How Much Profit Should You Make on a UK Rental Property? - Just Do Property (2024)

When it comes to investing in property and taking the plunge to become a landlord, it’s essential to know that your new venture will be financially beneficial. This is why it’s important to do your research and know just how much money you can expect to make on your UK rental property.

You should make at least 5-8% profit per month on a UK rental property. This number can be increased depending on your rental location, size, and home type.

In the rest of this article, I will explain which types of rental properties yield the most profit, how to calculate your profit from your rental income, the difference between gross and net yield, and rental expenses you should consider before becoming a landlord.

What Type of Rental Properties Will Yield the Most Profit?

Selecting the perfect rental property can be tricky, but if you are looking for ways to stretch your money further and increase your monthly rental profit, here are a few factors that you ought to consider.

Multi-family rental properties will yield the most profit because multi-family properties are able to be split into two separate units. It allows you to double the rent profit while paying a fraction of what it would have cost to purchase two homes.

Purchasing a multi-family home isn’t the only way to increase your monthly rental profit. Several other factors can significantly affect how much income you can make from your rental property.

One of the biggest factors is the location. Certain regions and cities will have higher property values, thus allowing you to charge a bit more for your property. However, those same homes will cost a little more to purchase.

So, let’s take a quick look at some regions in the UK that are the most profitable.These yields are very low. I would suggest that these figures aren’t looking at standard buy to let properties but rather family homes. For a rental property you need to be looking at at least 5%+ yield.

RegionAverage Rent CostAverage Home CostApproximate Yield
London£1,435£496,2693.47%
South East£895£345,0753.11%
East of England£775£306,3463.04%
South West£725£279,2423.12%
Scotland£689£161,5295.12%
Wales£677£179,8614.52%
West Midlands£650£215,4513.62%
East Midlands£600£213,9673.37%

Other factors that can significantly affect your rental property yield are:

  • Demand: The current demand for rental properties in your location will greatly affect how much you are able to charge for rent and make a profit.
  • Updated property: If your property is updated and in good repair, you are more likely to get what you are asking for rent and have more potential tenants interested in the space.
  • Rental competition: You should similarly match the price landlords are charging in your area, so it’s essential to do your research before purchasing a rental property.

Ultimately, the best way to get the most out of your money is to purchase a property located somewhere in high demand. However, if you want to take it a step further to maximize your profits, purchasing a multi-family home to rent out would best provide a higher profit yield for less.

How To Calculate Profit From a Rental Property

Now that you understand what to look for when searching for a property with the highest rental potential, it’s time to learn how to calculate your potential rental profit correctly.

Here are the steps for calculating potential profit from your rental property:

  1. Look at how much you purchased the property for.
  2. Research how much rent is in your area. You will want to compare the prices of homes similar in size and make to your rental to get the most accurate numbers. Home size, the number of rooms, year built, upgrades, and amenities will affect these numbers.
  3. Ask yourself if there is a demand for this type of property. Demand for rentals in your area will significantly impact how much you can charge for your property.
  4. Calculate how much money you will need to cover all of your expenses. Rental expenses include mortgage payments, service charges, property taxes, maintenance costs, and property management fees.

Using these four tools, it’s up to you to set a fair rental price that makes sense for your rental investment.

Let’s say the property is worth £250,000, and the average cost of rent for a property of your size and location is going for about £720. However, if the home you are hoping to rent out has recently been remodelled and comes with a new kitchen and bathroom in a lovely neighbourhood, you will likely be able to charge more.

If there is a high demand for properties like yours, you would be able to charge a little more for monthly rent. Instead of £720, you could charge about £775 or more depending on the current demand for your property type.

Property Investments UK has a great video on how much profit you should make on a rental property in the UK that you should definitely check out for a more detailed guide on rental profits:

The Difference Between Gross Yield and Net Yield

Now let’s talk a bit about the difference between gross yield and net yield when it comes to your rental property.

Gross yield is defined as the overall money made from an investment before one deducts things such as taxes and other expenses. Net yield is the financial return on your investment after the fees and expenses have been deducted.

