Local Housing Allowance here
Durham rates, 2026–27, a month: shared room £393 · 1 bed £393 · 2 beds £400 · 3 beds £475 · 4 beds £660. 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) | £27,000 |
| Stamp Duty Land Tax (additional-home rates) | £5,400 |
| Legal fees | £1,800 |
| Survey | £600 |
| Total cash in | £34,800 |
Stamp Duty Land Tax: £5,400
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
| Rent | £8,316 |
| Mortgage payments (interest only, 5% on £81,000) | −£4,050 |
| Voids (5% of rent) | −£416 |
| Letting and management (10% of rent collected) | −£790 |
| Repairs and maintenance (8% of rent) | −£665 |
| Landlord insurance | −£350 |
| Cash flow before tax | £2,045 (£170 a month) |
- Gross yield
- 7.7%
- Net yield (before mortgage)
- 5.6%
- Return on cash in
- 5.9%
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 £95,040 or £81,931. 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