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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:
pteromum · 25/04/2026 21:24

ignoring the goady parts, and focusing on the question decades ago.

a tenancy can be passed to those children, a property would be taken in care home fees.

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!

Giraffeandthedog · 25/04/2026 21:21

I think there are very few people who prefer to rent. More people who, for one reason or another, have to rent.

Of the (few) who prefer to, reasons could be

  • sold a house and looking for a new one
  • only in the area for a short time
  • employer are paying as part of relocation
  • property developer (or other investor) who has their liquidised assets to invest elsewhere
Octavia64 · 25/04/2026 21:21

Self employed people have trouble getting mortgages.

anyone has trouble getting a mortgage to cover house prices in large parts of the south east and this was true twenty or thirty years ago as well.

my parents couldn’t get a mortgage for a house down south so they moved to Lancashire and this was in 1980.

MeridaBrave · 25/04/2026 21:21

There was another post about someone who bought a flat that’s worth less than it was bought for 10 years ago and the mortgage is higher than the rent would be.

Likeabirdjoyfully · 25/04/2026 21:21

Because saving a deposit is too hard
To avoid maintenance costs
To be flexible

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

ShetlandishMum · 25/04/2026 21:19

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

MikeRafone · 25/04/2026 21:16

Where are these people that prefer to rent?

Bigtreeesss · 25/04/2026 21:15

🤨
what a goady post

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