-3.6% 5y IRR — capital outlay disproportionate to returns
No rent comparables — estimate is a rule-of-thumb fallback, not market data. Verify the rent locally before offering.
Property research tool — not a regulated financial service. Numbers are point-in-time estimates; how we decide →
Monthly cashflow
−£668/mo
You top up £668/mo
Price
£695K
Around comparable sold prices
Return · IRR
-3.6%/yr
Loses money over 5 years
Cash to get in
£283K
Deposit + fees + refurb
Return before costson price · Rent by the room5.99%5-yr return on cash -9%Rent est. £2,928 (£2,669–£3,212)
How we define each return:On price — gross yield = annual rent ÷ purchase price.On cost — net yield ÷ total project cost (price + refurb + fees).On cash — cash-on-cash & ROI ÷ the actual cash you put in (deposit + costs).
Listing seen …
What-if calculator
Edit any input — outputs recalc liveRates as of 20 May 2026
Buy-to-Let. Standard rental on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy. Single household, market rent, paid monthly direct to landlord (or via agent). (hover any strategy tab for pros + cons)
Offer (£)
Monthly rent (£)
Local comp range: £2,669–£3,212/mo · n=8
Financing
DepositYour cash in — the rest is the mortgage25% · £173,750
5%100% (cash buy)
Standard 75% LTV for BTL
Mortgage rate5y fixed5.8%
3.0%9.0%
5-year fixed at 75% LTV — 5.75% (as of 2026-05-20).
Mortgage term (years)
Stress rate6.5%
5.0%9.0%
BoE base + 2pp stress (6.5%)
Acquisition costs
Refurb (£)
Per-property refurb estimate from the element rate-card model (£26,285–£49,064 range), VAT-inclusive
Legal + survey (£)
Standard house — £1,900 legal + £1,000 survey
Mortgage fees (£)
2% product fee on £521,250 loan + £1,000 booking fee
Cladding safety certificateNot stated on the listingHeritageNot stated on the listing
Heritage& planning constraintsNHLE register
We don't ingest the NHLE bulk register, so we can't flag listed-building or conservation-area status for this address from our data alone. Use the official registry to verify before exchanging.
Compare 7 strategies side-by-side · best shown with ⭐
⭐Rent by the room wins — +£516/mo · £277/mo ahead of Short-stay let / Airbnb (after room-conversion)
Strategy
Return before costson price
Monthly profit
Cash needed
5y Return on your cashon cash
Risk
Feasibility
Rent it out
5.06%
-£668
£282,621
-8.8%
Low
Feasible
Housing-benefit rent
2.85%
-£1,811
£282,621
-34.3%
Med
Feasible
Council lease
5.06%
-£546
£282,621
-8.6%
Low
Feasible
Refurb & refinance
5.06%
-£668
£331,389
-7.5%
Med
Feasible
Short-stay let / Airbnb
10.20%
+£239
£282,621
8.6%
High
Feasible
Buy, improve & sell
0.00%
-£211
£806,464
4%
Med
Feasible
⭐ Rent by the room
4.41% *
+£516
£269,750
—
—
Feasible
* Rent by the room shows net yield on cost for the audited HMO conversion deal (post-conversion, after running costs) — not gross like the other rows. Its 5-yr ROI reads “—” because the audited deal is a year-one snapshot; the HMO conversion panel below shows the cash-back / payback horizon.
Short-let (SA) context243 active short-lets nearby
Short-let market context
Local nightly-rate and occupancy benchmarks for this postcode.
243 active short-let listings in this postcode
Housing-benefit (LHA) scheme detailBRMA Reading · cap £1,649/mo
Housing-benefit rent scheme detail
Per-BRMA Local Housing Allowance + per-LA council leasing scheme.
Rental Market Area (BRMA):
Reading
LHA monthly cap:
£1,649
Scheme type:
other
Premium:
+700% premium over LHA cap
Typical lease:
0 years lease
Management:
landlord pays agent (typical 10%)
Ready to move on this deal?
Generates an offer pack with your numbers & sources — take it to the agent.
Pro analysis — outcome range, stress tests & portfolio impactLocal lettings demanddays-to-let · supply now · trend
-£1,161/mo cash flow vs Rent it out if converted to Rent by the room
4.14% Return before costs on price converted vs 5.06% as-is
£695k → 8-bed HMO @ ~£640/room: £5,052 pcm gross, ~£2,905 pcm net (4.4% net on £791k all-in incl. ~£34k works); GDV ~£498k → refinance releases ~£-148k (~£417k left in)
medium confidence
Unlocks ~£24,970/yr extra rent
5 → 8 lettable rooms · ~5.1% gross at max
Potential, not guaranteed (subject to planning + regs). Estimate from the floorplan (kitchen size assumed) — verify room sizes against the floorplan before offering.
