Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Brentwood: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Renting and buying finish within £2,710 of each other after 7 years: too close to call. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £2,704 a month, against £1,566 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Close +£2,710
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £2,704
- Mortgage £2,166, of which £654 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,566
- Rent £1,399 plus council tax
- Median price
- £420,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £48,000
- £42,000 deposit + £6,000 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 25.0
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Brentwood by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £275,000 | £1,107 | +£561 | Buy £24,602 |
| 2 bed | £420,000 | £1,399 | +£1,138 | Close £2,710 |
| 3 bed | £532,500 | £1,716 | +£1,495 | Rent £22,607 |
| 4+ bed | £840,000 | £2,408 | +£2,645 | Rent £73,676 |
Average rent and house prices in Brentwood
The ONS average private rent in Brentwood is £1,620 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 2.5% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £500,000 (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 £2,007 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Brentwood: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Brentwood?
For a 2-bed home in Brentwood, owning costs about £2,704 a month and renting about £1,566, both including council tax. Renting and buying finish within £2,710 of each other after 7 years: too close to call. 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 Brentwood?
The ONS average private rent in Brentwood is £1,620 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £1,107 for 1 bed, £1,399 for 2 bed, £1,716 for 3 bed, £2,408 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 2.5% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Brentwood?
The median price paid in Brentwood is £500,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £420,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Brentwood?
A first-time buyer paying £420,000 would pay £6,000 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £42,000, the cash needed on day one is about £48,000.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Brentwood?
About 25.0: the 2-bed price is 25.0 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Brentwood?
On the default assumptions, a 1-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £24,602 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.