Rent, price and yield by property type
| Type | Average rent | Average price | Gross yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat | £1,272 | £223,165 | 6.8% |
| Terraced | £1,607 | £351,976 | 5.5% |
| Semi-detached | £1,755 | £442,678 | 4.8% |
| Detached | £2,172 | £714,852 | 3.6% |
In Reading, flats give the highest gross yield, at 6.8%. Gross yield is a year's rent divided by the price, before costs. Averages cover every home and tenancy, so a real purchase can differ: run the figures for a specific property in the rental yield calculator.
How Reading compares in South East
Reading ranks 14 of 64 for average rent in South East, and 7 of 64 for gross yield. The areas either side of it on rent:
| Area | Average rent | Rents, 1 yr | Gross yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runnymede | £1,586 | -0.7% | 4.0% |
| Dartford | £1,575 | +3.1% | 5.4% |
| Reading | £1,574 | +1.4% | 5.4% |
| Slough | £1,565 | +2.2% | 5.6% |
| Mole Valley | £1,551 | +2.4% | 3.3% |
See average rents for every area with a page, or every council area in the yield finder.
Letting in Reading
- Is my rent too low? Compare your rent with the Reading average for your number of bedrooms.
- When can I raise the rent? Rent rises now follow the Section 13 process, once a year.
- Landlord compliance checklist: every check a let needs.
Questions landlords ask
What is the average rent in Reading?
£1,574 a month across all private rented homes in August 2026, according to the ONS. That's +1.4% on a year earlier, and 10% above the South East average of £1,426.
What is the average rent for a 2-bedroom home in Reading?
£1,393 a month in August 2026, against £1,273 across South East. A 1-bedroom home averages £1,116 and a 3-bedroom home £1,671.
Is Reading good for buy-to-let?
The average gross yield in Reading is 5.4%, ranking 7 of 64 areas in South East. Flats yield the most, at 6.8%. Yields are lower where prices are high, so check the numbers on a real property before you buy.
Sources
Figures are averages for all private rented homes, including existing tenancies, so rents for new lets are usually higher. Updated monthly.