Rental Investing in Southampton, England

2026 Market Data & Investment Analysis

Gross Yield

5.1%

Annual rent / price

Median Home Price

£280,000

As of 2026-Q1

Median Monthly Rent

£1,200

Per month

Population

262,000

+0.3% / yr (5y avg)

Calculate Your Return in Southampton

Pre-filled with Southampton'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)

% of price

Rule of thumb: 1% of purchase price/yr

Results

Gross Rental Yield

5.14%

Net Rental Yield

3.03%

Cap Rate

3.03%

Monthly Cash Flow

£706.67

Annual Cash Flow

£8,480.00

> 6% — Excellent4–6% — Good< 4% — Low

Market Overview

Median Home Price — 5-Year Trend

2021
£240,000
2022
£305,000
2023
£288,000
2024
£284,000
2025
£280,000

Median Monthly Rent — 5-Year Trend

2021
£1,005
2022
£1,148
2023
£1,182
2024
£1,193
2025
£1,200

Southampton provides solid rental yields of 5.1%, in line with healthy investment market benchmarks.

Modest population growth of 0.3% per year indicates a stable but slowly growing rental market.

The vacancy rate of 2.8% is healthy, indicating strong rental demand and limited downtime between tenants.

Investment Profile

Challenging Market

Southampton 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 5.1% limits income potential
  • Limited population growth reduces long-term rental demand
  • Higher due diligence required to identify strong-performing assets

Key Metrics

Gross Yield5.1%
Median Home Price£280,000
Median Monthly Rent£1,200
Population Growth+0.3% / yr
Vacancy Rate2.8%

How Southampton Compares

Southampton vs Portsmouth: 0.0 percentage point difference in gross yield.

CityMedian PriceMedian RentGross YieldPop. Growth
Portsmouth, England£260,000£1,1005.1%+0.2%
Bournemouth, England£310,000£1,2504.8%+0.5%
Reading, England£340,000£1,4004.9%+0.6%
Brighton, England£420,000£1,6504.7%+0.3%
Bristol, England£350,000£1,4505%+0.6%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is rental investing profitable in Southampton?
Southampton offers a gross rental yield of 5.1%, which is in line with the national average. With a median home price of £280,000 and median monthly rent of £1,200, profitability is achievable but depends heavily on financing terms and whether you can source properties below the median price.
What is the average rental yield in Southampton?
The average gross rental yield in Southampton is approximately 5.1%, based on a median home price of £280,000 and median monthly rent of £1,200 (as of 2026-Q1). Net yield, which accounts for vacancy, expenses, and maintenance, is typically 2–3 percentage points lower.
How does Southampton compare to Portsmouth for investors?
Southampton has a gross yield of 5.1% compared to 5.1% in Portsmouth, a difference of 0.0 percentage points. Both markets offer similar yields. Southampton has stronger population growth (0.3% vs 0.2%), suggesting better long-term demand dynamics.

Ready to Analyse a Specific Property in Southampton?

Use our free rental yield calculator to model any property — not just the median.

Data source: UK Land Registry / ONS. Last updated: 2026-Q1. This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.