One difference if you are home owners, its yours to change, with council planning of course, but if you are council tenant you can't get them to do anything, it's why many council properties that could be let, can't be because they are in a poor state of repair. We have sunk a small fortune into this property and isn't not even ours, but on loan, and once we move on, or pass away then the next lot get the benefits. You pay rent in the same way people pay a mortage, but see no reward at the end of the day.
If could afford to buy then i would have a long time ago.