Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Brent: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Renting leaves you £39,244 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £4,290 a month, against £2,100 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Rent +£39,244
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £4,290
- Mortgage £3,533, of which £1,067 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £2,100
- Rent £1,934 plus council tax
- Median price
- £685,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £92,750
- £68,500 deposit + £24,250 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 29.5
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Brent by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £435,000 | £1,577 | +£1,050 | Buy £26,845 |
| 2 bed | £685,000 | £1,934 | +£2,190 | Rent £39,244 |
| 3 bed | £675,000 | £2,271 | +£1,793 | Close £3,456 |
| 4+ bed | £1,052,500 | £3,052 | +£3,274 | Rent £63,677 |
Average rent and house prices in Brent
The ONS average private rent in Brent is £2,014 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 3.4% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £550,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026).
Default scenario: 2-bed home, 7 years stay, 10% deposit, 4.80% fixed mortgage, monthly difference invested in a S&S ISA at 7.5%. Council tax is £1,987 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Brent: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Brent?
For a 2-bed home in Brent, owning costs about £4,290 a month and renting about £2,100, both including council tax. Renting leaves you £39,244 better off after 7 years. This assumes a 2-bed home, 7 years stay, 10% deposit, 4.80% fixed mortgage, monthly difference invested in a S&S ISA at 7.5%.
What is the average rent in Brent?
The ONS average private rent in Brent is £2,014 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £1,577 for 1 bed, £1,934 for 2 bed, £2,271 for 3 bed, £3,052 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 3.4% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Brent?
The median price paid in Brent is £550,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £685,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Brent?
A first-time buyer paying £685,000 would pay £24,250 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £68,500, the cash needed on day one is about £92,750.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Brent?
About 29.5: the 2-bed price is 29.5 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Brent?
On the default assumptions, a 1-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £26,845 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.