Merseyside is an area of England of of 2,552 square kilometers and approximately 1.5 million residents. Merseyside lies on the eastern side of England and borders Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire; the Irish Sea to the north and the River Mersey to the south. With 45% of all homes being privately owned and just over half rented from a private landlord or letting agency, in Merseyside, most who live there, currently choose to rent, over buying a home.