Cast and crew all need a place to live while filming so we are busy assisting with their moves – and are noticing some key shifts in rental activity.
Emerging rental hotspots
A decade ago, there was typically only a handful of locations preferred by production teams and film stars looking for somewhere to live while working in the UK. The likes of Primrose Hill, Hampstead and south-west London often topped the bill – largely due to their proximity to Shepperton, Pinewood and Elstree Studios.
While these areas continue to be highly desirable, the 2025 opening of Eastbrook Studios in Dagenham prompted a rise in interest in east London, particularly Clerkenwell, Shoreditch, Hackney and Victoria Park.
Meanwhile Bray Studios near Windsor – which was acquired by Amazon Prime Video in 2024 – and Space Studios in Manchester – where recent projects include Netflix’s House of Guiness and Amazon Prime’s Lazarus – have both prompted local rental activity in the town and city centres as well as nearby villages. Additionally, pre- and post-production is increasingly taking place in Soho, making Marylebone, Covent Garden and Holborn attractive options for rental bases.
Looking for the long term
While we continue to receive searches for short-term rentals – often for a period of several months while a production is being filmed – back-to-back UK projects mean that tenancies for two years are much more common than they used to be.
As a consequence, an increasing number of tenants are opting to relocate their families given how long they are here for. Naturally schooling is a top priority and with the American School in London on its doorstep, St John’s Wood is a popular choice, as is Richmond which offers a bus service to ACS Cobham.
Homegrown talent
Some of the talent associated with a production might be UK-based – but that doesn’t mean they will live at home while involved in the project. With early call times and late finishes some will choose to take a rental close to the studio, avoiding a lengthy commute. The concept of taking a pied-à-terre for the working week is nothing new, but is certainly a growing trend within the film and television sector. Once the cameras have stopped rolling, people will head home for a break before returning when they are next needed on set.
New studio openings – plus Netflix's recently approved plans for major expansion at Longcross Studios in Surrey – suggest that the UK film industry continues to be on the rise. And, with year-on-year growth in searches among those in this sector looking for a home to rent, we anticipate continued strong demand in the months ahead.
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