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England: Short-Term vs Long-Term Rental Returns

How do short-term rental returns compare to long-term letting across England? We compare short-term and long-term rental income for local authorities across England, from high-yield northern towns to London's appreciation-driven market.

Published March 21, 2026

What Could You Earn?

Estimated gross income for a typical 3-bedroom house in England, based on median values. These are starting points. In the dashboard you can adjust everything to match your own property and circumstances.

Typical property price
£241K
Long-term rental income
£1,123/mo
before expenses
Short-term rental income
£1,760/mo
before expenses
Short-term earns roughly
£637/mo more
before expenses and regulations

Key Takeaways

  • Short-term rental outperforms long-term in most English local authorities before regulation adjustments, but London's 90-night rule and planning requirements can flip the equation.
  • The short-term premium is strongest in coastal and tourist areas where nightly rates are high but long-term rents are moderate.
  • In northern cities like Manchester and Liverpool, the gap is narrower. Strong long-term demand means traditional letting is competitive without the management overhead.
Interested in a specific area?
See the full short-term vs long-term comparison with adjustable assumptions.
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How Short-Term and Long-Term Compare by Area

Estimated monthly income for a 3-bedroom house in each area, before expenses. Click any area to see the full breakdown in the dashboard.

City / area Price Long-term /month Short-term /month Short-term rules
London
London
£525K £2,373 £674 Medium View details →
Brighton
South East
£444K £2,153 £3,185 Low View details →
Cambridge
East of England
£473K £1,913 £3,872 Low View details →
Bristol
South West
£404K £1,908 £2,693 Low View details →
Manchester
North West
£242K £1,538 £2,168 Low View details →
Leeds
Yorkshire & Humber
£240K £1,129 £1,766 Low View details →
Birmingham
West Midlands
£221K £1,117 £1,754 Low View details →
Newcastle
North East
£207K £1,114 £1,725 Low View details →
Nottingham
East Midlands
£204K £1,086 £1,647 Low View details →
Cornwall
South West
£286K £1,066 £1,788 Low View details →
Sheffield
Yorkshire & Humber
£204K £967 £1,435 Low View details →
Liverpool
North West
£152K £961 £1,618 Low View details →

All figures are estimates based on median values for a 3-bedroom house in each area. Individual properties will vary. Use the dashboard to adjust assumptions to your own situation.

Compare Any Location

The dashboard covers 12 local authorities across England. Search for any area and adjust property price, rent, nightly rate, occupancy, mortgage rate, and expenses to match your investment.

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Data last updated: March 2026

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