Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Harrow: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Renting leaves you £27,959 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £3,591 a month, against £1,901 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Rent +£27,959
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £3,591
- Mortgage £2,914, of which £880 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,901
- Rent £1,715 plus council tax
- Median price
- £565,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £74,750
- £56,500 deposit + £18,250 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 27.5
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Harrow by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £335,000 | £1,394 | +£634 | Buy £39,310 |
| 2 bed | £565,000 | £1,715 | +£1,690 | Rent £27,959 |
| 3 bed | £650,000 | £2,064 | +£1,851 | Rent £22,811 |
| 4+ bed | £955,000 | £2,789 | +£2,953 | Rent £66,064 |
Average rent and house prices in Harrow
The ONS average private rent in Harrow is £1,778 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 2.9% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £551,000 (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 £2,232 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Harrow: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Harrow?
For a 2-bed home in Harrow, owning costs about £3,591 a month and renting about £1,901, both including council tax. Renting leaves you £27,959 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 Harrow?
The ONS average private rent in Harrow is £1,778 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £1,394 for 1 bed, £1,715 for 2 bed, £2,064 for 3 bed, £2,789 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 2.9% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Harrow?
The median price paid in Harrow is £551,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £565,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Harrow?
A first-time buyer paying £565,000 would pay £18,250 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £56,500, the cash needed on day one is about £74,750.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Harrow?
About 27.5: the 2-bed price is 27.5 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Harrow?
On the default assumptions, a 1-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £39,310 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.