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AIBU?

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Why do people prefer to rent rather than buying a house?

285 replies

Cocktailglass · 25/04/2026 21:14

Genuine question, AIBU to not get that in the long run you pay off mortgage, own your home to pass on to your DC and rent, especially with the high rates now, is dead money?

I do of course understand getting a mortgage is harder now and house prices, I'm talking about people who have been renting all their lives.

Unless having rent paid for on benefits, I don't get why anyone working hasn't got on the property ladder, less to pay every month with a long term mortgage, eventually nothing to pay unlike rent.

As I said, not talking about now, but decades ago. You showed your earnings, were offered the best deal of what you could borrow, bought your first home within these means, a starter home with the intention of paying far less for payments than rent, property goes up in value, you buy your next home without too much of an increase, still less than renting. So the upgrading continues and initially you just get what you can afford to get on the ladder.

Renting does give you the benefit of any problems being the responsibility of the landlord but all depends on how good they are! With council properties in a much better position as houses are upgraded and issues dealt with (hopefully) more quickly.

Plainly speaking, you work, give a significant part of your income to someone else just to live in their house, pay bills and CT. What's the benefit of this rather than knowing you're paying straight into a loan for your own property, a financial asset, it's yours? Xxx

OP posts:
fundamentallyauthentic · 25/04/2026 22:16

A different perspective - I was terrible for money for a long time - awful family dysfunction with money that took me decades to shake off. No partner to buy with. No bank of mum and dad (until I was 49 and one of my parents gifted me a five figure sum). Spent some of my disposable income on crap. Had a few years in total of not working, thus depleting my savings pot. Boy, do I regret some of that now, and the property boom of recent years has passed me by and I am about to buy a small terraced house at 51 with a mortgage round my neck until 67 (but better than renting in house shares). The semi-detached or detached house is never going to happen now.

TheyGrewUp · 25/04/2026 22:16

Oh FFS @Cocktailglass. I bought my first flat in London in 1981. I was working for an investment bank, my salary was £9,200 (incredibly lucky), I'd saved £3k because I'm a canny git and my dad gave me £6k, which was actually guilt money (2nd wife and living overseas). I was able to do it because I was privileged. Most of my friends couldn't do it without help from parents, at least not in London. And that was 45 years ago.

DurinsBane · 25/04/2026 22:15

Because the don’t have a good credit rating, so they can’t get a mortgage?

TemperanceWest · 25/04/2026 22:15

Bigtreeesss · 25/04/2026 21:15

🤨
what a goady post

Edited

First post nails it! The "Xxx" are the icing on the goady cake.

likelysuspect · 25/04/2026 22:14

RosieSpring · 25/04/2026 22:12

What property could anyone put a deposit on in 2026 that costs 5000 pounds? You are completely out of touch.
Do you think renters don't know they are paying someone else's mortgage and it's dead money?

Yes there are lots of properties around the country for 50k to 100k where that would be a 10% and then 5% deposit. NE/midlands/some parts of the NW/Wales

Peony1985 · 25/04/2026 22:14

Cocktailglass · 25/04/2026 22:10

Not the case for me, was only myself and working my arse off to save for a deposit. Saving anything I could every month, I'm low maintenance and try to live cheaply! That's how I did it, have worked since age 16 and studied to get a good job.

Good for you. I’ve worked since I was 14.

My parents lived in a tied cottage so not having a mortgage was very normal in farming circles. Also paid a pittance.

BreakingBroken · 25/04/2026 22:13

well university students and new graduates will prefer to rent than buy, not having accumulated savings yet and not knowing where employment prospects are best.
young professionals who might be in a phase of working throughout the country or internationally.
people who are contemplating moving and need temporary accommodations (my daughter is selling and will rent for a year or so in a prospective community before committing to buying).

Cocktailglass · 25/04/2026 22:13

GeishaTrumpet · 25/04/2026 21:35

The simple fact is people can’t afford it.

That's my whole point, a mortgage is more affordable. Yes you need a deposit but back in the day it was a low amount.

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zukinizen · 25/04/2026 22:13

the majority of renters have it from the government? a life tenancy on a council house which rent you can afford especially if it is paid for you? that is a good deal and you don't sweat the small things to be able to find a job. You might not leave an inheritance but at least you have where to live until you are alive

Zov · 25/04/2026 22:12

Some who CHOOSE to rent for life, do it because they have a social housing tenancy, with a very affordable rent, (3 times cheaper than private rent in some areas,) a lifetime tenancy, all their repairs done, and maintenance on their property for life, (expensive roof repairs, new windows, new doors, new kitchen, new bathroom, new central heating system, new electrics, the works!)

And if they can't work/don't work for some reason they get their rent paid. Even when they retire. Other people who bought their property and brag about it being paid for, still have to shell out 1000s and 1000s of pounds for house repairs and maintenance, forever whilst their social housing friends, acquaintances, and family etc, are getting everything done as it's included in the rent.