How we calculated this
floorplan shows 9 habitable rooms (5 beds + 4 reception(s)) in 201 m²; convert 3 spare room(s) to bedrooms, keeping one reception as the lounge → up to 8 lettable rooms (2 double, 0 single) (incl. the garage — convertible to a bedroom or the communal area); sized to Reading adopted standard (6.51/10.5 m²; Guide to amenity standards for Houses in Multiple Occupation (Reading BC, current 2026)); 1 room size(s) not printed on the plan — counted but unverified vs the standard; kitchen 4.9 m² is below the ~13.0 m² standard for 8 occupants — extend/relocate kitchen within the works; adds ~£2,081/mo; loft conversion may add 1-2 further rooms (subject to head height/planning — not counted); large HMO (7+ residents) is sui generis — planning permission required; mandatory HMO licence (5+ persons, England)
Pro members see the floorplan with every convertible room outlined in green. Verify room sizes before offering.
5 → 8 bed HMO+2 doubles, +1 single4.41% net on cost2.3% cash-on-cashuplift 3.27% → 5.09%
💷 Refinance could release ~-£147,692
HMO licence7+ = planning required
✓Sized to Reading's adopted HMO standards
Projections use documented assumptions (local room rates, typical conversion costs, 75% LTV at 5.5%, indicative regional valuation yields) and each council’s published HMO standards. Not financial advice. Verify room sizes, licensing and planning with the council and a surveyor before purchase.
Room mix (5 lettable rooms)
3× Double @ £725/mo1× Single @ £520/mo1× En-suite @ £773/mo
≈ £3,468/mo gross room income
As-is Rent it out
Monthly profit-£542
Return before costson price5.06%
Cash needed£185,648
If converted to Rent by the room
Monthly profit-£1,702
Return before costson price4.14%
Cash needed£201,648
Δ vs Rent it outMonthly profit-£1,161
+3 rooms (8 total)
Monthly profit+£466
Return before costson price9.58%
Cash needed£231,648
Extra rent+£2,081/mo
Show conversion detail
Conversion cost estimate
£3,750
Range: £2,500 – £6,250
Fire safety, plumbing, partitioning, licensing.
Rates as of Apr 2026
£105,460–£186,290full refurb + room split
What's in this cost
Kitchen£9,900–£19,800
2 × bathroom£13,500–£24,750
Rewire£9,325–£14,920
Replumb£7,460–£13,055
Windows£20,515–£35,435
Paint + decor£18,650–£31,705
Flooring£26,110–£46,625
Based on 1722 HMO comps within 2.1 km
Comparables
sold within 0.5 mi
Wide · CV 12.8%Med confidence
Loading nearby sold…
Location & area intelligence
Transport 100 / 100
Loading map…
Transport score100 / 100
On the map
Registered HMOs
Approved HMO conversions
Pending HMO applications
Schools & catchment2 schools nearby
Nearby schoolsOfsted-rated, nearest first2 of 5
Caversham Primary School
Primary · Community school · RG4 7RA
Good
The Heights Primary School
Primary · Free schools · RG4 7LB
Not rated
Ofsted · postcode-area match. Catchment areas vary year to year — verify with the local council before relying for school admissions.
Tax treatment
-£8,010/yr kept
Annual gross rent£35,136
Section 24 credit£0
Annual tax due£0
Post-tax Monthly profitannual-£8,010
Exit costs
-£24,878 after CGT
Projected sale price (5y · 2%/yr growth)£767,336
Capital gain (pre-CGT)£72,336
Sale costs (~2.5%)£19,183
CGT due (Ltd Co 25%)£0
No personal CGT — the gain is taxed at the company level (corporation tax) when the SPV disposes of the property.
Total cash neededdeposit + costs (loan covers the rest)£282,621
Green = verified data. Amber = market typical. Red = our estimate — verify before offering.
About this propertydescription · zoopla
Description& agent copyZoopla
An Edwardian semi-detached house set within a sought-after address in Caversham Heights, extended to provide generous accommodation across three floors. The plan has been carefully arranged to suit family life, with five bedrooms and a series of well-proportioned living spaces. A front-facing sitting room retains a fireplace, while a separate dining room opens directly onto the garden. To the rear, a 19ft kitchen and breakfast room forms the centre of the home, with a direct…
Energy rating D — must hit C by 2030 (~£3,000–£7,000)
Price
£695K
at sold-comp median
Return before costs (best)
5.99%
Rent by the room
Bedrooms
5
2 bath
Energy rating
D
Energy rating
Deal flags1 issue
EPC D — upgrade by 2030
Must reach EPC C by 2030 to let on a new tenancy
Run the numbers
Each tab prefills
What-if calculator
Edit any input — outputs recalc liveRates as of 20 May 2026
Buy-to-Let. Standard rental on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy. Single household, market rent, paid monthly direct to landlord (or via agent). (hover any strategy tab for pros + cons)
Offer (£)
Monthly rent (£)
Local comp range: £2,669–£3,212/mo · n=8
Financing
DepositYour cash in — the rest is the mortgage25% · £173,750
5%100% (cash buy)
Standard 75% LTV for BTL
Mortgage rate5y fixed5.8%
3.0%9.0%
5-year fixed at 75% LTV — 5.75% (as of 2026-05-20).
