Buying a home 'more cost-effective than renting' in 48% of cities

Buying a home is more cost-effective than renting in nearly half of British cities, according to a property website.

Zoopla analysed the current asking prices and rents of two-bedroom properties currently on the market in Britain's biggest cities.

It found that in 48% of cities, buying works out cheaper than renting - with Glasgow, Coventry, Birmingham and Bradford the top cities where buying is most cost-effective.

In Glasgow, Coventry and Birmingham renters can find themselves paying over £100 a month more than those with a mortgage, the research found.

Meanwhile, renters are most likely to be better off than mortgage payers in pockets of the South, where the supply of homes is tight and house prices are high, with Cambridge, London and Brighton being the top places where renting is cheaper than paying a mortgage, the research suggests.

In Cambridge, the average monthly rent can work out at £769 less than a mortgage payment, the research found.

Zoopla's research assumed that someone buying a home had a 10% deposit and was paying a 25-year repayment mortgage with an interest rate of 4.5%.

When the data was last analysed by Zoopla in October 2015, buying was cheaper than renting in just over one third (36%) of cities.

Lawrence Hall, a spokesman for Zoopla, said: "Once you get past the initial fees that come with a house purchase, such as a deposit and stamp duty, our figures show that it can pay to try and get on the property ladder.

"On top of the enjoyment that can come with owning your property, buyers may also find themselves with more disposable income at the end of the month than those renting their homes.

"Particularly if you're in Scotland, northern England or in the West Midlands, taking the first step on to the ladder and sacrificing the flexibility of renting can be a much cheaper alternative."

Here are the top cities where renting beats buying according to Zoopla:

1. Cambridge

2. London

3. Brighton

4. Swansea

5. Wigan

6. Aberdeen

7. Reading

8. Bournemouth

9. Rotherham

10. Southampton

And here are the top locations where buying beats renting, according to Zoopla:

1. Glasgow

2. Coventry

3. Birmingham

4. Bradford

5. Newcastle-upon-Tyne

6. Bolton

7. Peterborough

8. Nottingham

9. Barnsley

10. Stoke-on-Trent