Free tool
Buy vs rent
calculator
An honest long-term comparison. Includes deposit opportunity cost, maintenance, stamp duty, house price growth and rent growth — not just monthly payments.
If you buy
If you rent
Time horizon & growth
Important: this is not regulated advice
Generic illustration for information only — not regulated financial, tax or legal advice and not a substitute for a solicitor, accountant or FCA-regulated mortgage broker. Defaults assume £7,500 stamp duty + £2,500 buying fees, 2% selling fees, 1%/yr maintenance and £25/mo insurance. Forecast figures depend on market conditions that nobody can predict with confidence.
After 10 years
Buying wins
By
£101,776
Buyer equity
£250,484
Buy /mo y1
£2,027
Buying isn't always better
Short holding periods, flat or falling house prices, and high mortgage rates all swing the maths toward renting. The break-even point is often longer than people assume.
The deposit matters most
The single biggest variable is what the renter does with the deposit. If it sits in a current account earning nothing, buying almost always wins. Invested sensibly, it's a real contest.
Things this doesn't price
Flexibility to move, security of tenure, the freedom to renovate, the hassle of landlords. These are real — just not easily put in pounds.
Estimates only and not regulated financial advice. House prices, rents and investment returns are uncertain. Speak to an FCA-regulated adviser for personal recommendations.