ESTATE agents are warning that rents could rocket in Ealing during next year’s London Olympics as landlords charge up to quadruple the normal rate.

Sarb Rai, director of Martin & Co letting agency in High Street, Ealing, said: "Average three to four bedroom homes could be going for over three grand a week - it’s a very desirable location.

"Loads of people in the borough are going to be moving out to second homes, holidays abroad, sleeping on friend’s floors... there’s such a strong demand out there."

Accommodation is expected to be in short supply throughout summer 2012. There are 120,000 hotel rooms available overall in London, of which 65,000 have already been booked by the Olympic Organising Committee and international broadcasting companies. Altogether the Capital is expecting as much as a million extra visitors for the historic event as well as 8.8million total tickets sold.

"Transport links are great into central London and events in Weybridge and at Wembley are even closer," said Mr Rai. "Residents have the chance to make a lot of money."

Fellow estate agent, Kate Angel, said: "I’m even thinking of moving in with a mate and sleeping on her sofa. Prices will be going even higher because a lot of councils have actually put a ban on short-term lets."

With current council policy Londoners face something of a postcode lottery as to whether they will be able to benefit from the huge mark-up in rent charges. Some 27 London boroughs – including Ealing - said they had no problem with properties being let for short periods and did not require any planning permission.

But areas like Southwark, Islington, Kensington, Westminster and Camden warned people who let properties for short periods without permission could be served with enforcement notices. In some cases landlords could face fines of up to £20,000 and even a criminal record if they were deemed to be repeat offenders.

Those councils argue numerous complaints had been received by residents about noise and disruption in mansion blocks caused by short-term residents, and that with the international-flavoured party atmosphere of the world’s biggest sporting gathering such problems will only be aggravated further.

Rosemarie MacQueen, Westminster Council's head of city planning development and design, said: "There's a fear of crime, they don't know the faces of the people who are coming in and a lot of short term residents don't treat the place like home."

But there is a feeling the Olympic influx could bring some major advantages for the buzzing borough of Ealing, with estimates suggesting the games could bring £750 million worth of economic impact to the capital.

Letting agency director, Mr Rai, said: "A lot of overseas investors are coming in, new housing developments like Dickens Yard are being built; there’ll be a cross rail here in the future. Ealing is a nice place to be and people are happy. The area’s already got good business and it’s only going to get better."