Hull is the happiest place to rent in the UK
Leading innovative lettings platform, Howsy, has looked at where across the UK offers the best mix of happiness and affordable rental costs.
Howsy analysed data from the ONS on the wellbeing score of each area of the UK before dividing this by the cost of renting in each area to see where offered the lowest rental cost for every positive point of wellbeing.
Top of the table was Kingston upon Hull, with a wellbeing score of 7.59 and an average monthly rental cost of £421 a month, resulting in a rent to happiness cost of £55.47.
Blaenau Gwent was the second happiest place to rent with the most affordable price tag at £56.57 in monthly rent for every positive wellbeing point scored.
Wales also accounted for the third, fourth and fifth happiest locations to rent with Rhondda Cynon Taf, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire scoring £57.22, £57.86 and £58.21 respectively.
Bolsover came sixth, with Powys accounting for the fifth Welsh entry in the top ten and Dumfries and Galloway ranking number eight as the first Scottish entry.
North East Lincolnshire completes the top 10 with a score of £61.42 in rental costs for every positive wellbeing point scored.
Founder and CEO of Howsy, Calum Brannan, commented:
“Having a safe, suitable roof over our head is one of the key things we all need in life and without this, wellbeing and happiness can suffer.
With more of us relying on the lettings sector to provide this roof it’s become a crowded place, and the theme of happiness isn’t one we often associate with renting due to inadequate stock levels, poor customer service, a clunky outdated process and high costs.
While we can’t keep rents from an increasing, we can definitely make the rental space a happier one and technology is helping us to address these traditional sticking points to provide a better, happier, more stress-free experience.”
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Top 10 Locations – by Happiness to Rent Ratio
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Location
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Price Per Happiness Point
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Happiness Rating
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Average Rent
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Kingston upon Hull
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£55.47
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7.59
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£421
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Blaenau Gwent
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£56.57
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7.30
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£413
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Rhondda Cynon Taf
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£57.22
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7.34
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£420
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Neath Port Talbot
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£57.86
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7.53
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£436
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Carmarthenshire
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£58.21
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7.67
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£447
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Bolsover
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£59.23
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8.07
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£478
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Powys
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£60.34
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7.43
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£448
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Dumfries and Galloway
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£61.01
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7.80
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£476
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Gwynedd
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£61.20
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7.78
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£476
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North East Lincolnshire
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£61.42
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7.49
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£460
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