Local Housing Allowance here
Central Norfolk and Norwich rates, 2026–27, a month: shared room £394 · 1 bed £590 · 2 beds £695 · 3 beds £800 · 4 beds £1,150. 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) | £65,100 |
| Stamp Duty Land Tax (additional-home rates) | £12,690 |
| Legal fees | £1,800 |
| Survey | £600 |
| Bridging fee (2%) | £3,038 |
| Bridging interest (6 months at 0.85% a month) | £7,747 |
| Total cash in | £90,975 |
Stamp Duty Land Tax: £12,690
| £0 – £125,000 | 5% | £6,250 |
| £125,000 – £217,000 | 7% | £6,440 |
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 | £11,664 |
| Mortgage payments (interest only, 5% on £203,250) | −£10,162 |
| Voids (5% of rent) | −£583 |
| Letting and management (10% of rent collected) | −£1,108 |
| Repairs and maintenance (8% of rent) | −£933 |
| Landlord insurance | −£350 |
| Cash flow before tax | −£1,473 (−£123 a month) |
- Gross yield
- 5.4%
- Net yield (before mortgage)
- 4.0%
Refinance
| New mortgage (75% of £271,000) | £203,250 |
| Bridging loan repaid | −£151,900 |
| Cash back out | £51,350 |
| Money left in the deal | £39,625 |
Return on the money left in: -3.7% 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): no; by 145% (higher-rate taxpayers): no. The rent supports a loan of about £133,303 or £114,916. Lenders differ.
- The rent may not pass a typical lender stress test: lenders often want rent to cover interest at 7% by 125%, which caps the loan near £133,303.
- 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