When purchasing a rental property, it’s imperative to calculate your net yield before jumping into the huge financial commitment of being a landlord.

For further information and additional getting started tips, check out: Property investment for beginners

Rental Expenses To Consider

Before purchasing a rental property and beginning to yield a profit, you should be aware of a few other rental expenses.

The most common rental expense you need to account for:

  • Maintenance: Owning a rental property will result in natural wear and tear over time and sometimes more severe damages. As the landlord, it will be your responsibility to repair these damages and maintain a liveable working space.
  • Loss of tenants: Should you suddenly lose your tenants, you might find yourself without rent for a month or two while you try to fill the vacancy. This is why it’s essential to have enough savings to cover all of your rental mortgages in an emergency.
  • Service charges: Additional expenses can be incurred if you make use of an estate agent or property management company.
  • Mortgage payment: If you’re new to property investment you will likely take out a mortgage in order to purchase your first property. Your rental income needs to cover the cost of your monthly mortgage payments as well as all other expenses.

These are just a few expenses you will want to prepare for when purchasing a rental property as an investment. It is vital your know your outgoings before setting your monthly price as the rental income needs to cover all costs before you’ll make any profit. If you treat buying buy to let properties as a business it will pay like a business, if you treat it like a hobby it will pay like a hobby.

Depending on how you wish to market the property, you may also include utility bills. This is more common in shared, buy-to-let property such as student accommodation than in a single family rental. A property that is shared between many people is also known as an HMOs – Houses of Multiple Occupation. This means that at least 3 tenants live there, forming more than 1 household; they might share a toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities with other tenants.

Remember, you will also need to declare your rental income via a self-assessment tax return. I’d strongly suggest appointing an accountant to help with this as they’ll work out if you’re a basic rate taxpayer or a higher rate taxpayer and will make sure you’re using your allowable expenses correctly.

If you want to learn more about the ins and outs of investing in rental properties for the most yield, I highly recommend The Book on Rental Property Investing by Brandon R Turner (available on Amazon).

Conclusion

How much profit you will yield from your rental income can vary significantly based on location, demand, the type of home you are trying to rent out and the expenses you need to pay.

However, 5-8% is a good baseline for the minimum amount of money you should bring in off your buy-to-let property.

The cheaper you are able to purchase a property, the more profit you will be able to make from the rental income.

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How Much Profit Should You Make on a UK Rental Property? - Just Do Property (1)

Co-owner of Just Do Property Ltd, Alec has over 10 years experience investing in rental properties.

How Much Profit Should You Make on a UK Rental Property? - Just Do Property (2)

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How Much Profit Should You Make on a UK Rental Property? - Just Do Property (2024)

FAQs

How Much Profit Should You Make on a UK Rental Property? - Just Do Property? ›

This is why it's important to do your research and know just how much money you can expect to make on your UK rental property. You should make at least 5-8% profit per month on a UK rental property. This number can be increased depending on your rental location, size, and home type.

What is the average profit on a rental property in the UK? ›

the highest average income from UK property between 2016 to 2017 and 2020 to 2021 was £17 thousand in 2016 to 2017. the lowest average income from UK property between 2016 to 2017 and 2020 to 2021 was £15 thousand in 2020 to 2021.

What is a good ROI for rental property UK? ›

Put simply the formula to work from is Annual Rent divided by Purchase Price multiplied by 100 = ROI %. Generally, a 5-8% Return on Investment is desirable with most clients looking for a minimum of a 5% return. See our Landlord Guides & Letting Service Options for full details on our Lettings Services available.

What percentage of profit should you be making with a rental property? ›

The amount will depend on your specific situation, but a good rule of thumb is to aim for at least 10% profit after all expenses and taxes. While 10% is a good target, you may be able to make more depending on the property and the rental market.

How much profit margin is good for a rental property? ›

A good profit margin for rental property is typically greater than 10% but between 5 and 10% can be a good ROI on rental property to start with.

