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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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

264 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:
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.

WhereIsMyLight · 25/04/2026 21:46

Some people have careers that mean they move constantly, makes sense to rent than wasting fees on solicitors, estate agents and stamp duty every 2-3 years.

Some don’t want the responsibility of house maintenance, that if something goes wrong, someone else has to fix it.

Some have secure housing association tenancies that will pass to their children.

Some have rented accommodation included in their jobs.

But most long term renters just simply can’t afford to buy.

Hereforthecommentz · 25/04/2026 21:48

whydidyoudoitfin · 25/04/2026 21:45

pretty sure its 2 years

Even easier then, it was 3 when we got ours 15 years ago

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

ilovepixie · 25/04/2026 21:49

I couldn’t afford to buy. I was on minimum wage even before there was a minimum wage! I couldn’t afford a deposit. None of my immediate Family have ever owned their own house, so it’s not on our radar as being important.

likelysuspect · 25/04/2026 21:49

Iocanepowder · 25/04/2026 21:29

Renting for life is a lot more common in some other countries, but they also have safer and stricter laws and regulations in place I believe.

If we take money out of the conversation, most of my renting experience was shit, with shit landlords who refused to fix things. So i would imagine some people may prefer their renting experience if they have had reliable landlords.

Home ownership is much higher in most EU countries than here

Although if you mean that those who rent are more likely to be able to rent for life in Europe compared to those who rent here, then yes, there are better protections.

Skybluepinky · 25/04/2026 21:49

Oh dear, how to show you are totally ignorant.
I don’t know anyone who wants to rent, but lots that wish that they were able to save a deposit but can’t do so due to the amount of rent they are paying.

Anon501178 · 25/04/2026 21:54

We rent, have done for 10 years.We are in a nice house, with nice area and neighbours, decent landlord and letting agent, but always feel abit anxious and would like to buy, but due to me needing to work part time and DH's full time income being relatively low, we do not have enough income to afford a mortgage on the size house we need, despite having just about enough for a deposit from inheritance.

We will not be able to buy until we both work full time....hopefully in several years when the kids are older but who knows, as the current cost of living might rinse our savings before then 🤦‍♀️

Cocktailglass · 25/04/2026 21:57

Bigtreeesss · 25/04/2026 21:15

🤨
what a goady post

Edited

Absolutely not being goady at all! I used to rent but at the first opportunity of getting a mortgage I did. I honestly really do not understand why anyone would give money to landlords. I saw my rent money as just gone, so looked at getting a mortgage for the cheapest property I could find, same area. Half the amount in payments so the money saved from meant I could use it to make it my home.

OP posts:
RoseField1 · 25/04/2026 21:59

Cocktailglass · 25/04/2026 21:57

Absolutely not being goady at all! I used to rent but at the first opportunity of getting a mortgage I did. I honestly really do not understand why anyone would give money to landlords. I saw my rent money as just gone, so looked at getting a mortgage for the cheapest property I could find, same area. Half the amount in payments so the money saved from meant I could use it to make it my home.

Who the fuck is choosing to rent when they have money for a deposit and the income to get a mortgage? Who are these people?

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.

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 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:
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.

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.

OPthefirst · 25/04/2026 22:01

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

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.

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 22:06

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 🤣

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.

RoseField1 · 25/04/2026 22:07

You know it's 2026 now, right?

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:
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!)

.

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”

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?