Result
Buy vs Rent (1–30 years)—
The table below shows the average cost based on how long you stay (up to 30 years).
| Staying Length | Average Buying Cost | Average Renting Cost | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | Annual | Monthly | Annual | |
Note: This is a simplified financial model for comparison and education. Real outcomes depend on local taxes, insurance, fees, and market conditions.
These pages target common UK long-tail searches (cities + decision scenarios). Start here, then use the calculator above.
Top UK cities
Time horizon pages
Financing & decision scenarios
UK-specific topics (coming soon)
Tip: publish these pages as individual HTML files later. Even now, this hub helps you plan your internal linking structure.
Rent vs buy in the UK: what usually drives the result
In the UK, the rent vs buy decision is often dominated by your expected stay length, mortgage rate, and upfront transaction costs (including stamp duty and fees). Short stays can favour renting because buying and selling costs are spread across fewer years, while longer stays can favour buying if equity growth and home value changes outweigh ongoing costs.
How to use this UK rent vs buy calculator
- Start with your expected stay. Try 3, 5, 7, and 10 years to see how break-even changes.
- Use realistic mortgage rates and terms. Small changes can shift the outcome.
- Model stamp duty & fees. Use “Buying closing costs” to approximate upfront costs.
- Leasehold costs. Approximate service charges using the HOA / annual fee input.
Common UK assumptions to sanity-check
- Stamp duty & fees: vary by price band and buyer type; use a reasonable blended estimate.
- Council tax proxy: this calculator uses a percent-of-price proxy; adjust conservatively.
- Leasehold/service charges: add them as HOA / annual fees to reflect recurring costs for flats.
- Maintenance: older housing stock can increase annual upkeep.
FAQ
Is this rent vs buy calculator UK-only?
This page uses UK terminology and common cost categories. Use the country navigation for USA, Canada, and Australia so your labels and assumptions match local norms.
What affects break-even the most in the UK?
Time horizon, mortgage rate, stamp duty/fees, selling costs, rent growth, appreciation, and the opportunity cost of the deposit are usually the biggest drivers.
How do I model leasehold, ground rent, and service charges?
If you expect leasehold service charges or ground rent, approximate them using the HOA / annual fee input. This helps reflect recurring ownership costs for flats and leasehold properties.
Should I rent or buy if I might move in 3–5 years?
Many 3–5 year scenarios favour renting because upfront costs are concentrated over a short period. Change “Years you plan to stay” to see whether you reach break-even before your move.
Next step: publish UK city pages (London, Manchester, Birmingham) with local default inputs and short city-specific guidance.