Local Housing Allowance here
Crawley and Reigate rates, 2026–27, a month: shared room £476 · 1 bed £860 · 2 beds £1,100 · 3 beds £1,365 · 4 beds £1,750. 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) | £89,750 |
| Stamp Duty Land Tax (additional-home rates) | £25,900 |
| Legal fees | £1,800 |
| Survey | £600 |
| Total cash in | £118,050 |
Stamp Duty Land Tax: £25,900
| £0 – £125,000 | 5% | £6,250 |
| £125,000 – £250,000 | 7% | £8,750 |
| £250,000 – £359,000 | 10% | £10,900 |
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 | £26,508 |
| Mortgage payments (interest only, 5% on £269,250) | −£13,462 |
| Voids (5% of rent) | −£1,325 |
| Letting and management (10% of rent collected) | −£2,518 |
| Repairs and maintenance (8% of rent) | −£2,121 |
| Landlord insurance | −£350 |
| Cash flow before tax | £6,731 (£561 a month) |
- Gross yield
- 7.4%
- Net yield (before mortgage)
- 5.6%
- 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 £302,949 or £261,163. 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