MORTGAGE and home rental prices in Huddersfield are bucking the national trend, according to figures published this week.

Renting a two-bedroom property costs more per month than monthly mortgage repayments in three-quarters of UK towns and cities, according to property website Zoopla.co.uk.

But in Huddersfield the reverse is true with average monthly mortgage payments on a two-bedroom property costing £612, compared to £493 to rent an equivalent property.

The survey found Huddersfield to be the town where renting yielded the biggest savings.

By comparison in Leeds the average rent was £675 per month – more expensive than an average monthly mortgage repayment of £603.

Zoopla director Nicholas Leeming said: "Conventional wisdom that buying is better than renting in the property market holds true for most places around the country.

"However, there are places where renting is the better option which may be driven by an excess of by-to-let flats or a shortage of properties for sale."

Alex McNeil, director of Bramleys estate agents, said difficulties in obtaining a good value mortgage has made renting more attractive.

By renting people can afford to live in bigger and better properties said Mr McNeil, whose company sells and lets properties throughout Huddersfield.

He added: "At the moment it’s difficult to buy anything because building societies and banks are only looking to sell mortgages up to 85%. You can buy above that but it’s prohibitively expensive.

"For a first-time buyer a smaller terraced house will cost a monthly mortgage of about £500 to £600. For the same price you can rent a three-bedroom semi-detached or smaller detached house.

"Young people can rent a place for six to 12 months and try an area. If they like the area they can look at buying something.

"Twenty years ago there was a stigma against renting but now it’s the norm."

But Mr McNeil warned that the Zoopla figures for Huddersfield may be an anomaly.

He added: "Compared to the national picture I’m not sure why the market in Huddersfield is different."

According to Bramleys the average rent is £500 per month.

The average mortgage repayment is about £1,042 per month, but repayments at £292 per month are more common because far more properties sell at around £70,000. The average has been skewed by good sales of properties costing over £400,000.