I think most of the people disagreeing with the post are from the USA, which has completely different costs/taxes/prices etc.

In the UK (as the original post is), it depends where you live - our mortgage is about £350 per month (5 bed terrace), but if would have been almost £500 a month without the deposit. Rent in the area is about £600 - £1500 per month, for similar or smaller properties.

Note that this is in Northern UK, in the sort of town sometimes described as "a bit of a shithole". I could get a train to a town an hour away and the prices would literally double - but the ratio between mortgage and rent would be pretty much the same.

Even with the cost of repairs, and a tiny bit on insurance etc, it's a significant saving. Also, the repairs actually get done, which was not the experience I had in rented accommodation.