What if I'd bought instead of rented?
The UK rent vs buy debate is complex — but the numbers often tell a story. This calculator gives an illustrative comparison of equity built through buying versus total rent paid over the same period. Adjust the sliders to your situation.
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Renting
Buying a £300,000 property with a 10% deposit and selling after 15 years could illustratively leave you with £148,000 in equity, versus having paid £270,000 in rent with nothing to show for it. This is a simplified illustration — it doesn't include buying costs, maintenance, or the opportunity cost of the deposit.
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Is buying always better than renting?
Not necessarily — the answer depends heavily on how long you stay, local house price growth, your mortgage rate vs rental cost, and what you do with money not spent on a deposit. This calculator focuses on equity and rent paid, but buying also involves Stamp Duty (variable by price), solicitor fees, surveys, and ongoing maintenance costs not modelled here.
In the UK, house prices have historically grown at roughly 3–5% per year on average nationally, though this varies enormously by region. London and the South East have outperformed significantly over long periods; other regions have been more modest. The figures above are illustrative only and should not be used as the basis for financial decisions.
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Illustrative purposes only. This calculator is a significant simplification of the rent vs buy comparison. It does not account for Stamp Duty Land Tax, buying/selling costs, mortgage arrangement fees, buildings insurance, maintenance, service charges, ground rent, or the investment return on the deposit if renting. House prices can fall as well as rise. Not financial advice. Consult an FCA-authorised mortgage adviser and/or financial planner for personalised guidance.