The private school rental markets where school fees could cover a year’s rent or more

If there’s one thing as eye-wateringly expensive as the UK rental sector, it’s the cost of private education and innovative letting platform, Bunk, has looked at how far the annual school fees for the nation’s ‘best value’ private schools will get you in their respective rental markets.

Bunk looked at the annual cost of attending what is considered the nation’s more affordable private schools, before looking at the cost of renting in each town and how long the fee could get you by in paid rent.

On average, the rent surrounding these schools is 9% higher than the towns they are located in but the annual fees to attend these schools are an average of 38% more a year than the cost of renting in the surrounding town.

Bradford Grammar School tops the table and while the annual fees of £13,140 aren’t the highest in the list, they are 107% more than the cost of renting in Bradford for a year (£6,360), enough to cover your rent for 24.8 months!

Nottingham High School ranks second, with the annual fees some 99% higher than the annual rent, covering 23.9 months of rent in Nottingham.

The annual cost of attending the King Edward VI High School for Girls (£13,338) in Birmingham is 55% higher than the annual cost of rent in the city and could put a roof over your head for 18.7 months in the local rental market.

Reading Blue Coast School for Girls (17.3), the Manchester Grammar School (15.4), the Glasgow Academy (14.4), the Maynard School in Exeter (14.1), the St Helen and St Katharine School in Abingdon (12.4) and George Watson’s College in Edinburgh (12.3) all charge an annual fee between 3% and 45% higher than the annual cost of renting and could see you rent for a year or more in the local area.

St Benedict’s School in Ealing ranks last, and with fees of £17,655 a year it’s actually the most expensive of the lot while the annual rent cost of £17,808 to rent in Ealing is the least affordable spot for tenants.

However, it means the school comes in -1% cheaper than the annual rental cost although you could still rent in Ealing for 11.9 months for the cost of a year’s education!

Co-founder of Bunk, Tom Woolard, commented:

“There’s nothing like trivialising the high cost of renting to make yourself feel better about life, but it seems you have to go to some drastic lengths of in order to do so.

For many, the cost of renting alone is a financial struggle and so the idea of spending a year or more of rent on anything else is probably incomprehensible although those attending these ‘great value’ schools are unlikely to see the dark side of the rental sector, let alone struggle in it.”

School
Outcode
Location
Annual School Fees
Annual Rent in Town
Annual Fee to Rent Difference
Monthly Rent in Town
School Fee in Rental Months
Bradford Grammar School
BD9
Bradford
£13,140
 £6,360
107%
£530
24.8
Nottingham High School
NG7
Nottingham
£15,444
 £7,764
99%
£647
23.9
King Edward VI High School for Girls
B15
Birmingham
£13,338
 £8,580
55%
£715
18.7
Reading Blue Coat School
RG4
Reading
£17,514
 £12,120
45%
£1,010
17.3
The Manchester Grammar School
M13
Manchester
£12,930
 £10,068
28%
£839
15.4
The Glasgow Academy
G12
Glasgow
£12,192
 £10,140
20%
£845
14.4
The Maynard School
EX1
Exeter
£13,752
 £11,712
17%
£976
14.1
St Helen and St Katharine School
OX14
Abingdon
£16,995
 £16,392
4%
£1,366
12.4
George Watson’s College
EH10
Edinburgh
£13,170
 £12,816
3%
£1,068
12.3
St Benedict’s School
W5
Ealing, London
£17,655
 £17,808
-1%
£1,484
11.9

Properganda PR

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

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

How Technology is Changing the Prime Property Viewing Experience

The world of luxury real estate has always been about delivering a premium, personal experience. But in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, even the most traditional sectors are being reshaped by technology—and prime property viewings are no exception. From augmented reality to AI-driven virtual tours, the way buyers interact with high-end properties has changed dramatically.…
Read More
Love or Hate Rightmove
Breaking News

Average two-year fixed mortgage rate for 60% LTV now cheaper than five-year rate

The average two-year fixed mortgage rate for those with a 40% deposit (60% LTV) is now cheaper than the average five-year fixed equivalent, the first time this has happened since the mini-Budget The average two-year fixed, 60% LTV mortgage rate is now 4.18%, while the five-year equivalent is 4.19% The gap between average two-year fixed…
Read More
Overseas Property

How UK Property Investors Can Manage Exchange Rate Risk When Buying Off-Plan Overseas

Off-plan purchases are especially common in developing overseas property markets with a high proportion of international investors. In these less mature markets, a significant share of stock is sold directly by developers, making off-plan transactions a natural sales model. These opportunities appeal to international buyers because they typically require less upfront cash due to extended…
Read More
Breaking News

Foxtons Lettings Market Index – March 2025

London rental market gains momentum as new rental listings surge, Foxtons data shows   March saw a 14% increase in new rental listings across London compared to February Applicant registrations rose by 11% month-on-month in March. Year on year, demand was stable, tracking just 2% below March 2024 levels The average rent in March stood…
Read More
Breaking News

UK’s mid-market firms show improved business growth in March but economic uncertainty continues

Key findings: NatWest’s Mid-market Growth Tracker shows improved business growth in March, led by a strong service sector performance SMEs register a softer decline in output levels during March Market conditions remain challenging and we could see continued challenges in the coming months   Mid-market businesses continued to outperform the wider UK economy in March,…
Read More
Breaking News

ONS Private rent and house prices UK – April 2025

The Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR) measures private rent inflation for new and existing tenancies. The UK House Price Index measures house price inflation. Main Headlines Average UK monthly private rents increased by 7.7%, to £1,332, in the 12 months to March 2025 (provisional estimate); this annual growth rate is down from 8.1% in…
Read More