Having owned a house for two decades (well two houses because we moved) and having two children, I would say that owning a home feels like a doddle in compariso

Having owned a house for two decades (well two houses because we moved) and having two children, I would say that owning a home feels like a doddle in comparison :-) I haven't done the sums to compare expenses, but when they are young childcare/lost earnings is definitely more than insurance/repair/maintenance costs (and tax, although in my country you pay tax as a tenant too).