A new study has revealed Warrington as 8th Best UK town or city for affordable rent.
While rents are rising nationwide, Warrington remains one of the most affordable places in the country for median earners.
In a new study, Resume.io/uk found that 32.74% of properties are affordable for Warrington locals – ranking 8th in the UK.
The research ranked major UK towns and cities and London boroughs by the percentage of rental properties affordable to those on the median local salary. Using ONS and Rightmove data, affordability was defined as rent costing no more than 30% of gross income: https://resume.io/uk/blog/rent-in-major-uk-cities-with-median-salary#methodology
These results show the top 10 places with the highest & lowest percentage of affordable rentals:
To provide further insight, Amanda Augustine, the resident career expert at Resume.io/uk, shared their perspective on the study’s findings:
What was the most surprising finding of this study?
I don’t know if it’s necessarily the most surprising, but it was very disappointing to see how the current system makes it nearly impossible for renters to save enough money to become homeowners. As our study illustrates, ‘it may be possible for some to relocate to find a better deal on housing — but without addressing the fundamental issues’, the problem will remain unresolved.
While I assumed major metropolitan areas like London would continue to have the fewest affordable rental properties in the UK, I had hoped they wouldn’t continue to have the fastest-rising rents. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
Do you have any advice for job hunters or current employees on how to discuss living costs with employers?
If your salary has stayed stagnant while your living costs have continued to climb, it might be time to ask your employer for a pay rise. However, rather than specifically requesting a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), prepare yourself to negotiate a pay increase. Employers rarely offer COLAs to individual employees, and if your request for more money isn’t tied to your performance, your manager is likely to turn you down. Keep in mind: asking for more pay because you need it isn’t an effective approach, but doing so because you’ve earned it is.
To support your request for a pay rise, be ready to discuss both your achievements and any changes to your role since your last salary review. For instance, what targets have you met or exceeded? How has your work contributed to cutting costs, boosting profits, improving efficiency, increasing brand awareness, or retaining clients for the organisation? How have your efforts helped your department reach its objectives? If it’s been a while since you last updated your ‘brag book’—the place where you record your accomplishments and contributions—now is the perfect time to do so.
Pay rises are generally awarded based on two main factors: an employee’s performance and prevailing market rates. Alongside assessing your recent work performance, it’s crucial to carry out some online research to identify the current market rate for the role you’re now fulfilling.
Websites like Reed, Glassdoor, and Check-a-Salary can help you find a realistic salary range for your position, factoring in your company’s size, industry, and location. Salary negotiations will run more smoothly if you present third-party data showing you are merely asking to be paid in line with the current market value for the role you’re doing.
If you’re currently seeking a new job, you can apply similar principles when negotiating your total remuneration package. If the salary offer doesn’t adequately cover your needs or account for rising living costs, negotiate for a higher amount. However, your case for increased pay should be grounded in the same factors as it would be for an existing employee: the current market rate for the role you’re pursuing and the value you bring to the employer based on your past experience, relevant skill set, and proven performance.
Whether you’re negotiating a pay rise with your current manager or discussing salary for a new job, don’t worry if you can’t secure the increase you’re aiming for. Instead, be ready for this possibility by considering alternative benefits that could help reduce other expenses or add value to your career in different ways. For instance, calculate whether it’s costlier to commute to the office or to stay home and face higher energy bills. Based on your figures, you might prefer to work more from home or at the office more regularly.
Look into other perks, such as a change in job title, flexible working arrangements, additional holiday days, a four-day work week with full pay, professional development opportunities, or extra vouchers for commuting or childcare.
Did you spot any interesting trends in the study results?
I thought it was interesting that Scotland has seen the greatest average increase in rent prices (10.5%) compared to England (9.1%) and Wales (9.0%), despite the fact that London continues to see the fastest rising rents.
However, it all made more sense after I found this UK moving data from Compare My Move and realised that there had been a similar increase in the percentage of people moving to Scotland to take advantage of a lower cost of living during the same time period. It appears to be a classic case of supply and demand: due to the increased demand for available rentals in Scotland, property owners have risen their rental rates accordingly.
Before deciding to relocate in search of cheaper rent, I highly recommend reviewing both this data from Resume.io and the latest relocation trends. It’s important to research which areas have recently become popular because by the time you arrive, rent prices in those places may already be rising.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with journalists who will be reviewing this project?
If you’re concerned that your current salary won’t keep pace with rising living costs, there are several creative solutions UK workers can explore that go beyond negotiating a pay rise or additional benefits:
Explore job opportunities with better compensation. If your current role doesn’t offer the salary you need, it may be time to find new work. Look for roles that not only offer higher salaries but also better benefits, such as pension contributions or professional development opportunities, which can add value to your overall compensation package.
Negotiate remote work and relocate. Another option is to negotiate a remote working arrangement, either with your current employer or when considering a new role. Remote work gives you the flexibility to live in an area with lower living costs, such as regions with more affordable rent or general expenses, without sacrificing your job or salary.
Look for remote roles nationwide. Consider seeking remote work opportunities that allow you to live anywhere within the UK. By moving to a region with notably lower housing costs, you could substantially reduce your monthly outgoings while still earning the same salary. This can create a better balance between your income and expenses, helping you to navigate rising living costs more effectively.
