Local Housing Allowance here
Cardiff rates, 2026–27, a month: shared room £366 · 1 bed £650 · 2 beds £825 · 3 beds £925 · 4 beds £1,300. The most housing support a tenant on benefits can get here; a guide to the bottom of the market.
Cash in
| Deposit (25% of price) | £47,750 |
| Land Transaction Tax (additional-home rates) | £9,935 |
| Legal fees | £1,800 |
| Survey | £600 |
| Total cash in | £60,085 |
Land Transaction Tax: £9,935
| £0 – £180,000 | 5% | £9,000 |
| £180,000 – £191,000 | 8.5% | £935 |
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
| Rent | £14,124 |
| Mortgage payments (interest only, 5% on £143,250) | −£7,162 |
| Voids (5% of rent) | −£706 |
| Letting and management (10% of rent collected) | −£1,342 |
| Repairs and maintenance (8% of rent) | −£1,130 |
| Landlord insurance | −£350 |
| Cash flow before tax | £3,434 (£286 a month) |
- Gross yield
- 7.4%
- Net yield (before mortgage)
- 5.5%
- Return on cash in
- 5.7%
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 £161,417 or £139,153. Lenders differ.
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