Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs have become two of London’s most lucrative short-let markets. With their modern residential towers, fast transport connections, riverside setting and steady stream of business travellers, many landlords in E14 are curious about the actual earning potential of Airbnb.
The challenge is separating realistic figures from wishful projections.
E14 is not a simple market: building rules vary dramatically, guest demand shifts between corporate and leisure segments, and the London 90-night rule limits year-round STR income unless a landlord switches to a hybrid strategy.
This guide sets out a grounded, practical income overview based on real performance trends, seasonality patterns, and property characteristics in Canary Wharf & the Isle of Dogs.
Short-let performance in Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs is shaped by a mix of factors that make this area both high-potential and highly specialised.
E14 properties fall into distinct categories that perform differently:
Generally, well-presented 1- and 2-bed flats in quality buildings outperform older stock because short-let guests prioritise:
E14 isn’t a typical tourist market. The guest mix includes:
This mix supports healthy occupancy throughout the year, especially Monday–Thursday, when business and contractor demand spikes.
E14 doesn’t behave like central tourist zones (e.g., Westminster, Kensington). Instead, the market follows:
The advantage?
Canary Wharf’s corporate ecosystem means income remains more stable than in typical leisure markets.
While every property performs differently, the following ranges reflect realistic income potential for compliant operations, after platform fees but before management and cleaning costs.
Typical nightly rate: £110–£150
Peak nightly rate: £160–£200
Annual achievable revenue (mixed STR + mid-term): £18,000–£27,000
Studios are compact but benefit from lower cleaning costs and strong weekday contractor demand.
Typical nightly rate: £150–£200
Peak nightly rate: £220–£260
Annual achievable revenue: £28,000–£40,000
One-beds are the “workhorse” of the E14 short-let market, consistently delivering high occupancy year-round.
Typical nightly rate: £220–£300
Peak nightly rate: £300–£450
Annual achievable revenue: £38,000–£55,000+
Two-beds attract corporate guests travelling together, families, and long-stay relocators.
Larger units also command higher weekend rates.
Typical nightly rate: £280–£380
Peak nightly rate: £400–£550
Annual achievable revenue: £45,000–£70,000+
Large units perform best when professionally staged and offered to premium corporate travel markets.
These are rare but often outperform flats because:
Annual achievable revenue: £50,000–£85,000+
(depending on size, finish, and occupancy strategy)
The London 90-night rule caps entire-home STR bookings to 90 nights per year unless planning permission has been granted, which is extremely rare in E14.
If a landlord relies only on STR, their annual revenue is limited by:
This stops many landlords from maximising property potential.
Most landlords in Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs now operate a blended model:
This approach allows:
Let’s take a well-presented 1-bedroom apartment in a modern building near South Quay DLR.
Short-let (90 nights):
Mid-term lets (275 days):
Total annual revenue:
£33,000–£36,000+
Corporates and relocations prefer modern apartments in Canary Wharf & Isle of Dogs.
They value:
A modern E14 unit typically has stronger appeal than similar-priced units in Zone 2 elsewhere.
Short-let income in E14 is significantly shaped by details that are often overlooked.
This is unique to E14:
Some buildings are known for allowing short-lets quietly; others are proactively anti-STR.
A landlord in a relaxed building may outperform a landlord in a restrictive one even with the same property type.
Apartments facing the river or Canary Wharf skyline attract both leisure and business stays.
Dark, inward-facing units need excellent staging to compete.
Guests in premium buildings often book based on:
These soft factors translate directly into higher nightly rates.
E14 guests — particularly corporates — react strongly to:
A £2,500 investment in furnishing often increases annual revenue by £5,000–£8,000.
False.
Weekend leisure demand has grown dramatically due to the Elizabeth Line and popularity of riverside stays.
Not necessarily.
Occupancy on one-beds is often higher and more stable, creating comparable annual revenue.
For typical leisure markets, yes.
For Canary Wharf, corporate stays soften only slightly.
Not within the 90-night restriction unless planning permission has been granted and full STR is permitted by lease — both extremely rare.
Good operators discuss realistic, data-informed models, not fantasy numbers.
In practical terms:
But these ranges assume:
E14 is a high-demand, high-expectation market.
When managed properly, the income potential is excellent.