From Hollywood to Hampstead: the rise in Film and Media lettings
Harriet Gore, head of Knight Frank’s residential Film and Media team, shares why the UK is the place to be for the industry’s top actors and production companies
The demand for rental properties in London and the Home Counties has soared. According to Knight Frank data, there was a 60% increase in property rental enquiries from the film and media industry between October and December 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.
Harriet Gore, head of the residential Film and Media team at Knight Frank, explains why the UK is rivalling Hollywood, and shares her experience providing a discreet and personalised home-finding service for some of the highest profile companies and actors in the business.
Can you tell us more about the services offered by Knight Frank’s Film, TV, Media and Entertainment team?
We act as a matchmaker, finding the perfect short- or long-term rentals for film and media professionals and the perfect tenant for landlords. This could be through working directly with the major studios, with film agents, or by building relationships directly with individual clients. Increasingly, I also assist in sourcing filming locations for film and television productions.
Actors are very private people and many of our referrals come through word of mouth. Maintaining an outstanding service and reputation for complete discretion is crucial to this. One of the aspects I love most about my job is the fascinating people I meet, but also that every day presents a new and exciting challenge - it keeps me on my toes.
Within Knight Frank we are lucky to have an amazing breadth of knowledge in the Film and Media space. Paul de Carvalho runs our Studios team, offering a development and management service for studios such as 3 Mills. Meanwhile our Capital Markets team covers consulting and acquisitions on the commercial side of the business.
How have you seen demand within this sector grow in recent years?
The last few years have been a rollercoaster. Like many industries, the Film and Media sector temporarily paused at the beginning of the pandemic. It was one of the only industries to continue relocating tenants to the UK with the introduction of “bubble” working. In the midst of lockdown, we found that tenants were increasingly favouring private rental accommodation over hotels and serviced accommodation, to minimise the risk of cast and crew becoming ill and disrupting filming. As it can also be a better value and more comfortable option, it is a trend that’s continued.
The lockdowns also caused a surge in the popularity of streaming services, with the production companies clamouring to produce new content, particularly TV series requiring longer filming schedules. The UK has become a leading hub for film and TV production talent, with films shot or made here recently including Wicked, Gladiator 2 and Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part Two. There are several reasons that have played into this. Competitive tax breaks offered by the UK offer a big incentive to film here, compounded by the impact of the Hollywood strikes in the last few years. More recently the fires in Los Angeles and the volatile picture of climate change in that region have prompted some actors to consider the UK as a longer-term home.
What clients do you work with, and how do you cater to their specific needs?
Trust and discretion are key. We are often required to sign non-disclosure agreements before viewings and with many of the major studios we have pre-agreed tenancy agreements to make the process as quick and seamless as possible. For the first time, we are seeing productions re-renting the same properties multiple times per year and actors are recommending our properties to each other. With so little suitable inventory available, properties which offer the required privacy and comfort levels are top of the list for the major studios.
We also offer a completely bespoke service, with a dedicated point of contact that will search the whole market for a client to match their exact requirements. Many of our properties are rented off market; as they have never been promoted online this offers extra privacy and peace of mind.
Which areas are most popular with film and media professionals?
One of my earliest roles in property was in Notting Hill, which has long been a popular location for film professionals. The most in-demand areas offer easy access to the major studios and include Hampstead, Highgate, Richmond and Windsor. Soho is also popular with actors performing in West End theatre productions and many post-production film studios are located here, too. Tenants are also looking for an experience staying in London and prefer areas offering British charm in addition to convenience and privacy.
The start of 2025 has brought a significant increase in new film and media rental enquiries. Turnkey properties available for short- and mid-term rentals in sought-after areas are constantly in high demand, with budgets spanning from £800 per week for one-bedroom apartments in Notting Hill up to £50,000 per week in Hampstead for large houses. For landlords these tenants can be very attractive, as they often use the property as a base to travel from, causing little wear and tear.
Find our more about Knight Frank’s Film, TV, Media and Entertainment team
