But with house prices spiralling and affordability slipping out of reach for many, it’s becoming increasingly rare to live mortgage-free. That said, there are still parts of the UK where the dream is very much alive and well. But have you ever wondered which cities are leading the charge when it comes to full homeownership?
A new study by Land of Rugs has revealed the UK cities and towns where residents are most likely to have fully paid off their homes. So, if you’re aiming to ditch the debt and go mortgage-free, these are the places to watch.
The study analysed homeownership tenure data from official sources including the Office for National Statistics (ONS), NISRA (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency), and the Scottish Government. These sources provide breakdowns across multiple housing categories, such as outright ownership, ownership with a mortgage, shared ownership, private renting, and social housing.
Looking at 133 towns and cities across the UK, the study compared the proportion of outright homeowners relative to the total number of homeowners in each location. By isolating the percentage of people who own their homes outright, the results paint a fascinating picture of where mortgage-free living is most common and it’s not always where you’d think.
Lichfield, in Staffordshire, takes fourth place with 41.42% of homeowners now fully owning their homes. With its mix of historic buildings, parks, and a steady local economy, it’s no surprise that residents have been able to settle and pay off their mortgages.
Being less urbanised than Birmingham, but still within easy reach, Lichfield provides that rare middle ground, offering both lifestyle appeal and affordability. The high outright ownership rate suggests it’s a city where people plant roots for the long haul.
Other cities in the top 10 ranked as following: Maldon in first place (43.81%), Lewes second (42.40%), Hereford third (42.34%), and Scarborough fifth (41.40%).
The rest of the top 10 includes Harrogate in sixth (40.66%), High Peak in seventh (40.14%), Folkestone eighth (39.24%), Solihull ninth (39.17%) and Torbay tenth (39.15%).
Not every city is faring as well. Unsurprisingly, major urban centres lag far behind when it comes to outright homeownership. London, for example, sees just 20.15% of homeowners owning their property outright. It’s even lower in Manchester (16.50%) and Greenwich (16.20%).
Westminster finishes bottom of the ranking, with just 16.04% of homeowners having fully paid off their homes, a reminder that in some parts of the UK, owning outright is still a long way off.
Other notable cities include Edinburgh in 58th place, Birmingham at 99th, Oxford at 107th, Bristol just behind at 108th, and Liverpool further down in 114th.
Top ten best UK cities where you’re most likely to own a home outright in the study:
| Rank | City/Town | % of Residents Who Own Their Property Outright |
| 1 | Maldon | 43.81 |
| 2 | Lewes | 42.40 |
| 3 | Hereford | 42.34 |
| 4 | Lichfield | 41.42 |
| 5 | Scarborough | 41.40 |
| 6 | Harrogate | 40.66 |
| 7 | High Peak | 40.14 |
| 8 | Folkestone | 39.24 |
| 9 | Solihull | 39.17 |
| 10 | Torbay | 39.15 |