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How to use the Landlord Starter Kit

Short walk-throughs of each workbook, from opening the right tab to reading the results, with the same steps written out underneath. Each video runs for under three minutes.

The workbooks are not financial, tax or legal advice. Always confirm figures with a solicitor, a tax adviser and the cited source. Figures were checked on 11 November 2026.

Video 1 of 3 | 2 min 58 s

Buy-to-Let Yield Calculator

Work out the yield, monthly cashflow and purchase tax on a UK buy-to-let.

With a spoken voiceover, and every step is also captioned on screen. The figures in the video are examples, not real data.

Step by step

  1. Open the Inputs tab

    Type only in the gold cells. Cream cells are formulas and fill in by themselves. Every figure is in pounds.

  2. Describe the property

    Add an optional label, then the purchase price and the monthly rent you expect to charge.

  3. Answer every property question

    Pick from each drop-down list: the nation, the buyer type, whether it is an additional dwelling, whether the buyer is a non-UK resident, first-time buyer relief and company rental-business relief. Your answers decide which purchase tax applies (SDLT, LBTT or LTT) and at which rates.

  4. Add your mortgage details

    Enter the cash deposit, the interest rate (type 4.85% or 0.0485), the mortgage type, the term, any arrangement fee and how you pay it. The loan amount works itself out.

  5. Enter your yearly running costs

    For example the letting fee, repairs, insurance, safety certificates, accountancy and a void allowance. Leave any cost that does not apply blank, because blank optional costs count as zero.

  6. Add one-off purchase costs and your tax rate

    Enter your quotes for the solicitor, survey, broker, mortgage valuation, searches and Land Registry, then your marginal income tax rate for the illustrative Section 24 figure.

  7. Open the Results tab

    Read gross and net yield, monthly cashflow before and after tax, cash-on-cash return, break-even rent, purchase tax and total cash invested.

Video 2 of 3 | 2 min 09 s

Tenant Screening Scorecard

Score applicants fairly, check affordability and see the verified deposit caps.

With a spoken voiceover, and every step is also captioned on screen. The figures in the video are examples, not real data.

Step by step

  1. Open the Scorecard tab

    This is your live screening sheet. Type in the gold cells only. Cream cells are formulas and fill in by themselves.

  2. Enter the property and the applicant

    Type the address, choose the nation from the list, then add the proposed monthly rent, the applicant's name, the application date and the proposed tenancy start.

  3. Run the affordability check

    Enter total monthly income from all sources and the income multiple you use. Count wages, benefits and other regular income the same way. The multiple is your own test, not a legal minimum. The sheet shows the required income, the surplus or shortfall, and whether the applicant meets your stated test.

  4. Set the weights

    Type each of the six weights as a percentage, for example 25%, so the total comes to 100%.

  5. Score each criterion from 1 to 5

    1 means weak evidence and 5 means strong evidence. Add your own pass mark if you use one. The sheet gives a weighted score out of 5 and compares it with your pass mark.

  6. Record the Right to Rent check (England only)

    Choose whether every adult occupier has been checked the same way. This is a pass or fail gate, not a score, and it does not apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

  7. Check the deposit against the cap

    Type the deposit you plan to take. The sheet works out the weekly rent, the verified deposit cap for your nation and the holding-deposit cap, and compares your deposit with the cap.

Video 3 of 3 | 2 min 17 s

Area Comparison Template

Compare up to four areas on price, rent, yield and your own scores, then rank them.

With a spoken voiceover, and every step is also captioned on screen. The figures in the video are examples, not real data.

Step by step

  1. Open the Comparison tab

    Each column is one area. Type in the gold cells, and leave a column blank if you are comparing fewer than four areas.

  2. Name your areas

    Type up to four area names across the top row.

  3. Enter a typical price and monthly rent

    Use official data, such as Price Paid or the UK House Price Index for prices and ONS figures for rents. Gross yield calculates itself.

  4. Score each area from 1 to 5

    Crime, schools, transport, amenities and demand are your own judgements, where 5 is the most favourable. Type a number or pick it from the list.

  5. Check licensing with each council

    There is no single national list of licensing schemes. Check each council's licensing page, then note what you found.

  6. Set your weights

    Only yield and the 1 to 5 scores carry a weight. Type each one as a percentage and keep the total at 100%. Then read the weighted score (0 to 1, higher is better) and the leading area.