Market Insights
Market insights & reports
Straight-talking analysis of the Cardiff HMO market - what's moving, what it means for buyers, sellers, landlords and renters, and how to act on it. Browse by topic below, or check live market data.
Latest insights
Fresh from our desk
HMO Fire Safety in Wales: A Landlord's Compliance Checklist
The fire safety obligations that apply to HMOs in Wales, what Cardiff Council licence conditions require in practice, how to commission a fire risk assessment, and an interactive compliance checklist to audit your property.
Read articleHMO Yields in Cardiff: How to Calculate Gross and Net Returns
How to calculate gross and net yield on a Cardiff HMO, which costs to include, typical yield ranges across the city's main areas, and an interactive yield calculator to appraise any deal.
HMO licensing in Wales: mandatory vs additional licensing explained
When mandatory licensing kicks in, how Cardiff's additional scheme catches smaller HMOs, what an application involves, an interactive licence requirement checker, and the serious risk of operating unlicensed.
HMO property management in Cardiff: self-manage or use an agent?
The real costs and compliance demands of self-managing vs appointing an agent, Rent Smart Wales agent licensing rules, what to look for in a Cardiff HMO agent, and an interactive management fee calculator.
Your occupation contract in Wales: what renters need to know
What an occupation contract is, the difference between fixed-term and periodic, what your written statement must include, six key terms to check before you sign, and your rights as a contract-holder in Wales.
Cardiff HMO neighbourhood guide: Cathays, Roath, Heath & beyond
A neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood breakdown of Cardiff's main HMO areas — tenant types, demand levels, Article 4 status and what to check before you buy.
Renting in Cardiff: a renter's guide
Your rights as a contract-holder, banned fees, who's responsible for repairs, move-in costs, and how to end a contract the right way.
Buying and selling property in Cardiff
The step-by-step journey for buyers and sellers, a Land Transaction Tax calculator, the real cost of moving, and the mistakes to avoid.
Landlord compliance in Wales: the 2026 guide
Your core legal duties under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act and Rent Smart Wales, the penalties for getting it wrong, and the road to EPC C by 2030.
HMO Investment in Cardiff: the 2026 strategy
HMO versus single-let yields, a worked deal appraisal, Land Transaction Tax costs, three strategies and an interactive deal-readiness checker.
Cardiff HMO Market Update 2026
Prices, rents and student demand, room rents by area, the Article 4 and licensing rules to plan around, plus a gross-yield calculator.
EPC C by 2030: a landlord's action plan
What the EPC C minimum standard means, the £10,000 cost cap, the upgrades that move a rating, and an interactive budget planner.
HMO refurbishment costs & ROI in Cardiff
What a conversion costs per room, where the budget goes, an interactive cost estimator, what adds the most value, and Cardiff's room and amenity standards.
First-time buyer's guide to Cardiff
Average prices, how much deposit you need, Land Transaction Tax, the schemes that help, the steps to your first home, and an affordability estimator.
Cardiff rent trends 2026
How the average rent has moved, growth by property type and size, what's driving it, and a tool to check if your rent is in line with the market.
Getting your deposit back in Wales
The approved protection schemes, fair wear and tear versus damage, what a landlord can and can't deduct, free dispute resolution, and an interactive deduction checker.
Eviction & possession in Wales
Section 173 no-fault, breach and serious rent arrears, the notice periods, an interactive 'which notice?' finder, and the mistakes that void a claim.
Cardiff HMO planning & Article 4 explained
Planning use classes (C3, C4, sui generis), Article 4, the HMO density rule, an interactive 'can I HMO this?' checker, and the due diligence to do before you buy.
Conveyancing explained
What a conveyancer does, the searches, exchange versus completion, what causes delays, and an interactive conveyancing tracker.
Cardiff student housing outlook 2026
46,000+ students against 16,100 purpose-built beds, the supply gap filled by HMOs, the big providers, the pipeline, and the academic-year letting cycle.
Avoiding rental scams in Cardiff
The red flags of a fake listing, the holding-deposit rules, how to verify a landlord or agent, safe versus unsafe payment, and an interactive scam-risk checker.
External market data
Live house-price data
Trusted third-party sources for current prices and trends. These open in a new tab and take you off our site.
Zoopla House Prices
Area-level sold prices, values and local market trends.
Rightmove House Price Index
Monthly asking-price index and regional movement.
HM Land Registry UK HPI
The official UK House Price Index from registered sales.
Principality Wales HPI
A Wales-specific house price index, updated quarterly.