High cost of renting and buying by hospitals highlights need for healthcare housing help

Rental deposit replacement scheme, Ome, has looked at the cost of buying and renting a home around hospital sites throughout England and what this means for the hard-working front line nurses based on the average net salary available in each region for those working in the profession.

Ome looked at the current average house price for each hospital postcode, the average cost of renting each month, the rental deposit required and how much of the average nurse’s salary would be required to cover these costs.

Renting: Data Sheet 1

The research shows that when it comes to renting, the average cost per month around hospital sites in England comes in at £891. This is 5% higher than the current average across England and accounts for 47% of the average nurse’s salary.

The data, therefore suggests that the average nurse is required to find £1,114 upfront for a rental deposit, compared to an average of £1,065 across England as a whole. This deposit cost alone accounts for 59% of the average nurse’s monthly wage.

The issue of rental affordability is, of course, much higher in London where the average rent of £1,905 around London hospitals is 124% higher than the national average. As a result, according to these figures, the average London nurse is paying out 87% of their average monthly net salary on rent, with a deposit requiring more than a month’s wage (109%). In the East of England, the South East, the South West and the West Midlands, the average cost of renting accounts for 43% or more of the average nurse’s salary. A significant proportion of their wage.

The least affordable hospital postcodes are those housing the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth Hospital in St John’s Wood. The average rent around the hospital tops £3,150, which equates to 144% of the average London nurse’s salary and requires a rental deposit of £3,938 in order to secure a property.

Outside of London, the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford is home to an average rental cost of £2,037. This equates to 105% of the average nurse’s salary in the area, with a deposit costing £2,546; 131% of the average monthly earnings.

Top 10 Least Affordable Hospitals to Rent Around: Data Sheet 3

Buying: Data Sheet 2

When it comes to buying in the immediate vicinity of a hospital in England, the average house price is 26% higher than the national average at £312,764; with a house price to income ratio of 13.8 compared to just 9.9 across the nation as a whole.

The average house price surrounding hospitals is higher than the English average in a total of five English regions, with London again the highest at £817,898; 213% more than the average in England as a whole with a house price to income ratio of 31.2.

There are a total of five hospitals in London’s W1 postcode where the average house price is an eye-watering £2.4m and with the average nurse taking home an annual net salary of £26,244 the result is a house price to income ratio of 91.5.

Just outside of the M25, St Margaret’s Hospital in Epping is home to an average house price of £616,293; a house price to income ratio of 32.4. Spire Clare Park Hospital in Farnham and Spire Tunbridge Wells in Kent are also home to house price to income ratios of 29.9 and 29.5 respectively.

Top 10 Hospitals with the Highest House Price to Income Ratio: Data Sheet 4

Properganda PR

National and local media coverage for property businesses. Journo quotes delivered in minutes.

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

Boost Spring Valuations: Is Upgrading to Double Glazing Still a Top ROI?

Come spring, the property market always picks up pace. As an estate agent, you know the questions start flooding in from homeowners wanting to maximise their sale price. Top of the list for many? Windows. Specifically, is splashing out on new double glazing actually going to deliver a worthwhile return when they sell? It’s a…
Read More
LIVING BY THE SEASIDE 2022
Breaking News

COVID five years on: City and coastal trends reverse as homes by the sea take longer to sell

Rightmove’s new report looks at how the market has changed five years on from the pandemic starting Many city and coastal trends have now reversed, with homes near the sea taking three weeks longer to sell compared to 2020, and the majority of buyers in the capital looking to stay rather than leave London A…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

What it takes to make real estate development financing work

By Daniel Austin, CEO and co-founder at ASK Partners Securing financing for real estate development has become an uphill battle. With interest rates still elevated, inflation pushing construction costs higher, and planning delays introducing further uncertainty, developers face a challenging environment. Traditional lenders, constrained by regulatory pressures and rising risk aversion, have scaled back, creating…
Read More
Home and Living

Signs Your Roof Needs Professional Repair: Don’t Ignore These Red Flags!

The roof of your home is one of its most vital components. It serves as the first line of defense against the elements, shielding you and your family from rain, snow, wind, and UV rays. A sturdy roof also enhances the energy efficiency of your house, helping to regulate temperature and reduce heating and cooling…
Read More
for sale sign london
Estate Agent Talk

Cheap Local Estate Agent

How much is the average estate agency fees in England for 2025? The figure of 1.42% (including VAT) is the average estate agency fee in 2025. This average fee for selling your home can vary with figures between 1% and up to 3.5%, there may be some lower and higher too. How you are looking…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

The Future of Real Estate: How Technology is Revolutionizing the Industry

It is also evident that the real estate industry is going through a lot of changes mainly due to changes in technology. Technology is changing almost every aspect of the industry and this includes the purchasing, selling, and advertising of properties. Consumers need a more efficient and enhanced form of transactions, real estate professionals must…
Read More