In what might be London's most brazen rental listing this year, a property described as a 'zero-bedroom' basement flat in the affluent Bayswater area has appeared on the market with an eye-watering price tag of £1,350 per month.
The 'Studio' That Defies Logic
The compact basement unit, marketed as a 'studio flat,' measures just enough to accommodate essential living functions in a single room. The property listing attempts to put a positive spin on the situation, suggesting the space is 'ideal for a single professional' despite its limitations and premium price point.
Located on bustling Porchester Road in W2, the flat sits in one of London's most desirable postcodes, though the accommodation itself tells a very different story about the state of the capital's housing market.
London's Rental Market Reaches Breaking Point
This listing emerges as London faces an unprecedented rental crisis, with average rents soaring to record levels while available properties become increasingly scarce. The zero-bedroom flat represents the extreme end of a market where demand massively outstrips supply, forcing tenants to consider previously unthinkable compromises.
Property experts are calling this listing symptomatic of deeper issues:
- Record-high rental prices across Greater London
- Severe shortage of affordable accommodation
- Growing demand from professionals returning to office work
- International students and workers competing for limited housing
What £1,350 Actually Buys in London
For context, the same monthly budget could secure a comfortable one-bedroom flat in many other UK cities, or even more spacious accommodation in London's outer boroughs. Yet in central London's competitive market, tenants are being asked to pay premium prices for increasingly unconventional living spaces.
'This isn't just about small spaces,' says one housing analyst. 'It's about the normalisation of extreme housing solutions in a broken market. When zero-bedroom basements command four-figure rents, we have to ask serious questions about where London is heading.'
The Human Cost of Housing Shortages
Behind the shocking headline figure lies a deeper story about the challenges facing Londoners trying to find suitable housing. Key workers, young professionals, and students are increasingly priced out of reasonable accommodation, forced to either compromise on space or face lengthy commutes.
The Porchester Road listing has sparked outrage on social media, with many questioning how such properties can legally be marketed as suitable living spaces given their dimensions and layout limitations.
As London's rental market continues to tighten, the appearance of such extreme listings suggests the crisis is far from over, and may indeed be entering a new phase where even the most basic accommodation comes at a staggering premium.