What is the average UK rental yield? ›

At present, the average rental yield in the North is 7.4% whilst the average yield in the South is 5.2%, meaning that there is a 2.2% gap. For property investors looking to add to their portfolio in 2023, the North East and the Midlands could be areas to focus on for the highest rental yields.

How many properties does the average UK landlord own? ›

Most individual landlords (85%) owned between one and four properties, with just under half (45%) owning only one rental property. The remaining 15% of individual landlords owned five or more properties.

What is the 50% rule in real estate? ›

Like many rules of real estate investing, the 50 percent rule isn't always accurate, but it can be a helpful way to estimate expenses for rental property. To use it, an investor takes the property's gross rent and multiplies it by 50 percent, providing the estimated monthly operating expenses. That sounds easy, right?

What is the 2% rule of thumb for rental property? ›

The 2% rule is the same as the 1% rule – it just uses a different number. The 2% rule states that the monthly rent for an investment property should be equal to or no less than 2% of the purchase price. Here's an example of the 2% rule for a home with the purchase price of $150,000: $150,000 x 0.02 = $3,000.

What is a realistic return on a rental property? ›

Annual Cash Flow: Annual cash flow is calculated by the net operating income minus debt. This is how much you will profit (or lose) from your rental annually after all expenses and mortgage payments are covered. A good ROI for a rental property is usually above 10%, but 5% to 10% is also an acceptable range.

How many rental properties will make you a millionaire? ›

To become a real estate millionaire, you may have to own at least ten properties. If this is your goal, you need to accumulate rental properties with a total value of at least a million.

What is the best rental to income ratio? ›

What is a good rent-to-income ratio? A good rent-to-income ratio recommendation is usually 30%. Meaning that roughly 30% of a tenant's gross salary should go toward rent.

How do you calculate if a rental will be profitable? ›

Divide that number by the mortgage value (or how much still needs to be paid on the loan) to calculate ROI.
  1. ROI = (Annual Rental Income – Annual Operating Costs) / Mortgage Value. ...
  2. Cap Rate = Net Operating Income / Purchase Price × 100% ...
  3. Cash-on-Cash Return = (Annual Cash Flow / Total Cash Invested) × 100%
Apr 26, 2022

Is a 50% profit margin too much? ›

What is a good gross profit margin ratio? On the face of it, a gross profit margin ratio of 50 to 70% would be considered healthy, and it would be for many types of businesses, like retailers, restaurants, manufacturers and other producers of goods.

What is the 2 rule in real estate? ›

What Is the 2% Rule in Real Estate? The 2% rule is a rule of thumb that determines how much rental income a property should theoretically be able to generate. Following the 2% rule, an investor can expect to realize a positive cash flow from a rental property if the monthly rent is at least 2% of the purchase price.

What rental properties are most profitable? ›

What Types of Commercial Properties Are the Most Profitable? High-Tenant Properties – Typically, properties with a high number of tenants will give the best return on investment. These properties include RVs, self-storage, apartment complexes, and office spaces.

Is the UK rental market strong? ›

In 2021, there were 5.5m private rented homes in Great Britain - slightly more than the 5.4m total in 2016. This follows a doubling in the number of private rented homes between 2002 and 2015, driven by landlords using buy-to-let mortgages.

How many properties do you need to make a living UK? ›

Most properties are 100 or 200 pounds profit. Therefore, you're going to need 15 to 20 properties to pretty much replace your income for the average person.

How do you calculate rental property yield UK? ›

Rental yield calculator

Firstly, find your annual rental income amount, then divide this by the property value. Finally, multiply the figure by 100 to get the percentage.

Is being a landlord profitable UK? ›

Quite often a major incentive for becoming a landlord is the potential to earn a large income. Every month, landlords receive enough money in rental payments to cover any outstanding mortgage repayments on their properties. This means that the bigger a landlord's property portfolio, the larger their overall income.

