Is My Rent Too High for My Income?
Wondering if your rent is pushing your budget too far? Use these benchmarks and warning signs to judge whether your housing costs are sustainable. You can test different rent levels instantly in the HouseBudget Calculator.
Benchmarks to compare against
- Percentage of income: Many renters aim for 25–35% of take-home pay after debt payments.
- Leftover surplus: Try to leave room for savings, emergency fund top-ups and irregular bills.
- Local norms: Compare your rent to similar properties nearby to spot if you are overpaying.
Warning signs your rent is too high
- Relying on credit cards or overdrafts before payday.
- Skipping savings or pension contributions to make rent.
- Difficulty covering annual costs like car insurance or travel without borrowing.
- Stress about any unexpected bill because there is no buffer.
Check your numbers in the calculator
- Enter your net income and monthly debts into the HouseBudget Calculator.
- Adjust the rent slider or type your current rent to see its share of income.
- Try lowering rent by £50–£150 and see how the percentage and surplus change.
- Use the results to decide if you need to negotiate, move or reduce other costs.
What to do if rent is too high
Explore house-shares, moving slightly further out, or trimming non-essential spending while you search. Building a small emergency fund and reducing high-interest debt will make any rent level feel safer. The calculator helps you see the impact of each change on your overall budget.