Local Housing Allowance here
Southampton rates, 2026–27, a month: shared room £425 · 1 bed £700 · 2 beds £875 · 3 beds £1,075 · 4 beds £1,450. The most housing support a tenant on benefits can get here; a guide to the bottom of the market.
Planning
This postcode is in an HMO Article 4 area: turning a house into a small HMO needs planning permission. HMO guide
Cash in
| Deposit (25% of price) | £31,250 |
| Stamp Duty Land Tax (additional-home rates) | £6,250 |
| Legal fees | £1,800 |
| Survey | £600 |
| Total cash in | £39,900 |
Stamp Duty Land Tax: £6,250
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 (3 rooms x £530 a month) | £19,080 |
| Mortgage payments (interest only, 5% on £93,750) | −£4,687 |
| Voids (5% of rent) | −£954 |
| Letting and management (10% of rent collected) | −£1,813 |
| Repairs and maintenance (8% of rent) | −£1,526 |
| Landlord insurance | −£350 |
| Bills you pay (energy, water, broadband, council tax) | −£5,400 |
| Cash flow before tax | £4,350 (£362 a month) |
- Gross yield
- 15.3%
- Net yield (before mortgage)
- 7.2%
- Return on cash in
- 10.9%
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 £218,057 or £187,980. 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