like a gym and shared and study spaces, meet the needs for studying and socialising.
There are several room types for students to choose from, including en-suites and studios. The all-inclusive approach frees students from worries of bill management, and rooms are move-in ready. iQ student accommodation provides an ideal property for students seeking a safe, convenient and high-quality lifestyle.
SpareRoom
SpareRoom, different from traditional rental websites, is an ideal platform for people who want to rent a room and find roommates. Users build their profiles and advertise them; SpareRoom will then conduct the matching and arrange a viewing for successful matches. Personalised matching function is the website’s key advantage. In addition to filtering by location, price, and transaction, you can also filter by your preferences for a roommate. Moreover, renters have more choices when only renting a room than when renting a whole property. At the same time, tenants can save more by sharing the property and bills.
Zoopla
Zoopla is another of the best rental property websites in the UK. It lists a wide range of properties with all the information you may consider. Property data and neighbourhood insights are their core features; you can evaluate an area like a local with these tools. In addition, the website offers area guides for all the information you probably want to know about living in certain areas. Besides, the house price sector allows you to track rental price fluctuations and market trends. And their map tool can find rentals within your preferred commute time. Like Rightmove, Zoopla mainly works with agents; you need to act quickly to contact them about your preferred rentals.
PrimeLocation
PrimeLocation is a premium rental website in the UK that focuses on higher-end properties. The site gathers top-tier agents across the UK and lists a wide range of luxury rentals in prestigious areas. The website is suitable for renters with middle- to upper-level budgets seeking a high-quality lifestyle. PrimeLocation advertises more than a million properties from over 16,000 estate and listing agents. Their website is user-friendly; you can search for properties to rent straightforwardly. Overall, it offers a more effective and reliable platform for tenants seeking high-quality properties. So, for renting a luxury home, PrimeLocation is your best rental website in the UK.
OnTheMarket
OnTheMarket is another large portal in the UK. If you are looking for the latest properties on the market, OnTheMarket is the right website. The website lists thousands of properties each month, up to 24 hours before agents list on Rightmove or Zoopla. Using the Only With Us function, you can explore the exclusive property for rent that you can’t find anywhere else. Besides, the website also offers the Very Important Places (VIPs) function. You can search in a specific area that matters to you and check the commute distance. At the same time, you can collaborate with your friends or family on the platform for searching. On this website, you can enjoy the searching experience without third-party advertising. Overall, if you need the latest listings, OnTheMarket is the best website for rental property in the UK.
Find a Hood
Find a Hood offers a different way to help you find ideal rentals compared to other rental websites in the UK. The website starts your search with a simple questionnaire rather than letting you filter. In this case, you can prioritise the factors that you most care about when renting by rating them on a scale of 1 to 10. Factors in the questionnaire include crime rate, occupation, region and others related to the neighbourhood. Once you submit the questionnaire, their algorithm will match you with the best area that fulfils your personal preferences. This rental website is suitable for renters who have a clear picture of what kind of neighbourhood they want to live in.
Conclusion: Best Rental Websites in the UK
The list above gives a glance at the features of 10 of the best renting websites in the UK. Each rental website features different properties and caters to diverse customer groups. Some websites gather listings from estate and listing agents; some are direct landlord listings, while others match roommates with a room. Besides, some options are tailored for students. Considering your preference, you can know which rental website is the best for you to look for a rental in the UK.
FAQ
There is no only answer for this question. The best UK rental websites are Rightmove and Zoopla, with the largest choice of properties from agents and landlords. If you want to rent directly from a private landlord, OpenRent and SpareRoom are your best choices. If you are looking for student accommodation, uhome.com is one of the best rental websites in the UK.
- Rightmove: the largest property portal in the UK, with very helpful tools for extensive information.
- Zoopla: the second largest property portal in the UK, with an advanced map tool.
- OpenRent: renting from private landlords; no admin fees.
- SpareRoom: the largest flatshare website; rent a room with roommates.
- uhoms.com: professional support; a wide range of student accommodation.
The best London rental websites are Rightmove and Zoopla for general searching with extensive property choice. And OpenRent and SpareRoom, if you want to rent from landlords or find a roommate. In comparison, uhomes.com is the best choice for student accommodation.
There is no absolute answer on whether to use a rental website or an estate agent. Each of them has its own pros and cons. By using rental websites, you can search for properties at any time and from anywhere, and you can search by filters for a variety of properties. But you may lack the neighbourhood insight and in-person experience that agents can provide.
In contrast, estate agents can provide more personalised advice and offer properties that are not yet listed. But the admin cost may be relatively higher.
You should have a clear idea about what your preferred rental looks like before you start searching. Narrowing down your preferences into several key factors. Then you can browse property rental websites using UK-wide filters. For example, location, price, lease term, facilities, amenities and others. And don’t forget to read all the details carefully before making your choice.
