Local Housing Allowance here
Birmingham rates, 2026–27, a month: shared room £342 · 1 bed £695 · 2 beds £750 · 3 beds £825 · 4 beds £1,100. The most housing support a tenant on benefits can get here; a guide to the bottom of the market.
Cash in
| Deposit (30% of price; bridging loan for the rest) | £20,400 |
| Stamp Duty Land Tax (additional-home rates) | £3,400 |
| Legal fees | £1,800 |
| Survey | £600 |
| Bridging fee (2%) | £952 |
| Bridging interest (6 months at 0.85% a month) | £2,428 |
| Total cash in | £29,580 |
Stamp Duty Land Tax: £3,400
Additional-home rates, as checked in October 2026. Buying through a company, or replacing your main home, can change this. Stamp duty calculator
A year of letting after refinancing
| Rent | £9,960 |
| Mortgage payments (interest only, 5% on £63,750) | −£3,187 |
| Voids (5% of rent) | −£498 |
| Letting and management (10% of rent collected) | −£946 |
| Repairs and maintenance (8% of rent) | −£797 |
| Landlord insurance | −£350 |
| Cash flow before tax | £4,182 (£348 a month) |
- Gross yield
- 14.6%
- Net yield (before mortgage)
- 10.8%
Refinance
| New mortgage (75% of £85,000) | £63,750 |
| Bridging loan repaid | −£47,600 |
| Cash back out | £16,150 |
| Money left in the deal | £13,430 |
Return on the money left in: 31.1% a year.
Will a lender agree?
Lenders usually test the rent against interest at a higher “stress” rate, here 7%. Rent covers it by 125% (basic-rate taxpayers and companies): yes; by 145% (higher-rate taxpayers): yes. The rent supports a loan of about £113,829 or £98,128. Lenders differ.
- Many lenders will not remortgage on a new valuation until you have owned the home for six months.
All figures are before income tax. Individual landlords cannot deduct mortgage interest in full (they get a 20% tax credit instead), so higher-rate taxpayers pay tax on more than their cash flow. This is a calculator, not financial advice. Read the guide