IELTS Task 2 Sample Answer 2 - In some countries, most people prefer to rent their homes rather than buying them. What are the advantages and disadvantages of renting a home?

As shelter is an essential factor in a person’s life, every person dreams of owning one. However, in a few countries people are more likely to rent a home rather than buying one. While renting a home can be beneficial in some cases, it is not free from drawbacks.

The foremost advantage of renting a home instead of owning one is that it requires less investment. Unlike buying a home which requires huge investment, renting is comparatively cheaper and also it provides a chance for the individual to reside in a house in premium area which would otherwise cost a lump sum if bought. Another advantage of a rented accommodation is high mobility. It is easy to shift out of a rented accommodation as it requires only a prior notice of around a month and a person can change his home or locality easily without much difficulty and this type of residence is particularly suitable for people requiring frequent change of residence due to transfers in employment.

However, tenancy is not free from limitations. Even though a person advances money in the form of rent, it does not transfer the legal ownership of the property to the tenant and therefore such payments would only account to an expense rather than an investment. Moreover, as such properties are lent on a contract of temporary nature, the tenant may be compelled to abide by some rules and it also restricts a person from making any renovation or alteration to the property based on his needs and interest. He may also become liable in some situation if the property gets damaged. This can impose limits on the freedom of a person.

In conclusion, residential preference of people has changed a lot these days.  Most of the people today choose to rent a home rather than owning one in some countries. Though such type of residency has a lot of privileges, it also has a few downsides.