High purchase costs, tighter mortgage affordability, and deposit requirements are continuing to limit access to homeownership, meaning a growing proportion of tenants are actively choosing to rent rather than being forced into it.
New research from RentGuarantor, based on a survey of 2,006 current and former renters carried out in March, reveals that attitudes towards renting are improving, with 41% saying it has become more positive in recent years. This includes a majority of younger tenants, suggesting it may be a generational shift rather than just a short-term response to market conditions.
Neither is the change purely circumstantial. Around 30% now actively choose to rent because it suits their lifestyle, while 43% say it works well for them at their current stage of life.
88% of respondents said renting fits modern lifestyles better
The report also reveals there has been a broader reappraisal of renting’s role. 88% of respondents said renting fits modern lifestyles better than it used to, reflecting changing expectations around mobility, work and living patterns. Flexibility remains key, with 83% agreeing renting offers more freedom than ownership and 35% citing it as one of the main reasons for staying in the sector.
Practical advantages are also underpinning demand. Location is one of the strongest drivers, with 56% saying renting allows them to live in areas they would not otherwise be able to afford, while 62% reported renting homes they could not buy with a mortgage.
Lack of responsibility
Over half of tenants (54%) also highlighted the appeal of not being responsible for maintenance and repairs, along with the ability to move more easily when circumstances change.
This shift is not just confined to younger renters. While 54% of those aged 18–29 report a more positive view of renting, the research also shows demand across older cohorts, with 29% of over-60s saying they would prefer to rent rather than buy. That broadening demographic base suggests the private rented sector is evolving beyond its traditional role as a transitional tenure.
Long-term tenure
There are also signs that renting is becoming a long-term tenure for a significant minority, with around 30% of respondents saying they could not see themselves ever buying a home.
Affordability still plays a major role, with 77% identifying cost as the biggest factor when choosing a rental property. However, the findings indicate that financial constraints are increasingly being weighed alongside lifestyle considerations, rather than acting as the sole driver.
Overall, the data points to a structural shift in attitudes to renting rather than a purely short-term change, which is a positive sign for the stability of rental demand in the years ahead.
