In 2017 the gap between the cost of buying and renting fell by 59%, though homebuyers typically saved £900 compared to renters annually.
The price gap between buying and renting is falling – but homeowners are still better off than renters in all parts of the UK, Halifax research has found.
In 2017 the gap between the cost of buying and renting fell by 59%, though homebuyers typically saved £900 compared to renters annually.
Russell Galley, managing director of Halifax, said: “The gap between buying and renting is narrowing, primarily driven by reduced first time buyer prices deposits in some regions and continuing house price growth, meaning buyers are paying more on their mortgages.
“With more products available for borrowers, these factors combined have pushed up the price of buying quicker than the price of renting. Meanwhile, the cost of rent, household maintenance and average deposits have remained broadly flat.”
Housing costs, including a mortgage on a three-bed home in the UK, totalled £729 a month in December 2018, compared to the average monthly rent of £759 for the same property type.
Outside of London, Scottish buyers have the highest average annual savings of 20% (£1,574) vs renting, compared to the smallest financial gain in Yorkshire, where the cost of buying is only 5% lower than renting (£361).
Regionally, buyers are significantly better off than renters in Wales with annual savings of over £2,000 (14%), where by in Northern Ireland mortgage payers are saving 7% less than their Welsh counterparts at £382 annually.
