Cap Rate Calculator UK

The capitalisation rate, net operating income divided by property value, is the cleanest single number for comparing UK rental properties.

Property & income

£
£

Full market rent before voids. £1,200/month.

%

8% (≈4 weeks/year) is a common UK assumption.

Operating expenses

£

Excludes mortgage payments, cap rate is unleveraged. Tap "Itemise" to build this up.

Cap rate
4.10%
NOI ÷ property value
NOI (annual)£10,248
Effective gross income£13,248
Gross yield5.76%

How the NOI is built

Gross rent£14,400
Less vacancy (8%)−£1,152
Effective gross income£13,248
Less operating expenses−£3,000
Net operating income (NOI)£10,248

Sensitivity

Cap rate as property value (rows) and rent (columns) each move ±10–20%.

Value ↓ / Rent →-20%-10%Base+10%+20%
-20%3.80%4.46%5.12%5.79%6.45%
-10%3.38%3.97%4.55%5.14%5.73%
Base3.04%3.57%4.10%4.63%5.16%
+10%2.76%3.24%3.73%4.21%4.69%
+20%2.53%2.97%3.42%3.86%4.30%

Understanding cap rate

Cap rates vary widely by region because they reflect the trade-off between income and expected capital growth:

  • London: ~3–5%. Lower income yield, more of the return expected from capital appreciation.
  • Northern cities: ~6–9%. Higher income yield, slower historic capital growth.
  • Wales & South West: ~5–8%. In between.

A higher cap rate is not automatically "better", it often signals higher perceived risk, more management, or weaker growth prospects.