'Dynamite' figures show owner-occupation less expensive in 25 local authority areas
It is cheaper to buy a home than rent one from a housing association in 25 areas of the country, according to official research that the Housing Corporation refused to publish.

The study by Cambridge University - which is described by its researcher as "dynamite" - identified 25 local authority areas where owner occupation is cheaper than HA renting.

It shows a further 33 areas where the difference between renting and buying is less than 10 per cent in cost terms.

It has been known for some time that private sector rents are similar or cheaper than housing association rents in many areas. But for first time this shows where owning is also cheaper.

The researchers compared CORE rents and lower quartile house prices recorded by the Halifax.

The research, which provides valuable insights into current and future areas of low demand, was prepared for the corporation as part of its All Tenure Guide to Rents last year.

But last year the corporation refused to publish it because of a disagreement over the methodology used.

Cambridge University researcher Angus Freeman, who prepared what he said were "dynamite" figures, told Housing Today that the corporation did not want to publish such sensitive information on the eve of the housing Green Paper.

But a corporation spokesman said: "We don't want to publish figures that are not properly agreed."

The areas identified are not confined to the north. In Gosport on the south cost it is cheaper to buy than rent from a housing association. And in Thurrock, Gravesend, Rochester, Thanet and Dover and Sedgemoor the difference between owning and renting is less than 10 per cent.

Dr Christine Whitehead, who supervised the project, said: "A quick look at this picture 10 years ago would probably have helped people understand some decisions which they should not have made."

The findings are published in document by Dataspring, a new service from Cambridge University Property Research Unit which examines local housing costs.

The districts where assured rents are higher than the cost of owner occupation of two bedroom houses are: Amber Valley, Barnsley, Barrow-in-Furness, Bassetlaw, Blackburn, Bolsover, Burnley, Corby, Coventry, Derwentside, Doncaster, Easington, Gosport, Hartlepool, Hynburn, Kettering, Kingston upon Hull, Middlesborough, Pendle, Sedgefield, Stoke-on-Trent, Teesdale, Wansbeck, Wear Valley, West Lindsey.