Ilford is a town in east London, not far from our office in Chadwell Heath. If you are thinking of renting there, this guide covers where it is, how people get around, what official figures say about rents and prices, the rules that apply to private renting in 2026, and a short checklist to use before you sign.
FindMyNextStay is new, so there may be only a few Ilford homes listed at first. If you do not see the right place yet, you can post what you are looking for and let landlords come to you (more on that below).
Where Ilford is
Ilford sits in the London Borough of Redbridge, on the north-east side of London. Redbridge Council splits the borough into wards, and the ones you will see most often around the town centre are Ilford Town, Valentines, Clementswood and Loxford. Seven Kings and Goodmayes are the neighbouring wards further east, towards Chadwell Heath. Knowing the ward name is useful, because some council rules (see the licensing section below) depend on it.
Getting around
Ilford station is on Ilford Hill (postcode IG1 2DG) and is served by the Elizabeth line. Transport for London lists it in Zone 4, with buses and a taxi rank outside. TfL also lists boarding ramps, help points, toilets and a waiting room among the station facilities. If step-free access matters to you, check the TfL station page before you travel, as journey details and lift status can change.
When you view a home, try doing the trip to work or college at the time you would really travel. It is the quickest way to find out whether a place suits you.
What rents and prices look like
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes official figures for the whole of Redbridge, not for Ilford alone. They are averages, so a particular flat may cost more or less. According to the ONS, the average monthly private rent in Redbridge was £1,734 in September 2026, up 2.1% from £1,698 a year earlier. That rise was lower than across London as a whole (3.5%), where the average was £2,338.
| Size of home (Redbridge) | Average monthly rent, September 2026 |
|---|---|
| One bedroom | £1,373 |
| Two bedrooms | £1,689 |
| Three bedrooms | £1,992 |
| Four or more bedrooms | £2,724 |
| All private rented homes | £1,734 |
If you are thinking of buying instead, the same ONS page gives the average house price in Redbridge as £484,000 in August 2026 (provisional), down 2.8% on a year earlier. First-time buyers paid an average of £416,000 (provisional). ONS notes that local figures come from smaller samples and that recent house price figures may be revised.
Rules and rights that apply
Private renting in England changed on 1 May 2026 under the Renters’ Rights Act. In short, according to the government’s guidance: section 21 “no fault” evictions have been abolished; most tenancies are now rolling (periodic) tenancies, and tenants give two months’ notice in writing to leave; rent can only be put up once a year, with at least two months’ notice; adverts must show an asking rent and landlords cannot accept offers above it; a landlord cannot ask for more than one month’s rent in advance before the tenancy starts; and it is now illegal to discriminate against renters who have children or receive benefits. You can also ask to keep a pet, and the landlord must consider your written request. For more detail, read our guide to what changed under the Renters’ Rights Act.
Licensing in Redbridge. Redbridge Council runs selective licensing, which means most privately rented homes in the covered wards need a council licence. Ilford Town and Valentines are in one scheme. Clementswood, Loxford, Seven Kings, Goodmayes and eleven other wards are in a second scheme, which started on 8 April 2024 and runs until 7 April 2029 unless it ends earlier. The council keeps a public register of licensed properties that you can search by postcode, which is a simple check before you pay anything.
This is a summary, not legal advice.
A short checklist before you sign
- View the home in person, or by live video if you cannot get there.
- Search the address on the Redbridge licensed property register.
- Check the advert shows a clear asking rent, and that you are not asked for more than one month’s rent in advance.
- Ask which ward the home is in and how council tax and bills are paid.
- Do not send money to someone you have not met for a home you have not seen. Our guide on how to spot a rental scam lists the warning signs.
For owners and agents
If you let a home in Ilford, you can list it on FindMyNextStay for free. Make sure the property has the licence it needs from Redbridge Council, and include the asking rent in your advert, as the new rules require. Clear photos and an honest description get more replies. If you are new to the site, our step-by-step guide shows how posting works.
Looking for a home in Ilford?
Tell landlords what you need: your budget, how many bedrooms, when you want to move and anything else that matters to you. Your request appears in the tenants looking section, so owners can get in touch. If you are also considering nearby areas, see our guide to renting in Chadwell Heath.
Sources: ONS, Housing prices in Redbridge; Transport for London, Ilford Rail Station; National Rail, Ilford station; GOV.UK Housing Hub, Private renting is changing; Redbridge Council, Selective licensing; Redbridge Council, 15-ward selective licensing scheme; Redbridge Council, Licensed property register. Checked October 2026. Rents and rules change, so please confirm the details before you decide.