For many of us, whether to rent or buy isn't up for debate.
Renting is simply the only option until you can raise a deposit for a home you want to buy, as well as save for all the other home-buying costs that go with it.
But if you're already in a financial position to buy your own property, what should you consider first?
This guide weighs up the pros and cons of renting a home versus buying one.
Is it better to rent or buy?
Like any big question, the answer is not always straightforward.
As well as your financial position, it comes down to your personal circumstances, long-term plans and even the current housing market conditions.
You'll need to consider ongoing monthly costs, as well as upfront ones.
For example, household bills, such as council tax and water, may be comparable between renting and buying a home. But the cost of your mortgage might mean that owning a home actually works out cheaper.
Pros of buying a home
1. Investing in your future
Providing you're on a repayment style mortgage (rather than interest-only), your monthly repayments will be gradually building up your equity stake in your home.
And if your property increases in value, you can add that you'll be gaining money on your home.
You can then take the total equity and use it to put down as a deposit on a different property at some point in the future.
And if you've bought your home, once you’ve paid off your mortgage, you'll own it outright. That means no more monthly payments at all.
2. Autonomy over the home you live in (and when you move)
If a home is yours, it gives you the freedom to do what you like to it (within given laws and restrictions).
You can renovate it to add value and create a home that suits your particular taste and style.
You’ll also be in control of deciding if and when you move, rather than a landlord.
3. Building up experience
The buying process can be a daunting one, but once you have done it, it is very similar for future purchases.
If you're a first-time buyer, owning your first home can be a great way to kick-start financial planning for your future and help you to create a household budget to manage the costs of running a home.
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Cons of buying a home
1. A big financial commitment
There’s no doubt, buying a property is a major financial commitment.
You’ll need to stump up significant upfront costs, including putting down a deposit.
The larger your deposit, the more likely you are to get a good mortgage rate. This affects how much you pay each month for your mortgage repayments.
What's the minimum deposit for a house?
You'll also have to pay solicitor's fees, which can be a big dent in your bank account.
Furthermore, you’ll need a pot of money to cover the ongoing maintenance of the property. Leaking shower? Broken boiler? It’s all your responsibility.
2. Less flexibility
You can’t be as fleet of foot as a renter when your own your home, because moving becomes a costly and time-consuming process.
As a homeowner, you’re also subject to the influences of the wider housing market, which means the value of your property may go down as well as up.
If conditions turn against you, you could even find yourself in negative equity. That's when the total borrowing that’s secured against your home is greater than the price you could sell it for.
3. The prospect of rising repayments
When you take out a mortgage, it’s important to prepare for potential changes in future rates.
A fixed mortgage can lock you in with the same rate for several years. But once it ends, you might face a higher rate and bigger repayments, as you're usually moved onto a variable rate. Check the small print on your mortgage agreement.
There are severe financial consequences if you fall behind on monthly repayments to your mortgage lender, and you risk having your home repossessed.
Pros of renting a home
1. Maximum flexibility
Renting allows you significant flexibility, as it's typically quicker to rent a home than to buy one.
Plus, it’s easier to move around. In many cases, you can break a rental contract after six months by giving two months' notice.
In fact, renting can be a useful test before you decide to commit and buy in a given area.
2. No major financial responsibility
While you will of course have to pay rent, you won’t be tied into monthly repayments on a loan with a bank and risk the repercussions of falling into negative equity.
Furthermore, you won’t have to foot the bill for the maintenance and general upkeep of the property.
It is the landlord’s responsibility to keep the property in good condition, and pay for decoration and its general upkeep.
3. Ban on tenant fees
An outright ban on lettings agent fees kicked in on 1 June 2019.
Landlords and their agents are no longer able to charge you for things like credit checks, inventories and references, putting hundreds of pounds back in your pocket.
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Cons of renting a home
1. Rent could be dead money
Your monthly payments will be going to a landlord rather than building up your own stake in bricks and mortar.
2. The ball's not in your court
You’ll be at the behest of whoever owns your home. That means that if they increase the rent at contract renewal, get different tenants or decide to sell, there's not much you can do about it.
The landlord will also typically impose restrictions on what you can and cannot do in your home. Many, for example, won't allow you to keep pets.