What % of your income goes on rent?

What % of your income goes on rent?

Poll: What % of your income goes on rent?

Total Members Polled: 167

Less than 10%: 20%
10%-20%: 16%
21%-30%: 37%
31%-40%: 16%
41%-50%: 10%
51%-60%: 1%
61%-70%: 1%
More than 70%: 0%
Author
Discussion

22s

Original Poster:

6,338 posts

216 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
Really interested to hear what people are paying for rent. I'm just leaving uni, I'm on a decent salary, but the amount I'm potentially paying for rent seems crazy. I'm looking at 55% of my post-tax salary a month just on rent, without bills, for a half-decent one bed place. By half-decent, I mean it's in an okay area of town (not the best) and doesn't look like it was last painted on in 1970s. Is this normal?

I know sharing is cheaper, but I'm moving to a new city where I don't know anyone and I'd rather live alone for a few months whilst I find my feet... Although looking at the numbers I may have to find a flatmate!

PurpleMoonlight

22,362 posts

157 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
Currently 20% but when I was your age it was likely over 50%.

Slowped

184 posts

146 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
Just below 20% in a house share, all bills included. I moved to Leeds for my job after Uni and decided to go for a house share mainly due to cost, however, if you get a house with a good sociable group of people you will have a much better time and enjoy your new life much more than if you were sat in your expensive flat watching GOT back to back.

You have probably thought about this, but remember that council tax could be an extra £70 to £100 per month on top of the rent.

0000

13,812 posts

191 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
A month's rent is a little over a day's pay these days. It was about 50% of net pay when I left uni, for a 2 bed terraced house complete with pink and orange swirly carpets.

LouD86

3,279 posts

153 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
I pay about 16% of my take home, for a 1 bedroom bungalow, with parking, secure storage, and its a lovely old listed building. Just outside the town centre.

I remember earning 15k a year, clearing 1k a month, and paying something like 400 a month rent. That was a killer! For a room share, I couldn't live where I am now on 15k a year, certainly

nick s

1,368 posts

217 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
not renting, but mine and my gf's mortgage payment is 28% of our joint income after tax. We do live in a ridiculously expensive area, but we grew up here so are used to it. Therefore don't mind paying a bit more.

It's relative though, because 28% for a couple on a low salary could mean they are only left with maybe £1500 after just rent or mortgage, then you have bills and food to pay from that. When you earn a decent amount, even though the baseline figure is 28%, you still have a big chunk left for the other stuff...

Edited by nick s on Thursday 17th July 16:07

Phateuk

751 posts

137 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
quotequote all
Interesting topic! I'm on 14% now, been renting in this area for nearly 10 years since uni. When I first moved out it was just under 30%, since then my salary has doubled but rental expenditure barely increased smile

That said, I should really buy somewhere soon boxedin

Munka01

456 posts

139 months

Friday 18th July 2014
quotequote all
42%. High but...

Top floor penthouse in Sydney (with pool, gym, sauna, jacuzzi).

Also live on my own (gf not allowed to move in yet).

MajorProblem

4,700 posts

164 months

Friday 18th July 2014
quotequote all
Been as high as 40% now somewhere around 12%.

Remember, someone on £10k a month could easily do 60% were as someone on £2k a month could not.

My rent / mortgage payment has not changed in the last eight years I've just got better salaries.

P-Jay

10,564 posts

191 months

Friday 18th July 2014
quotequote all
11% of our combined income - 2 beds, new house (well was), good schools and brilliant access to the nearest city and motorway network.

We rent from a HA, the Wife put her name on the list when she was a student 8 years ago and got the keys about 5 years ago - it sucks it's too small how we have two kids and it's not ours - we're not allowed to buy it either - but it's meant the Wife being on maternity leave/pay at the moment isn't an issue and we can save for the 12-18's months worth of disposable income we need for a mortgage.

To rent the same house privately would cost double, killing our disposable income and meaning 3 years saving, plus with all the people who thought buy-to-let was a no-lose gamble there's some terrible landlords out there - my last place had a terrible damp issue - which the LL somehow convinced the agent I caused meaning I lost my deposit and some friends of ours have had to move 3 times in 2 years because the owner wants to sell up, it's telling that when I've looked to rent something bigger, whenever I see something I like - it always has two listings - one to rent, one to sell and they won't entertain a longer lease than 6 months.

QROPS

2,805 posts

184 months

Friday 18th July 2014
quotequote all
43% Penthouse Studio on the 47th floor in Makati, Philippines.

The_Burg

4,846 posts

214 months

Friday 18th July 2014
quotequote all
0% i have a mortgage. That is just over 25% of my wage. A few years back near 50% though.


jogon

2,971 posts

158 months

Friday 18th July 2014
quotequote all
When I rented a 1 bed flat in Battersea it was about 40% I then purchased a 2 bed flat in Battersea back in 2009 and my mortgage repayment dropped to 30% with a decent deposit.

Beg, borrow or steal to get that deposit as renting is a mugs game.

My property has since gone up in value by £350k in 5 years. Mental..

EmmaJ

4,525 posts

146 months

Friday 18th July 2014
quotequote all
20.6% but that's due to renting a 4 bed detached house on my own. If I rented a 1 bed flat I'd be a lot less than 10% of my take home pay...

JungleJim

2,336 posts

212 months

Saturday 19th July 2014
quotequote all
Share. It'll be a gooda good way of meeting people.

sjabrown

1,915 posts

160 months

Sunday 20th July 2014
quotequote all
15% of take home for what is essentially a large one bedroom flat with garden and parking.

Hopefully very soon to be moving into my own 4 bedroom detached bungalow with garage, garden etc and the mortgage will be 30% of take home.

Renting in a touristy place is daft as nothing comes cheap.

iphonedyou

9,250 posts

157 months

Monday 21st July 2014
quotequote all
About 55%, but I'm a graduate and I live in Fulham. Bills take it to 65% or so.

jgy6000

199 posts

170 months

Monday 21st July 2014
quotequote all
About 25%, but I do live in Oxford which is notorious for Its extortionate rent prices.

z4RRSchris99

11,278 posts

179 months

Monday 21st July 2014
quotequote all
back in 2008 was taking home £250pw and spending £160pw of that on rent. pretty sure I lived on bread and water.

64%

iphonedyou

9,250 posts

157 months

Monday 21st July 2014
quotequote all
JungleJim - my experience of sharing is that it's a good way of meeting people. People you've never want to meet, let alone live with!