Well, in England being a tenant has been a terrible experience for me despite paying premium prices and trying to aim at high quality properties with reputable

Well, in England being a tenant has been a terrible experience for me despite paying premium prices and trying to aim at high quality properties with reputable landlords and agents. I've spent 5 miserable years. So I can totally understand why people tend to buy. Most people I know currently letting are either low income or moving jobs and cities. You have very few rights (even in comparison to Wales or Scotland). So landlords use you for example to live in a property they plan to sell immediately. Typically they sign a rental contract and shortly afterwards advertise the house for sale. You need to cope with all the viewings, probable breaches in the tenancy (agents will enter the house quite often without notice) and the certainty that after ~6 months you will need to relocate again (which also impacts your credit score). My experience renting in other places in Europe is, in comparison, fantastic. Totally boring (in a good way) experiences in Scandinavia, Germany and Belgium. Rent, pay, stay undisturbed for years, return keys, get deposit back and go. Also much lower prices.