Rent vs buy
Is it cheaper to buy or keep renting? This compares the real cost of each over the years ahead, using official local rents and prices. Free
Average private rent in England: £1,466 a month (1 bed £1,199, 2 bed £1,341, 3 bed £1,497, 4+ bed £2,170), September 2026. Average house price £294,000.
How it adds up
Buying costs include stamp duty, legal fees, mortgage interest, maintenance (1% of value a year) and insurance, minus the equity you'd build. Renting costs include rent and the interest your deposit could have earned. Defaults: local price growth over the last 5 years (UK House Price Index) and local rent change over 12 months (ONS Price Index of Private Rents).