Empty Rooms, Empty Profits: Turn Dead Space Into Steady Income

 
23/07/2025

If you’ve got spare rooms sitting unused in your property, you’re probably thinking: “There has to be a better use for this space.” You’re not alone. Many landlords in London find themselves with downtime on vacant rooms, and they wonder how they can convert that unused square footage into regular income.


Let’s cut straight to the point. Yes, you can turn empty rooms into steady income by renting them out as professionally managed flatshares. Doing so with the right approach, pricing, presentation, tenant screening and management, means you can boost your rent roll without adding much overhead. Services like Right Room specialize in helping landlords list rooms, attract suitable tenants, and handle the operational side through trusted, professional flat sharing arrangements in London. You retain ownership and benefit from reliable income, with minimal hassle.

 

 

Why Empty Rooms Hurt Your Income

Unused rooms cost you more than just missing rent. You still pay utilities, council tax, cleaning or maintenance, and potentially mortgages or insurance. That adds up quickly.

At the same time, the London market is experiencing strong demand for shared housing from professionals, students and movers who want flexibility, location and affordability. A well-managed flatshare can command a rent that’s often equal to or higher than renting out the whole property to a single tenant, especially if you price each room individually, include bills, and offer a welcoming environment.

 

 

How to Turn Dead Space into Rental Income

Here’s a straightforward plan, step by step:

1. Assess the Room and Set the Right Price

Look at comparable shared rooms in your area. Consider size, fixtures, included bills and house rules. A bigger or en‑suite room near transport links can command higher rent. Listing multiple rooms individually often brings a higher total return than a single let, though it requires careful pricing to stay competitive.

2. Present Your Room Well

Clean thoroughly, declutter, and furnish the room to a good standard (bed, study space, wardrobe). Fresh paint in neutral tones helps. Natural light makes a big difference in photos. Include images of the shared kitchen, bathroom and hallways too, since tenants view the whole flat as part of their living experience.

3. Write a Compelling Listing

Rather than a short description like “Double room London, bills included”, aim to convey what makes the flatshare feel pleasant, safe, well‑located and clean. Mention transit options, local shops, Wi‑Fi speed, house rules and who you hope to house (e.g. professionals, postgraduates). Make it clear why the flatshare is preferable to renting a whole flat solo.

4. Attract and Vet Tenants Properly

Quick and friendly communication helps. Ask applicants for ID, proof of employment or study and references. Flatsharers often value respectful housemates and low conflict. Vetting prevents friction and damage. You’ll want tenants who sign on and stay longer.

5. Manage the Flatshare Efficiently

Shared living requires policies around cleaning, bills, maintenance requests, and conflict resolution. If you're not able or willing to do this yourself, a professional platform like Right Room helps. They handle tenant queries, rent collection, repairs and leave you with peace of mind.

 

 

How Right Room Supports Landlords Like You

At Right Room, we offer professional flatshare placement and management in London. We help you:

  • Price each room appropriately using up‑to‑date market insights.

  • Stage and photograph rooms to showcase them well in listings.

  • Market rooms across platforms and to our tenant network efficiently.

  • Screen and match tenants with existing householders.

  • Handle contracts, deposit registration and periodic checks.

  • Provide tenant support, rent collection and maintenance coordination.

Working with Right Room means you’re not just filling a room, you’re creating an ongoing rental income with minimal stress. If you’re managing multiple rooms or properties, having a reliable partner who understands flatshare dynamics can significantly reduce void periods and increase net income.

 

 

Common Questions Landlords Ask

Can shared-room income really beat renting the whole flat?

Yes. In many London locations, two or three rentable rooms add up to more rent than a single-let flat. When tenants share bills and you price for individual convenience, the total often exceeds long-term, single-occupancy rent, even after accounting for utility overhead.

What about safety and landlord responsibilities?

You still meet all rental property regulations—gas safety, EICR, EPC, deposit protection and Right to Rent checks. A flatshare involves HMO licensing when more than three people (or two households) share facilities. Organisations like Right Room help with compliance so you stay lawful. That includes property inspections and tenant guidance on safety rules.

Does shared living attract more turnover or disputes?

It can if household dynamics aren’t managed. That’s why vetting tenants for compatibility, clear house rules and setting expectations from the start matter. Good tenancy agreements and ongoing support from a platform like Right Room help maintain harmony.

How much work does this require from me?

It depends. You can manage it all yourself, except tenant screening, repairs or administration. Or you can opt for a management service where those tasks are handled for you. Many landlords use Right Room’s flexible packages so they retain ownership and revenue but hand off the operational side.

 

 

Tips to Speed Up the Room Rental Process

If you’re thinking of getting a room rented quickly, here are a few practical tips:

  • Respond to enquiries within a few hours.

  • Offer a virtual viewing alongside in‑person as standard.

  • Be transparent about bills and tenancy terms upfront.

  • Ask tenants to commit quickly with online booking tools.

  • Keep contracts and checks ready so you can move fast when tenants say yes.

Right Room supports each of these steps, helping landlords reduce vacancy time from weeks to just days.

 

 

Real World Example

A landlord in East London contacted us with two unused bedrooms on a property she’d inherited. The rooms had been empty for months and were costing her. Using market‑aligned pricing and staged photos, we relisted both rooms within three days. Within a week, both were rented to compatible professionals with all bills included. The landlord now enjoys consistent monthly income, with tenants handled through the service, and no fuss organising viewings or paperwork.

 

 

Wrapping Up

Empty rooms don’t need to be dead space or lost income. With the right rental strategy, pricing, presentation, tenant screening and maintenance, you can convert those empty rooms into reliable revenue sources. For many landlords in London, that has meant turning unused space into regular income while spending less time managing day‑to day details.

Right Room is built for this precise opportunity. We help landlords like you price, present, market and manage flatshares in London with professionalism and ease. Many landlords find that handing the day‑to‑day running to us cuts void rates dramatically while boosting returns.

If you’re ready to stop losing money on empty rooms, take the next step with confidence. Right Room offers a free rental evaluation and a tailored plan for your property. Reach out, and we’ll walk you through how your space can start earning reliably, with minimal hassle.

You don’t have to manage it all yourself. With the right partner, every empty room can become a steady income source, starting sooner than you think.


 
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