Gender rental gap revealed: rent costs women 14% more than men

September 20, 2019 / Isla MacFarlane
Gender rental gap revealed: rent costs women 14% more than men

The latest research by room share platform, ideal flatmate, has looked at the vast gap between the rental affordability of male and female workers in the UK and how this impacts their rental potential across the UK rental market.

ideal flatmate looked at the current net monthly wage in each area across the UK for those that live there and what percentage of salary was required to rent in the local market, as well as how much of the UK fell into each affordability bracket for both men and women.

The data shows that across the UK, the average male is required to spend 28.6% of their salary on rent, while this climbs to 42.6% for the average female.

Co-founder of ideal flatmate, Tom Gatzen, said: “Despite the spotlight that has focussed on the gender pay gap for quite some time, it’s clear there is still a worryingly large disparity between the earnings of female and male workers across the UK.”

This gap is at its largest in England at 17.9%, with men spending 35.5% of their salary on rent while women fork out 53.4%.

The smallest gap is in Wales, with women spending 35.3% while men 25.4% – a 9.8% difference.

When looking at a regional level, the extent of this affordability gap becomes very apparent.

Across the UK, the higher cost of the average male wage means that in 42% of areas they are spending 30% or less of their salary on rent.

In contrast, the average female could afford to pay rent at 30% or less of their salary in just 0.3% of UK areas. An astonishing difference.

A further 39% of areas were home to an average salary and rental cost that saw men pay between 30%-40% of their earnings on rent, while just 26% of areas were affordable enough for women paying the same percentage of wages.

At the other end of the rental affordability scale, just 0.3% of the UK rental market would see men living there pay 70% or more of their salary in rent, while for women, 10% of areas in the UK rental market would require them to pay 70% or more of their salary on rent.

Looking at the areas themselves further demonstrates this gap. Based on the average wage for those living there, East Renfrewshire is the most affordable spot for men with just 17.1% of salary spent on rent each month.

Rhondda Cynon Taf is the most affordable rental market for women, however, it would require them to pay 29.7% of their salary on rent.

In London, male renters in Bexley have it best, paying 39% of their salary on rent, while Greenwich is the most affordable for female renters but requires 58.5% of their salary to rent.

Gatzen, said: “This isn’t simply a case of equal pay but equal opportunity across the board and there is a real lack of this when it comes to rental affordability in particular. Tackling the UK rental market is tough enough as it is without the immediate set back of a 14% reduction in your rental potential due to a lower wage.

“As a result of this inferior financial foundation, female workers are forced to either pay far more in rent or be priced out of the market altogether, resulting in a wider search, a longer commute, and a lower quality of life.”

Percentage of salary spent on rent by nation & gender
Nation Male Female Difference
England 35.5% 53.4% 17.9%
Wales 25.4% 35.3% 9.8%
Scotland 32.6% 46.7% 14.0%
Northern Ireland 30.5% 40.7% 10.2%
London 56.5% 82.2% 25.7%
United Kingdom 28.6% 42.6% 14.0%
UK regional affordability by rent to salary bracket*
% of salary spent on rent Male Female
0 – 30% 42% 0.3%
30 – 40% 39% 26%
40 – 50% 12% 28%
50 – 60% 6% 21%
60 – 70% 1% 14%
70% + 0.3% 10%
London affordability by rent to salary bracket*
% of salary spent on rent Male Female
0 – 30% N/A N/A
30 – 40% 6.5% N/A
40 – 50% 35.5% N/A
50 – 60% 48.4% 3.0%
60 – 70% 6.5% 27.3%
70% + 3.2% 69.7%
*Shows the percentage of UK areas that allow men or women to rent at this proportion of salary to rent. E.g. Men can rent in 41% of UK areas, spending 30% of their salary or less, while only 0.3% of UK areas are affordable for women at this threshold.
Male Female
Most affordable based on male salary Most affordable based on female salary
Location Rent as a % of salary Location Rent as a % of salary
East Renfrewshire 17.1% Rhondda Cynon Taf 29.7%
Copeland 20.4% Copeland 30.2%
Pendle 20.8% Blaenau Gwent 30.5%
Rhondda Cynon Taf 21.4% Carmarthenshire 30.7%
North East Lincolnshire 21.7% Pendle 31.3%
Darlington 21.9% Darlington 31.8%
Allerdale 22.2% Hartlepool 32.0%
Hartlepool 22.3% Rossendale 32.0%
Fylde 22.4% County Durham 32.2%
North Lincolnshire 22.50% Dumfries and Galloway 32.6%
Male Female
Most affordable based on male salary Most affordable based on female salary
Location Rent as a % of salary Location Rent as a % of salary
Bexley 39.0% Greenwich 58.5%
Bromley 40.0% Bromley 60.2%
Croydon 41.0% Sutton 60.4%
Richmond upon Thames 42.4% Croydon 61.0%
Kingston upon Thames 42.8% Bexley 61.9%
Wandsworth 43.8% Havering 65.1%
Havering 44.5% Lewisham 66.1%
Sutton 44.8% Wandsworth 67.1%
Merton 46.2% Merton 68.5%
Greenwich 46.6% Ealing 69.9%

 

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