Who are Britains biggest landlords? ›

Grainger, the Newcastle company that is active in Build To Rent and claims to be Britain's biggest landlord, has enjoyed a bumper start to 2023.

How many houses does the average person own UK? ›

Brits Average 11 Different Homes Over Their Lifetime.

What is Rule 70 in real estate? ›

The 70% rule can help flippers when they're scouring real estate listings for potential investment opportunities. Basically, the rule says real estate investors should pay no more than 70% of a property's after-repair value (ARV) minus the cost of the repairs necessary to renovate the home.

What is the 36 rule in real estate? ›

A household should spend a maximum of 28% of its gross monthly income on total housing expenses according to this rule, and no more than 36% on total debt service. This includes housing and other debt such as car loans and credit cards. Lenders often use this rule to assess whether to extend credit to borrowers.

What is the 5% rule with property? ›

Take the value of the home you are considering, multiply it by 5%, and divide by 12 months. If you can rent for less than that, renting may be a sensible financial decision. For example, you could estimate about $25,000 in annual, unrecoverable costs for a $500,000 home, or $2,083 per month. It goes the other way, too.

How do you split profit from rental property? ›

Generally speaking, income and expenses are allocated to each investor based on their percentage share of ownership interest. For example, if four investors each owned an equal share of a rental property, each investor would report 25% of the income and 25% of the losses or deductions on their individual tax returns.

What is the rule of 72 in rental property? ›

The Rule of 72 estimates how long an interest-earning investment will take to double, given a fixed annual interest rate. The principle illustrates the power of compound interest over time. It can help rental property owners estimate the long-term financial impact of their real estate investment.

What is the rental income 1% rule? ›

Specifically, the rule suggests that the rent on an investment property should be equal to or greater than 1 percent of the property's sale price.

How do I maximize my ROI on a rental property? ›

  1. How to Calculate ROI.
  2. Create a Quality Marketing Strategy.
  3. Stay on Top of Tenant Screening.
  4. Price Your Rent Competitively.
  5. Improve Your Curb Appeal.
  6. Provide a Pleasant Experience.
  7. Invest in the Ideal Property Type.
  8. Select the Best Rental Strategy.
May 8, 2022

How do I maximize my return on a rental property? ›

13 Tips for Maximizing Rental Income as a Landlord
  1. Resident-Proof Your Property.
  2. Purchase The Right Insurance.
  3. Crunch the Numbers.
  4. Create An LLC.
  5. Make Use Of Tax Breaks.
  6. Make Use Of A Written Lease Agreement.
  7. Choose Your Property Management Company Wisely.
  8. Purchase A Home Warranty.
Sep 8, 2022

What state has the highest ROI on real estate? ›

Investors probably need no explanation why and convincing that Florida tops the list of the best states for the long term rental investment strategy. Our nationwide rental market analysis shows that, on average, you can expect the highest rate of return in the Sunshine State.

Where do most millionaires keep their money? ›

Here are the six most popular places or investments that millionaires invest in.
  • Cash and Cash Equivalents. Many, and perhaps most, millionaires are frugal. ...
  • Real Estate. ...
  • Stocks and Stock Funds. ...
  • Private Equity and Hedge Funds. ...
  • Commodities. ...
  • Alternative Investments.
May 8, 2023

Can you live off of rental income? ›

Effectively managing and maximizing cash flow for your investment properties will allow you to live off the rental property income. Several factors can impact your ability to maintain a positive cash flow. You'll need to show your rental property in the best light possible to attract high-quality residents.

How do most millionaires get rich? ›

No matter how much their annual salary may be, most millionaires put their money where it will grow, usually in stocks, bonds, and other types of stable investments. Millionaires put their money into places where it will grow such as mutual funds, stocks and retirement accounts.

How much should I spend on a house if I make $100 K? ›

Your budget and financial situation will determine how much you can afford on a 100k salary, but in most cases, you'll likely qualify for a home worth between $350,000 to $500,000.

Is 30% of income on rent too much? ›

It is recommended that you spend 30% of your monthly income on rent at maximum, and to consider all the factors involved in your budget, including additional rental costs like renters insurance or your initial security deposit.

