Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Fareham: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Renting and buying finish within £3,194 of each other after 7 years: too close to call. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,926 a month, against £1,241 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Close +£3,194
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,926
- Mortgage £1,496, of which £452 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,241
- Rent £1,073 plus council tax
- Median price
- £290,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £29,000
- £29,000 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 22.5
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Fareham by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £172,500 | £832 | +£222 | Buy £18,348 |
| 2 bed | £290,000 | £1,073 | +£685 | Close £3,194 |
| 3 bed | £345,000 | £1,330 | +£757 | Close £241 |
| 4+ bed | £505,000 | £1,934 | +£1,112 | Rent £17,763 |
Average rent and house prices in Fareham
The ONS average private rent in Fareham is £1,176 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 0.9% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £345,000 (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 £2,018 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Fareham: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Fareham?
For a 2-bed home in Fareham, owning costs about £1,926 a month and renting about £1,241, both including council tax. Renting and buying finish within £3,194 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 Fareham?
The ONS average private rent in Fareham is £1,176 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £832 for 1 bed, £1,073 for 2 bed, £1,330 for 3 bed, £1,934 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 0.9% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Fareham?
The median price paid in Fareham is £345,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £290,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Fareham?
A first-time buyer paying £290,000 would pay £0 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £29,000, the cash needed on day one is about £29,000.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Fareham?
About 22.5: the 2-bed price is 22.5 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Fareham?
On the default assumptions, a 1-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £18,348 after 7 years.
How many years until buying pays off in Fareham?
The lead first changes hands in year 9 on the default settings. Staying longer spreads stamp duty and selling costs over more years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.