Updated monthly · rents for August 2026 · South East
Rental Yields in New Forest
The average private rent in New Forest was £1,244 a month in August 2026, and the average property price was £384,977 in July 2026. That gives a gross rental yield of 3.9%, which ranks 246th of 316 local authorities in England and Wales and 48th of 64 in the South East.
Take off a letting agent, repairs and one empty month a year and the net yield is about 3.0%, before mortgage costs and tax. In the year to August 2026 the average rent rose 1.7%, and in the year to July 2026 the average price was unchanged. Rents have moved ahead of prices, which pushes gross yields up.
Official data: ONS average rents (August 2026) and HM Land Registry average prices (July 2026), for the whole local authority. All yields are before tax.
Gross yield
3.9%
#246 of 316 in England & Wales
Net yield
3.0%
After letting, repairs and voids
Average rent
£1,244
+1.7% in 12 monthsAverage price
£384,977
0.0% in 12 monthsWhat a typical New Forest rental makes after costs
Gross yield ignores costs. Here is a property at New Forest's average price and rent, run through the RealYield calculator with the same assumptions Deal Check uses. Costs take the yield from 3.9% to 3.0%, a gap of 0.9 percentage points. Rent covers these costs and the mortgage interest up to a rate of about 3.9%.
| A year at £384,977 and £1,244 pcm | £ a year |
|---|---|
| Rent for 12 months | £14,928 |
| Less one empty month | -£1,244 |
| Less letting agent (12% of rent collected) | -£1,642 |
| Less repairs (5% of rent collected) | -£684 |
| Net income before mortgage (net yield 3.0%) | £11,358 |
| Less mortgage interest (£288,733 at 4.5%, interest only) | -£12,993 |
| Cashflow before tax | -£1,635 |
| Less income tax (higher-rate taxpayer, owned personally, Section 24) | -£2,272 |
| Cashflow after tax | -£3,907 |
That works out at a loss of £136 a month before tax and a loss of £326 a month after tax, on a £96,244 deposit (25%) before stamp duty and buying costs.
Source: RealYield calculator engine on the ONS average rent (August 2026) and HM Land Registry average price (July 2026). Assumptions: 25% deposit, 4.5% interest-only mortgage, 12% letting agent, 5% of rent on repairs, one empty month a year, no service charge or ground rent. Tax is illustrative: the property profit taxed at the higher rate with the 20% mortgage interest credit, ignoring your other income and allowances. An average, not a valuation of any property.
How New Forest compares with the South East
New Forest's gross yield ranks 246th of 316 local authorities in England and Wales and 48th of 64 in the South East. In the South East, gross yields run from 3.0% in Elmbridge to 6.5% in Portsmouth.
| Measure | New Forest | South East median | England and Wales median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross yield | 3.9% | 4.4% | 4.4% |
| Net yield (after letting, repairs, voids) | 3.0% | 3.3% | 3.4% |
| Average rent (pcm) | £1,244 | £1,360 | £1,022 |
| Average price | £384,977 | £382,549 | £288,085 |
| Rent change, 12 months | +1.7% | +3.0% | +3.9% |
| Price change, 12 months | 0.0% | +0.8% | +1.9% |
Medians of the local authority averages (64 in the South East, 316 in England and Wales), not weighted by population. Rents: ONS Price Index of Private Rents, August 2026. Prices and price change: HM Land Registry UK House Price Index, July 2026. Net yields use the same assumptions as the typical property above and the Net Yield Index. All before tax.
Average rent in New Forest by bedrooms
| Property size | Average rent (pcm, August 2026) |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | £864 |
| 2 bedrooms | £1,132 |
| 3 bedrooms | £1,391 |
| 4+ bedrooms | £1,988 |
Source: ONS Price Index of Private Rents, August 2026. A 2-bedroom rent against the average flat price gives a flat yield of 6.9%, gross.
Average house price in New Forest by property type
| Property type | Average price (July 2026) |
|---|---|
| Detached | £584,457 |
| Semi-detached | £370,670 |
| Terraced | £300,784 |
| Flat / maisonette | £196,626 |
Areas to compare with New Forest
Local authorities in the South East with the closest gross yields to New Forest.
- Rental yields in Wealden3.9% gross, 2.9% net£1,262 pcm · £391,211
- Rental yields in Vale of White Horse3.9% gross, 3.0% net£1,352 pcm · £413,773
- Rental yields in Surrey Heath3.9% gross, 3.0% net£1,503 pcm · £457,988
- Rental yields in Winchester3.9% gross, 3.0% net£1,508 pcm · £463,025
- Rental yields in Guildford3.9% gross, 3.0% net£1,736 pcm · £532,917
New Forest rental yield questions
What is the average rental yield in New Forest?
The average gross rental yield in New Forest is 3.9%, from an average rent of £1,244 a month (ONS, August 2026) and an average price of £384,977 (HM Land Registry, July 2026). It ranks 246th of 316 local authorities in England and Wales and 48th of 64 in the South East. After a 12% letting agent fee, 5% of rent on repairs and one empty month a year, the net yield is about 3.0%. Both figures are before mortgage costs and tax.
What is the average rent in New Forest?
The average private rent in New Forest was £1,244 per calendar month in August 2026, according to the ONS Price Index of Private Rents. A 2-bedroom home averaged £1,132 a month. Over the previous 12 months the average rent rose 1.7%, against a median change of +3.9% across England and Wales.
What is the average house price in New Forest?
The average property price in New Forest was £384,977 in July 2026, according to the HM Land Registry UK House Price Index. The average flat or maisonette cost £196,626. Over the previous 12 months the average price was unchanged.
How do rental yields in New Forest compare with the rest of the South East?
New Forest's gross yield of 3.9% is 0.5 points below the median of 4.4% for the 64 local authorities in the South East, and 0.5 points below the England and Wales median of 4.4%. Across the region, gross yields run from 3.0% in Elmbridge to 6.5% in Portsmouth. These are gross yields, before costs and tax.
Why is the net yield in New Forest lower than the gross yield?
Gross yield counts every month's rent and no costs. On a property at New Forest's average price and rent, one empty month a year costs £1,244 in lost rent, letting agent fees at 12% cost £1,642 and repairs at 5% of rent cost £684. That takes the yield from 3.9% to about 3.0%, a gap of 0.9 percentage points. Both yields are before mortgage costs and tax, which reduce the return further, as would any service charge or ground rent.
Is New Forest good for buy-to-let?
RealYield does not rate areas as good or bad investments, because the answer depends on the property, the price paid and your own circumstances. On the published averages, New Forest's gross yield ranks 246th of 316 local authorities in England and Wales and 48th of 64 in the South East. With a 25% deposit and a 4.5% interest-only mortgage, a property at the average price and rent would lose about £136 a month before tax after letting, repair and void costs. Rent stops covering those costs and the interest at a mortgage rate of about 3.9%. Individual properties vary widely, so test a specific deal before relying on an area average.
Rents: ONS Price Index of Private Rents, August 2026. Prices: contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, July 2026. Both used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Averages describe the whole local authority and individual properties vary widely. Net yields and cashflow are RealYield calculations on those averages with the assumptions stated above.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Yields shown are before tax. Always verify current figures and seek independent professional advice before making investment decisions.