Today is the day when the average renter will have earned enough to pay their rent for a whole year.
Research from Halifax suggests that today is Rental Freedom Day, where the average renter will have earned enough to pay their rent for the whole year.
Halifax has calculated that on average it’ll take 124 days for renters to earn enough to meet their annual rental payments if they put everything they’ve earned in 2015 so far towards it.
Rental Freedom Day is calculated using annual rental payments as a percentage of average disposable income.
This year's is eight days earlier than it was last year, which suggests people's incomes have risen as other research says rents have continued to increase.
Here's how Rental Freedom Day has changed over the past few years.
Year |
Rental Freedom Day |
2015 |
4th May |
2014 |
12th May |
2013 |
12th May |
Source: Halifax
The earlier day, coupled with the increasing number of mortgages that require lower deposits, is good news for renters who are saving to buy their own homes, says Halifax.
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Regional freedom
Looking at regional differences, renters in Northern Ireland achieved rental freedom first, two weeks ahead of those in the north of England, who were second.
Region |
Rent Freedom Day |
Northern Ireland |
27th March |
North |
9th April |
Yorkshire and the Humber |
11th April |
East Midlands |
14th April |
Wales |
18th April |
Scotland |
19th April |
West Midlands |
22nd April |
East Anglia |
22nd April |
South West |
20th May |
London |
8th July |
UK |
4th May |
Source: Halifax
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