More rent than pay a mortgage in london

New figures just out show that renters in the capital outnumber homeowners for the first time in a more than a decade,  government data released yesterday shows that last year 898,000 London households were occupied by private renters.

The figures, which provide data from as far back as 2005, show that a decade ago just 405,000 households were renting, while 1,150,000 were paying mortgages.

“Generation Rent” as it has become known is for the greater part  made up of potential buyers who are trapped into paying high rents which give them little or no chance of ever saving up the deposit for a home of their own, or even if they do save a deposit  they have little chance of satisfying the earnings to value ratio required to obtain a mortgage due to spiralling house prices.

The number of households lived in by those with mortgages has sunk to 883,000, it just shows how the high house prices are affecting home ownership in London.

In a sign that ever increasing house prices are making it ever more difficult for generation rent, the number of households lived in by those with mortgages has sunk to 883,000.

The figures, which provide data from as far back as 2005, show that a decade ago just 405,000 households were renting, while 1,150,000 were paying mortgages.

 

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

buying at auction uk
Breaking News

Most active property markets in 2025 revealed

Scotland and Yorkshire home to UK’s most active property markets in 2025 The latest research from The Property DriveBuy reveals that Scotland and Yorkshire have been home to the UK’s most active housing markets in 2025, with Birmingham, Somerset, Cornwall and Buckinghamshire also ranking within the top 10. The Property DriveBuy has analysed the latest…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

The Renters’ Rights Act: turning change into advantage

The private rental sector is entering a period of unprecedented change. For estate agents, the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 taking effect from May is not just another piece of legislation – it will reshape how you advise landlords, manage tenancies and maintain compliance. Mustafa Sidki of the real estate team at Thackray Williams explains how…
Read More
Christmas Decorations - Good or Bad for Selling
Breaking News

Lower mortgage rates help Santa deliver 600 more toys this Christmas

With Christmas fast approaching, falling mortgage rates could be doing more than easing household finances this festive season. In fact, if Santa himself were to secure a mortgage on the North Pole today, he would be saving more than £2,000 a year on his monthly mortgage repayments compared to taking out the same mortgage at…
Read More
Christmas Decorations - Good or Bad for Selling
Breaking News

Has your property paid for Christmas this year?

The latest research from Yopa has revealed that, despite a quieter year for the UK property market, the vast majority of homeowners will have effectively seen their property pay for Christmas, based on the increase in the average house price versus the average festive spend. Yopa analysed house price growth since the start of the…
Read More
Breaking News

Applicant budgets remain stable and rental prices in line with historic norms

Ratio of new renters per instruction rose by 5.1% from 8.9 to 9.4 applications per instruction. Average rental prices declined by 4% in November 2025, remaining closely aligned with November levels observed over the past four years. Year-to-date, average rental prices are 2% higher in 2025 compared to 2024.   New data from Foxtons, London’s…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

The Impact of Increasing Lease Conversions on Estate Agents in 2026

2026 is shaping up to be a watershed year for the property market. Economic pressures, shifting demand and regulatory changes are converging to create a surge in lease conversion applications. For estate agents, this “perfect storm” will reshape the portfolios they manage and redefine their role in advising landlords. Mustafa Sidki of the construction team…
Read More