Rental yields›Southampton
Rental yield in Southampton
Southampton has one of the highest average gross rental yields in England and Wales. Relatively affordable prices against solid rents put it near the top of 316 areas for buy-to-let income return.
Over the past year, average prices in Southampton rose 0.1% and average rents rose 3.1%.
Gross yield
6.4%
Average price
£235,362
↑ +0.1% / yr
Average rent
£1,255/mo
↑ +3.1% / yr
National rank
#5 of 316
Who rents here
Census 2021, 102,290 households
29.2% of homes in Southampton are private rentals.
Average rent by size
1 bedroom
£879/mo
↑ +3.4% / yr
2 bedrooms
£1,112/mo
↑ +3.1% / yr
3 bedrooms
£1,354/mo
↑ +3.4% / yr
4+ bedrooms
£1,887/mo
↑ +2.5% / yr
Average advertised rent by number of bedrooms. ONS Price Index of Private Rents (2026-07).
Council tax bands (2026-27)
Band A
£1,587
Band B
£1,852
Band C
£2,116
Band D
£2,381
Band E
£2,910
Band F
£3,439
Band G
£3,968
Band H
£4,762
Average annual bill for the area, including police and other precepts (MHCLG and Welsh Government, 2026-27). Community precepts vary, and the band is set by the property, so check the exact band on gov.uk.
Work out the yield on a specific property
Pre-filled with the Southampton average. Change them for a real property.
That is right on the Southampton average of 6.4%. Add costs for a net estimate.
How it compares
Areas with a similar yield
Common questions
Is Southampton a good place to buy to let?
On income alone it is among the strongest areas in England and Wales, at a 6.4% average gross yield. High-yield areas tend to see slower price growth, so it suits investors who value monthly income over long-term capital gains.
Are rents rising in Southampton?
Over the past year, average rents in Southampton rose 3.1% and average prices rose 0.1% (HM Land Registry and ONS, to 2026-07).
Is there rental demand in Southampton?
Rent movement is the best free proxy for tenant demand, and average rents in Southampton rose 3.1% over the past year (ONS), which points to tenants competing for available stock. Still ask local letting agents about typical void periods before committing to a buy-to-let there. For the size of the market: at the 2021 census, 29.2% of Southampton's 102,290 households rented privately (21.9% social rented, 47.7% owner occupied).
What is the average rent for a 1, 2 or 3 bedroom property in Southampton?
As of 2026-07, average monthly rents in Southampton by property size are £879 for a 1 bedroom property, £1,112 for a 2 bedroom property, £1,354 for a 3 bedroom property, £1,887 for a 4 or more bedroom property (ONS). The all-size average is £1,255 a month.
How much is council tax in Southampton?
In 2026-27, the average Band D council tax in Southampton is £2,381 a year including police and other precepts. Bills scale with the property's band: from £1,587 for Band A up to £4,762 for Band H. Community precepts vary within the area, so treat these as area averages and check the exact band and bill with the council.
What is a good rental yield in the UK?
As a rough guide, under 4% is low, 5 to 6% is typical, and above 6.5% is high. Southampton is at 6.4%.
Gross yield = annual rent divided by average price. Average price: HM Land Registry UK HPI (01/06/2026). Average rent: ONS Price Index of Private Rents (2026-07). Local-authority averages across all property types, indicative only. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Not investment advice.