Compare · Calculator 04

What could buying or renting leave you with?

Compare household wealth under matched buying and renting scenarios across several time horizons.

1 Enter your figures2 Review assumptions3 Explore the result

Your figures

1. Confirm the comparison
2. Buying scenario
3. Renting scenario and shared assumptions

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10-year comparison in today’s money

Buying is ahead by £30,022Both scenarios begin with the same capital and invest whichever monthly option is cheaper.

How to read the result

The difference compares modelled net wealth after 10 years. Buying includes the property value, investments and remaining mortgage balance. Renting includes the investment account built from money that would otherwise have funded the purchase and any higher monthly ownership costs.

Buying net wealth£148,756
Renting net wealth£118,734
Mortgage payment£1,529/mo
YearsBuyingRenting
£59,250renter invests at the start+Monthly differenceinvested by whichever option costs less5.0% a yearyour investment-return assumption

Investing the difference: the renter begins by investing the deposit, transaction tax and buying costs. Each month, the model compares rent with mortgage payments, maintenance and service charges; the cheaper option invests the gap. This keeps the comparison on equal financial footing.

First modelled crossover

Year 4Change the horizon and growth assumptions to test whether the comparison remains stable.
Assumptions used
  • The renter invests the deposit, transaction tax and buying costs at the start.
  • Each month, the cheaper option invests the difference in household costs.
  • The home is sold at the chosen horizon and selling costs are deducted.
  • Tax reliefs, surcharges, mortgage product changes and personal investment tax are not calculated automatically.

This household-wealth comparison cannot capture security, flexibility, maintenance effort or the personal value of either home. Verify transaction tax using the official calculator for your jurisdiction.