Beyond affordability, toward smarter housing decisions.

Deciding whether to rent or to buy is one of the biggest financial choices you’ll ever make. Yet, between deposits, mortgages, ongoing expenses, and rent, it’s hard to know what really makes sense for you.
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Routiv (Beta) breaks down the true costs of renting and buying using actual costs — not generic market averages. The results focus on the financial side, but housing decisions are never just about money. Flexibility, job security, long-term plans, and even the appeal of a location, matter too — and we’ll help you reflect on these in later steps.
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Get started today and see what path fits you best.

Get started

Start with the essentials

Begin with just a few key details to build a quick, personalized estimate of your housing costs — whether you’re considering buying or renting.

Property purchase price*

Monthly rent of a similar property*

Expected time in the property (years)*

(Fields marked with * are required)

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Fine-tune your calculation

Add more detail to make your estimate more accurate. These additional factors reflect the real costs involved in buying and renting — and give you a clearer picture of what you can get.

Buying costs

Deposit (%)

Mortgage (annual rate)

Mortgage term (years)

Estate agent fee (when buying)

Stamp Duty

Legal and conveyancing fees

Valuation fee

Mortgage fee

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Recurring homeownership costs

Council Tax (pm)

Service charge (pm)

Homeowner's insurance (pm)

Maintenance and renovation (py)

Ground rent (py)

Extra month utilities (pm)

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Closing expenses

Estate agent fee (when selling)

Legal costs (when selling)

Energy Performance Certificate release (EPC )

Mortgage early termination fee (if any)

Removal costs

Capital Gain Tax (CGT)

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Renting costs

Security deposit

Letting agent fee (when renting)

Council tax

Renter's insurance (pm)

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Financial projections

Future changes in house prices, rents, and investment returns can have a big impact on your decision. While these are difficult to predict, using your own assumptions — based on local trends or expert forecasts — can help guide a smarter comparison.

Expected annual rent increase

Expected annual change in property value

Expected annual return on investments

Expected annual inflation rate

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Over 10 years, buying could save you:

£130,620

(You can see how these savings build up year by year in a free personalized report — covering everything from upfront costs to equity gains and inflation-adjusted expenses.)

Click below to get your full results, including a detailed cost breakdown and more. To personalize your experience and unlock further insights, you'll be asked for a few additional details on the next page.

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