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.
Planning
Our Article 4 data covers England only. Check with the council. HMO guide
Cash in
| Deposit (25% of price) | £22,000 |
| Land Transaction Tax (additional-home rates) | £4,400 |
| Legal fees | £1,800 |
| Survey | £600 |
| Total cash in | £28,800 |
Land Transaction Tax: £4,400
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 (5 rooms x £460 a month) | £27,600 |
| Mortgage payments (interest only, 5% on £66,000) | −£3,300 |
| Voids (5% of rent) | −£1,380 |
| Letting and management (10% of rent collected) | −£2,622 |
| Repairs and maintenance (8% of rent) | −£2,208 |
| Landlord insurance | −£350 |
| Bills you pay (energy, water, broadband, council tax) | −£5,400 |
| Cash flow before tax | £12,340 (£1,028 a month) |
- Gross yield
- 31.4%
- Net yield (before mortgage)
- 17.8%
- Return on cash in
- 42.8%
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 £315,429 or £271,921. Lenders differ.
- With 5 or more tenants from 2 or more households, a mandatory HMO licence is needed everywhere in England; many councils license smaller HMOs too.
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