--- title: "Rent vs Buy Calculator UK 2026 — Is Buying Cheaper Than Renting? | First Rung Now" description: "Free UK rent vs buy calculator (2026). Compare 10-year cost of renting vs a mortgage in your area — plus a free FCA-regulated UK broker quote." lang: en-GB json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "First Rung Now", "url": "https://firstrungnow.com", "description": "Independent UK mortgage education and broker matching service.", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressCountry": "GB" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "name": "First Rung Now", "url": "https://firstrungnow.com" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is it always cheaper to buy than rent in the UK?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Not in the first few years — buying front-loads fees and SDLT. But over 7+ years, mortgage + capital growth usually beats renting in most UK regions." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Should I take a 25 or 30-year UK mortgage?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Take the longest term you can and overpay if cashflow allows. Extending the term drops the mandatory payment; overpayments give you flexibility." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What's the break-even point for buying vs renting?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Nationally around year 5–7. In London it can stretch to 8–10 years because of higher SDLT and lower gross yields. Our calculator shows this for your postcode's numbers." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Should I buy now or wait for rates to fall?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Time in the market beats timing the market. If you can afford a 2-year fix now, you can remortgage into a lower rate later; renting throws that time away." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does the UK mortgage stress test still apply?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The FCA scrapped the affordability stress test in 2022, but individual lenders still stress-test at pay rate + 1–3% internally. Brokers know which lenders stress most gently." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is a fixed or tracker mortgage better in 2026?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Trackers win if base rate falls faster than markets expect; fixes win for peace of mind. Many UK borrowers now split — half fixed, half tracker — to hedge." } } ] } ] --- [Skip to content](#main) [![First Rung Now](/assets/logo-mark-BqLOgqvj.png) First Rung Now UK Mortgage Guides ](/) - Mortgages - Remortgages - Buy To Let - Bad Credit - Calculators - Guides - [Find a Broker](/find-a-mortgage-broker) - [About](/about) [Speak to a Vetted Broker](/find-a-mortgage-broker) 1. [Home](/) 2. [Calculators](/calculators) 3. Comparison Comparison Calculators # Mortgage & rent vs buy comparison calculators Every mortgage decision is a comparison — fixed vs. tracker, 25 vs. 30-year, rent vs. buy. These calculators put the numbers side by side. ## Rent vs buy calculator Enter your figures, then add your name and phone to reveal the result. Free, no credit check. Property price (£) Deposit (£) Mortgage rate (%) Comparable monthly rent (£) Years to compare Get your result & a free broker sense-check Add your name and phone (required) — we'll show your figures and optionally match you with a vetted FCA-regulated broker. No spam, no credit checks. Your name \* Phone number \* Email (optional) I'd like to be matched with a vetted broker for a free, no-obligation chat. Untick if you only want the calculation. Show my result By submitting you agree to our [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy). ## More comparison calculators ### Fixed vs tracker calculator Payment on a 5-year fix vs. a base-rate tracker under multiple rate scenarios. [Ask a broker to run this](/find-a-mortgage-broker) ### 25 vs 30-year mortgage calculator Longer term = lower payment, more lifetime interest. See both. [Ask a broker to run this](/find-a-mortgage-broker) ### Shorter vs longer term calculator Payment sensitivity at 15 / 20 / 25 / 30 / 35 year terms. [Ask a broker to run this](/find-a-mortgage-broker) ### Product comparison calculator Two products side by side including product fees and true monthly cost. [Ask a broker to run this](/find-a-mortgage-broker) ### Rate comparison calculator Every 0.25% on a £250k loan changes monthly payment by ~£35–£40. [Ask a broker to run this](/find-a-mortgage-broker) Every scenario above depends on lender-specific criteria (income multiples, ICR, stress rates, credit profile). A vetted FCA-regulated broker will run the exact numbers for your situation in one working day. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is it always cheaper to buy than rent in the UK? Not in the first few years — buying front-loads fees and SDLT. But over 7+ years, mortgage + capital growth usually beats renting in most UK regions. ### Should I take a 25 or 30-year UK mortgage? Take the longest term you can and overpay if cashflow allows. Extending the term drops the mandatory payment; overpayments give you flexibility. ### What's the break-even point for buying vs renting? Nationally around year 5–7. In London it can stretch to 8–10 years because of higher SDLT and lower gross yields. Our calculator shows this for your postcode's numbers. ### Should I buy now or wait for rates to fall? Time in the market beats timing the market. If you can afford a 2-year fix now, you can remortgage into a lower rate later; renting throws that time away. ### Does the UK mortgage stress test still apply? The FCA scrapped the affordability stress test in 2022, but individual lenders still stress-test at pay rate + 1–3% internally. Brokers know which lenders stress most gently. ### Is a fixed or tracker mortgage better in 2026? Trackers win if base rate falls faster than markets expect; fixes win for peace of mind. Many UK borrowers now split — half fixed, half tracker — to hedge. Why we ask for your details Calculators are educational. A free broker sense-check turns them into something actionable — specific to your credit profile, income type and lender criteria. ### Speak with a vetted broker Free introduction to an FCA-regulated adviser experienced in your scenario. [Match me with a broker](/find-a-mortgage-broker) ### All calculator categories - [Affordability](/calculators/affordability) - [Repayments](/calculators/repayments) - [Borrowing & LTV](/calculators/borrowing) - [Remortgage](/calculators/remortgage) - [First-Time Buyer](/calculators/first-time-buyer) - [Buy-to-Let](/calculators/buy-to-let) - [Equity](/calculators/equity) - [Costs & Stamp Duty](/calculators/costs) - [Overpayments](/calculators/overpayments) - [Comparison](/calculators/comparison) - [Specialist mortgages](/calculators/specialist) - [Refinance & Switching](/calculators/refinance) - [Income](/calculators/income) - [Investment](/calculators/investment) First Rung Now Independent UK mortgage education and broker matching. 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