For the first time in 6 years, it is now cheaper to rent than buy in most parts of the United Kingdom, with the exception of four regions, where buying remains the more attractive option. Before the pandemic took hold of the UK in March 2020, figures indicated that people buying with a 10% deposit would have been better off than renters by £102 a month. However, last month, May 2021, figures found the average private renter was better off, spending £71 a month less.