Buy to let in London
2026 Market Data & Investment Analysis
Gross Yield
3.9%
Annual rent / price
Median Home Price
£650,000
As of 2026-Q1
Median Monthly Rent
£2,100
Per month
Population
9,748,000
+0.4% / yr (5y avg)
Estimates based on median market data. Actual returns depend on your specific property. Source: UK Land Registry / ONS, 2026-Q1.
Calculate your rental yield in London
Pre-filled with London's median values. Adjust to match your specific property.
Property Details
Total acquisition cost before taxes
HOA, insurance, property management
% of time the property is empty
% of purchase price (e.g. 2% = 2)
Rule of thumb: 1% of purchase price/yr
Results
Gross Rental Yield
3.88%
Net Rental Yield
2.31%
Cap Rate
2.31%
Monthly Cash Flow
£1,253.33
Annual Cash Flow
£15,040.00
London rental market at a glance
Median Home Price — 5-Year Trend
Median Monthly Rent — 5-Year Trend
While London's rental yields of 3.9% are below average, investors may benefit from strong long-term appreciation potential in this market.
Modest population growth of 0.4% per year indicates a stable but slowly growing rental market.
The vacancy rate of 1.8% is healthy, indicating strong rental demand and limited downtime between tenants.
What type of investment market is London?
London presents challenges with both modest rental yields and limited population growth. Investors need to carefully analyze specific neighborhoods and property types to find opportunities that outperform the market average.
✓ Strengths
- •Lower entry prices may reduce downside risk
- •Select neighborhoods and value-add properties can outperform the average
! Risks
- •Below-average gross yield of 3.9% limits income potential
- •Limited population growth reduces long-term rental demand
- •Higher due diligence required to identify strong-performing assets
Key Metrics
How does London compare to nearby cities?
London vs Reading: 1.0 percentage point difference in gross yield.
| City | Median Price | Median Rent | Gross Yield | Pop. Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, England | £340,000 | £1,400 | 4.9% | +0.6% |
| Luton, England | £280,000 | £1,150 | 4.9% | +1.2% |
| Brighton, England | £420,000 | £1,650 | 4.7% | +0.3% |
| Milton Keynes, England | £310,000 | £1,250 | 4.8% | +1% |
| Southampton, England | £280,000 | £1,200 | 5.1% | +0.3% |
Common questions about investing in London
Is rental investing profitable in London?▾
What is the average rental yield in London?▾
How does London compare to Reading for investors?▾
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Use our free rental yield calculator to model any property — not just the median.
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