Hope that answers your question @Cocktailglass Smile

NO-ONE should feel 'looked down on' as a renter. Many people who look down on people who rent (especially social housing) are jealous.

RosieSpring · 25/04/2026 22:12

Cocktailglass · 25/04/2026 22:04

Yes i know, I rented for 6 years before thinking about a mortgage. I wasn't earning much but saved a bit every month to put down a deposit of £5000 for first property.

What property could anyone put a deposit on in 2026 that costs 5000 pounds? You are completely out of touch.
Do you think renters don't know they are paying someone else's mortgage and it's dead money?

Peony1985 · 25/04/2026 22:11

DreamingOfGeneHunt · 25/04/2026 21:46

I couldn't afford it. Still can't. No help from parents. No inheritance. Let home to escape abusive alcoholics. I was homeless at one point. Trafficked. Dragged myself up to renting a council flat, and this will have to do.

I wasn’t any of those and I still can’t afford to buy.
Travelled in my 20’s so no deposit and not enough job security for the bank.
Never had a relationship that was committed enough to buy together until later life.
Its annoying that I am spunking money on rent but as the saying goes “ it’s expensive being poor”

Zov · 25/04/2026 22:10

thinktoomuchtoooften · 25/04/2026 21:49

I don’t believe anyone would rent if they could buy, unless it was very short term. Those that’s say they would are just denying it

Rubbish. Not everyone wants to be tied to an astronomical debt mortgage for life! (And forking out 10s of 1000s of pounds for repairs and maintenance!)

.

Cocktailglass · 25/04/2026 22:10

MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes · 25/04/2026 21:30

So where exactly was the deposit supposed to come from?

Was I supposed to pull £20k out of my arse?

Not everyone has a mummy and daddy that can either give them a decent deposit or who's house they can stay in while they save up.

Some of us have been out on our own since 16 and have always had to pay rent, which as you quote rightly say, is more expensive than a mortgage, giving you much less disposable income to save.

Bet you're also one of those people who doesn't understand why there are adults who don't drive because you thought everyone had lessons at 17.

Not the case for me, was only myself and working my arse off to save for a deposit. Saving anything I could every month, I'm low maintenance and try to live cheaply! That's how I did it, have worked since age 16 and studied to get a good job.

OP posts:
RoseField1 · 25/04/2026 22:07

You know it's 2026 now, right?

likelysuspect · 25/04/2026 22:06

Personally I believe there should be 100% mortgages but limited to 4x joint income

That way you buy something affordable but dont need a deposit.

Valid8me · 25/04/2026 22:06

Cocktailglass · 25/04/2026 22:04

Yes i know, I rented for 6 years before thinking about a mortgage. I wasn't earning much but saved a bit every month to put down a deposit of £5000 for first property.

I would like to see what kind of property you could buy these days with a £5k deposit 🤣

Cocktailglass · 25/04/2026 22:04

mondaytosunday · 25/04/2026 21:24

Even decades ago you needed a deposit. For some that’s almost impossible.
And people like freedom. No tying up their capital, no paying if things go wrong - two months notice and bye!

Yes i know, I rented for 6 years before thinking about a mortgage. I wasn't earning much but saved a bit every month to put down a deposit of £5000 for first property.

OP posts:
Valid8me · 25/04/2026 22:04

Renters cant afford to pay rent and save up a huge deposit at the same time

Without a huge deposit, they can't get a mortgage, even if mortgage repayments would be cheaper than their rent.

OPthefirst · 25/04/2026 22:01

Tell you’ve lived a life free of strife without telling me…

Happyjoe · 25/04/2026 22:01

Very very hard to save for a deposit when spending such a huge proportion of a wage on rent and bills. Not everyone can be a CEO of some company or whatever, some of us do normal jobs with normal average pay. To get out of the renting circle is almost impossible now imo, esp in the SE.

UnZenXennial · 25/04/2026 22:00

If anyone is telling you they'd rather rent than buy @Cocktailglass, I suspect it's because they can't afford the deposit (as many of us can't), and don't want to get drawn into a discussion with you about their finances, so they pretend they prefer renting.

Cocktailglass · 25/04/2026 22:00

cestlavielife · 25/04/2026 21:19

How much will you have paid in interest and maintenance over 25 years to own?
That rent and maintenamce and new carpets is "dead money"
What if you needed to relocate for work?
What if you got divorced?
What if you didnt have 100k deposit in london ?
Lots of reasons to rent.
Do not be a #SmugMortgagegee

Even with interest my first home cost half as much for mortgage than rent, same house in same area. Sorry I'm not in London, that's a whole different topic!

OP posts:
Burningbud1981 · 25/04/2026 22:00

@CocktailglassI honestly really do not understand why anyone would give money to landlords

Because people can’t afford the deposit? What is so difficult to understand? Where are people suppose to live?

Cocktailglass · 25/04/2026 21:59

ShetlandishMum · 25/04/2026 21:19

A lot of people can't afford to buy. It's not new knowledge.

That's the point, it was much cheaper to buy decades ago of you read, talking about this time.

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