What percentage of rental income should I save? ›

50% Rule: Set aside half of your rental income each month for repairs, maintenance, taxes, insurance, and other costs related to your property. 1% Rule: Maintenance will cost about 1% of the property value per year. So, if a unit is valued at $250,000, then maintenance will cost around $2,500.

Is rental income considered profit? ›

You must pay tax on any profit from renting out property. For California, rental income and losses are always considered a passive activity.

Is 30% profit margin too high? ›

A good margin will vary considerably by industry and size of business, but as a general rule of thumb, a 10% net profit margin is considered average, a 20% margin is considered high (or “good”), and a 5% margin is low.

Is 20% profit margin bad? ›

Net profit margins vary by industry but according to the Corporate Finance Institute, 20% is considered good, 10% average or standard, and 5% is considered low or poor. Good profit margins allow companies to cover their costs and generate a return on their investment.

What is a healthy profit margin? ›

As a rule of thumb, 5% is a low margin, 10% is a healthy margin, and 20% is a high margin. But a one-size-fits-all approach isn't the best way to set goals for your business profitability. First, some companies are inherently high-margin or low-margin ventures.

What is the 25 rule in real estate? ›

The 25% post-tax model

This model states your total monthly debt should be 25% or less of your post-tax income. Let's say you earn $5,000 after taxes. To calculate how much you can afford with the 25% post-tax model, multiply $5,000 by 0.25. Using this model, you can spend up to $1,250 on your monthly mortgage payment.

What is the rule of 35 in the real estate? ›

By law, lenders can't underwrite the loan unless they can determine the borrower will be able to pay up the loan. The whole idea behind the 35-percent rule of thumb is this: a borrower can afford no more than 35% of its monthly take-home pay.

What is the 20 rule in real estate? ›

The rule, applicable in many financial, commercial, and social contexts, states that 80% of consequences come from 20% of causes. For example, many researchers have found that: 80% of real estate deals are closed by 20% of the real estate teams.

What kind of real estate generates the most money? ›

Commercial real estate is known to yield higher returns than residential real estate. If you can afford to manage a commercial space, it can prove lucrative over time, depending on your area.

Are landlords usually wealthy? ›

While landlords might bring in cash from several sources, their income levels tend to be solid. While the real median household income is just shy of $62,000, landlords bring in closer to $97,000 annually through all of their income sources.

What type of properties make the most money? ›

Commercial properties are considered one of the best types of real estate investments because of their potential for higher cash flow. If you decide to invest in a commercial property, you could enjoy these attractive benefits: Higher-income potential.

How many rental properties do you need to make a living UK? ›

Most properties are 100 or 200 pounds profit. Therefore, you're going to need 15 to 20 properties to pretty much replace your income for the average person. That's a lot of properties to buy.

What is the 2% rule in real estate? ›

2% Rule. The 2% rule is the same as the 1% rule – it just uses a different number. The 2% rule states that the monthly rent for an investment property should be equal to or no less than 2% of the purchase price. Here's an example of the 2% rule for a home with the purchase price of $150,000: $150,000 x 0.02 = $3,000.

Is it worth being a landlord UK 2023? ›

Being a Landlord in 2023

Good news for landlords is that rental prices across the UK continue to rise. The demand for tenants is offset by the lack of properties available, meaning rents are set to rise by another 5% in 2023, following an already substantial rise of 9.7% in 2022.

Is property still a good investment UK? ›

The property market has long been an important element of the UK economy. It has proved to be an excellent way to generate and accumulate wealth over the long term, either through personal investment property portfolios or as a component of one of the UK's many institutional portfolios and pension funds.

Is owning a house better than renting in the UK? ›

In summary: buying requires a bigger upfront cost, but renting is more expensive in the long term. A good rule of thumb is that buying a property becomes better value after around 10 years, compared to renting an identical property. Whether it's cheaper to buy or rent depends on several factors.

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