A third of Britons are more likely than ever to rent things now – renting designer clothes, the latest cellphones, furniture, bikes – and even Christmas trees.
A survey of 2,000 adults found that the average Briton was paying £ 227 per month to hire products or services to suit their lifestyle.
Another in 10 end up with more than £ 500 each month on subscription services or rental fees.
More than half (55%) of those surveyed believe that the rental of individual items is much more standardized today than it was five years ago.
And 53% said they no longer feel the need to own things – and that it’s access to goods and services that is important.
A tenth would now even prefer to rent her wedding dress – as Carrie Symonds did when she married Boris Johnson earlier this year – rather than owning it outright.
The research was commissioned by musicMagpie, a recommerce expert, as part of a report exploring the rental revolution.
This follows the company’s announcement that it has expanded its popular smartphone rental offering to include new and refurbished iPads.
Four in 10 adults believe that living a more rental or bulkier lifestyle allows them to have more flexibility.
And 38 percent think it’s just a way to avoid paying top dollar for something up front.
Glamorous lifestyle
One in five said renting allows them to live a more glamorous lifestyle – giving them access to things they couldn’t otherwise – with one in ten renting handbags, clothing and jewelry of creators.
And for about a third (28%), renting allows them to keep up to date with the latest technology, by renting out computers, consoles, phones, etc.
MusicMagpie CEO Steve Oliver said, “There has been a dramatic change in the way we consume all kinds of different things over the past decade.
“Many people now see renting as a smarter choice, allowing themselves access to products and services rather than having to purchase them directly.
“This is especially the case with luxury or high-priced items, or items that they only need for a short time.
“Not only that, but leasing can also be a smart choice for the environment, fostering a circular economy where products are kept in circulation longer, we own less ‘stuff’ and don’t produce as much waste for the planet. . “
On that note, more than half of respondents (52%) believe that renting things is more environmentally friendly than owning them.
It has also emerged that Millennials – those born between 1981 and 1996 – are the most likely to live rental style lives because it is less waste on the planet.
Environmental benefit
Thirty-eight percent believe that a key environmental benefit of renting is that it leads to more shared use of items, which means they get more benefit from more people.
And 32% appreciate that renting can increase the life of an item, according to figures from OnePoll.com.
Britons estimate that they own only 70%, on average, of the products and services that they use regularly.
More than a tenth of the population (13%) even think that there will come a time when they will praise absolutely everything in their life.
TOP 30 THINGS BRITS WILL RATHER RATHER THAN OWNERS:
1. TV / video streaming (eg Netflix)
2. Streaming music (eg Spotify)
3. Gym / fitness
4. Car
5. Storage space
6. Cell phone / smartphone
7. DIY tools
8. Wedding dress
9. Sports equipment (eg skis)
10. Home cleaning equipment
11. Designer clothes
12. Housing, for example house, apartment
13. Games subscription
14. Laptop / computer
15. Parking space
16. Cycling
17. Pets (eg, BorrowMyDoggy, share your pet)
19. Christmas tree
20. Designer handbag
21. Jewelry / accessories
22. Household appliances / appliances
23. Electric scooter
24. Game consoles
25. Furniture
27. Tablet
28. Motorcycle
29. Toys for babies / children
30. Connected watch