Mortgage term (years)
Stress rate6.5%
5.0%9.0%
BoE base + 2pp stress (6.5%)
Acquisition costs
Refurb (£)
Per-property refurb estimate from the element rate-card model (£26,285–£49,064 range), VAT-inclusive
Legal + survey (£)
Standard house — £1,900 legal + £1,000 survey
Mortgage fees (£)
2% product fee on £521,250 loan + £1,000 booking fee
Short-let (SA) context243 active short-lets nearby
Short-let market context
Local nightly-rate and occupancy benchmarks for this postcode.
243 active short-let listings in this postcode
Housing-benefit (LHA) scheme detailBRMA Reading · cap £1,649/mo
Housing-benefit rent scheme detail
Per-BRMA Local Housing Allowance + per-LA council leasing scheme.
Rental Market Area (BRMA):
Reading
LHA monthly cap:
£1,649
Scheme type:
other
Premium:
+700% premium over LHA cap
Typical lease:
0 years lease
Management:
landlord pays agent (typical 10%)
Year-by-year Monthly profit (5-yr horizon)
Net Monthly profit after tax. Rent + costs compound at their growth rates; mortgage principal amortises year-by-year for repayment loans.
Mortgage paydownRent profitbefore price growth
Full year-by-year breakdown
Year
Gross Rent
Op Costs
Mortgage
Equity Built
Tax
Net
Cumulative
Year 1
£35,136
£7,913
£33,881
£0
£0
-£6,659
-£6,659
Year 2
£36,190
£8,151
£33,881
£0
£0
-£5,842
-£12,501
Year 3
£37,276
£8,395
£33,881
£0
£0
-£5,001
-£17,501
Year 4
£38,394
£8,647
£33,881
£0
£0
-£4,134
-£21,636
Year 5
£39,546
£8,907
£33,881
£0
£0
-£3,242
-£24,878
Rent by the roomupside
Tap to expand
Rent by the room conversion upside—▾
Required
Rooms (3+)5 bd
Conversion£42,000
If converted
Gross / mo£3,468
Gross Rent by the room yield5.99%
What we verified
12 total
5106
Legal & planning4▾
Article 4HMO restriction lookupUnknown
Rent by the room licensingMandatory if 5+ unrelatedMandatory
TenureTenure typeFreehold
HeritageListed building / conservation areaNot stated on the listing
Building condition3▾
EPC~£3,000–£7,000 to upgrade to CD
EWS1External wall safety (cladding)Not stated on the listing
Refurb costBased on beds + baths + sqftEstimate available
Area3▾
Crimepolice.uk · monthlyChecking…
SchoolsGIAS · OfstedChecking…
FloodEA Flood Map · England onlyChecking…
Investor profile2▾
Tenant profileBeds + postcode heuristicRent by the room / sharers
Rent by the room feasibilityMin 3 beds for C4 routeFeasible
Comparables
sold within 0.5 mi
Wide · CV 12.8%Med confidence
Loading nearby sold…
Location & transport
Score 100/100
Loading map…
PropertySchoolsUniversitiesStationsArticle 4
Transport detail not loaded for this property.
Tax & exit
Ltd Co
Tax bandLtd Co 25%
Mortgage-interest tax rule credit£6,776
Annual rental tax£0
CGT yr 5£0 · company level
5y net total-£24,878
Acquisition costs
£283K
25% deposit£173,750
Stamp duty£59,500
Refurb£35,046
Legal + survey£2,900
Mortgage + broker£11,425
Cash needed£282,621
Green = verified data. Amber = market typical. Red = our estimate — verify before offering.
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Description& agent copyZoopla
An Edwardian semi-detached house set within a sought-after address in Caversham Heights, extended to provide generous accommodation across three floors. The plan has been carefully arranged to suit family life, with five bedrooms and a series of well-proportioned living spaces. A front-facing sitting room retains a fireplace, while a separate dining room opens directly onto the garden. To the rear, a 19ft kitchen and breakfast room forms the centre of the home, with a direct…