Local Housing Allowance here
Merthyr Cynon rates, 2026–27, a month: shared room £300 · 1 bed £435 · 2 beds £500 · 3 beds £550 · 4 beds £725. 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) | £39,600 |
| Land Transaction Tax (additional-home rates) | £6,600 |
| Legal fees | £1,800 |
| Survey | £600 |
| Bridging fee (2%) | £1,848 |
| Bridging interest (6 months at 0.85% a month) | £4,712 |
| Total cash in | £55,160 |
Land Transaction Tax: £6,600
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 | £8,664 |
| Mortgage payments (interest only, 5% on £123,750) | −£6,187 |
| Voids (5% of rent) | −£433 |
| Letting and management (10% of rent collected) | −£823 |
| Repairs and maintenance (8% of rent) | −£693 |
| Landlord insurance | −£350 |
| Cash flow before tax | £177 (£15 a month) |
- Gross yield
- 6.6%
- Net yield (before mortgage)
- 4.8%
Refinance
| New mortgage (75% of £165,000) | £123,750 |
| Bridging loan repaid | −£92,400 |
| Cash back out | £31,350 |
| Money left in the deal | £23,810 |
Return on the money left in: 0.7% 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 £99,017 or £85,360. 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 £99,017.
- 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