🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Commercial Mortgage Calculator

Calculate UK commercial mortgage payments for 2025/26. See monthly costs for owner-occupied or investment property, total purchase costs including commercial SDLT and fees, and compare renting vs buying commercial premises. BoE base rate 3.75% (March 2026).

£
Market value of the commercial property
%
Typical 60-75%; up to 80% owner-occupied
% pa
Typical range: 5.25-7.75% (March 2026, base rate 3.75%)
years
Typically 15-25 years for commercial
Capital & interest reduces balance; interest-only requires repayment at end
Owner-occupied typically gets better rates and higher LTV
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How to Use This Calculator

Mortgage Payment tab

Enter the property value, your target LTV (loan-to-value), the interest rate, and the mortgage term in years. Select whether the mortgage is capital & interest (repayment) or interest-only, and choose owner-occupied or investment to see relevant notes. The calculator shows your monthly payment, total interest, and deposit required.

Total Cost of Purchase tab

Enter the property price and LTV to determine your deposit. Add the arrangement fee percentage, valuation fee, legal fees, and survey costs. The calculator automatically computes commercial SDLT using the 2025/26 non-residential rates (0% up to £150,000, 2% on £150,001–£250,000, 5% above £250,000) and shows the total cash you need to complete the purchase.

Rent vs Buy tab

Enter your current monthly rent alongside the equivalent purchase scenario. The calculator compares monthly costs, calculates the break-even point on your deposit and fees, and shows a 10-year comparison including rent escalation, equity building, and property appreciation. Use this to decide whether buying your commercial premises is financially better than continuing to rent.

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Every input is encoded in the URL. Click Share to send your exact scenario to a broker, accountant, or business partner, or save it for later reference.

The Formula

Commercial mortgage payments use the standard annuity formula for repayment mortgages:

Monthly repayment (capital & interest):
M = P × [r(1+r)^n] / [(1+r)^n − 1]
Where: P = loan amount, r = monthly interest rate (annual rate ÷ 12), n = total months (term × 12)

Monthly interest-only:
M = P × (annual rate ÷ 12)
Capital (P) is repaid in full at the end of the term

Commercial SDLT (non-residential, 2025/26):
£0 – £150,000: 0%
£150,001 – £250,000: 2%
Above £250,000: 5%

Total upfront cost:
Deposit + SDLT + Arrangement fee + Valuation + Legal + Survey

Break-even (rent vs buy):
Break-even months = Total upfront costs ÷ (Monthly rent − Monthly mortgage)
Only applies when mortgage payment is lower than rent

Note: commercial mortgage interest is fully tax-deductible as a business expense. Unlike residential buy-to-let (Section 24), there is no restriction on interest relief for commercial property. The effective after-tax cost of the mortgage is therefore lower than the gross figures shown.

Example

Sarah — business owner buying a £500,000 office in Manchester

Sarah runs a consulting firm currently renting office space at £3,500/month. She is considering buying a £500,000 office unit with a commercial mortgage at 65% LTV and 6.25% interest over 20 years.

Mortgage payment

Property value£500,000
Loan amount (65% LTV)£325,000
Deposit£175,000
Monthly repayment£2,379
Total interest over 20 years£245,960

Total purchase costs

Deposit£175,000
Commercial SDLT£14,500
Arrangement fee (1.5%)£4,875
Valuation fee£2,500
Legal fees£3,500
Survey£2,000
Total cash needed£202,375

Rent vs buy

Current rent£3,500/month
Mortgage payment£2,379/month
Monthly saving£1,121/month
Break-even on upfront costs~15 years 1 month

Sarah saves £1,121 per month by buying versus renting. Her mortgage interest is fully deductible as a business expense. Over 10 years with 3% annual rent increases and 2% property appreciation, she builds substantial equity while paying less than she would in escalating rent. The break-even on upfront costs comes before the mortgage term ends.

FAQ

UK commercial mortgage rates in March 2026 typically range from 5.25% to 7.75% per annum, with the Bank of England base rate at 3.75%. Prime owner-occupied cases with strong financials may achieve rates from around 4.5%. Commercial investment properties and more complex deals are usually priced at the higher end, sometimes exceeding 8%. Most commercial mortgages are either variable rate or have short fixed-rate periods of 2–5 years.
Most lenders require a deposit of 25% to 40%, giving a loan-to-value (LTV) of 60% to 75%. For owner-occupied premises with strong business accounts, some lenders will go up to 80% LTV. Investment commercial mortgages are typically capped at 65–70% LTV. The deposit must usually come from the business or directors’ own funds — not from additional borrowing. A larger deposit generally secures a better interest rate.
Commercial (non-residential) property in England and Northern Ireland is subject to SDLT at these rates for 2025/26: 0% on the first £150,000, 2% on the portion between £150,001 and £250,000, and 5% on anything above £250,000. A £500,000 commercial property incurs £14,500 in SDLT. Importantly, there is no additional property surcharge for commercial purchases (unlike the 5% surcharge on additional residential properties). Scotland uses LBTT and Wales uses LTT with different rates for non-residential transactions.
Yes, and this is a significant advantage of commercial property over residential buy-to-let. Commercial mortgage interest is fully deductible as a business expense against your trading or rental profits. There is no Section 24 restriction (which limits residential landlord interest relief to basic-rate tax credit). This applies whether you are a sole trader, partnership, or limited company. For a higher-rate taxpayer, full interest deductibility means the effective interest cost is substantially lower than the headline rate.
Owner-occupied: your business operates from the property. Lenders assess your business accounts, affordability, and trading history. You can typically access higher LTV (up to 80%) and better rates. Investment: you let the property to third-party tenants. Lenders focus on the rental income, tenant covenant strength, and lease terms. Interest cover ratios of 125–150% are usually required, and maximum LTV is typically 65–70%. Some properties are semi-commercial (mixed-use) with both business and residential elements, which may fall under different lending criteria.

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