Wow, this is so sad. Marriage should be an equal partnership where you should feel free to talk to him & make your feelings known.
If he's so content in a rental it's prob. because if something goes wrong all he has to do is call the landlord. In a house of his own, he's the one responsible for upkeep & repairs.
Forget the "consent" thing & put your big girl panties on & go for it. Tell him what you've done & that it's what you're interested in & you'd like for him to get onboard with you.
I don't mean to sound bossy really I don't. I'm just trying to give you a little kick in the starter. LOL