Female workers forced to “pay far more in rent or b...

The majority of medium and large companies pay higher wage rates to men than to women, according to the latest government figures, and that is having a knock on effect when it comes to renting property.

The disparity, known as the gender pay gap, reflects the different average hourly salaries earned by men and women.

The pay gap not only holds women back — making it harder for them to support themselves and their families — but it impacts their rental potential across the UK rental market, new research shows.

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 figures reveal that across the UK, the average male is required to spend 28.6% of their salary on rent, while this increases to 42.6% for the average female.

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.

The research also revealed that 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 over a quarter - 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.

East Renfrewshire was identified as 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.

Tom Gatzen, co-founder of ideal flatmate, commented: “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 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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