Local Housing Allowance here
Reading rates, 2026–27, a month: shared room £392 · 1 bed £850 · 2 beds £1,095 · 3 beds £1,300 · 4 beds £1,654. 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) | £102,000 |
| Stamp Duty Land Tax (additional-home rates) | £24,000 |
| Legal fees | £1,800 |
| Survey | £600 |
| Bridging fee (2%) | £4,760 |
| Bridging interest (6 months at 0.85% a month) | £12,138 |
| Total cash in | £145,298 |
Stamp Duty Land Tax: £24,000
| £0 – £125,000 | 5% | £6,250 |
| £125,000 – £250,000 | 7% | £8,750 |
| £250,000 – £340,000 | 10% | £9,000 |
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 | £28,236 |
| Mortgage payments (interest only, 5% on £318,750) | −£15,937 |
| Voids (5% of rent) | −£1,412 |
| Letting and management (10% of rent collected) | −£2,682 |
| Repairs and maintenance (8% of rent) | −£2,259 |
| Landlord insurance | −£350 |
| Cash flow before tax | £5,595 (£466 a month) |
- Gross yield
- 8.3%
- Net yield (before mortgage)
- 6.3%
Refinance
| New mortgage (75% of £425,000) | £318,750 |
| Bridging loan repaid | −£238,000 |
| Cash back out | £80,750 |
| Money left in the deal | £64,548 |
Return on the money left in: 8.7% 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): yes; by 145% (higher-rate taxpayers): no. The rent supports a loan of about £322,697 or £278,187. 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