Cardiff: should you rent, buy, invest or live here?
The most useful local property guide in Cardiff — DR Rent Area Scores, rental & investment insight, schools, dining, things to do, commuting, developments and live homes across CF10, CF11, CF24.
Cardiff DR Rent Area Score™
One score that combines rental demand, investment, family life, commuting, lifestyle and food.
Renting in Cardiff
The Cardiff rental market in Cardiff is active and competitive, with average rents around £1,546 pcm and rents up roughly 8% over the past year. Strong commuter links and local employment keep demand from tenants consistently ahead of available supply across CF10, CF11, CF24.
Rental competition
How hard tenants compete for each property type in Cardiff.
- StudioVery high
- 1 bedLow
- 2 bedMedium
- 3 bedVery high
- Family homesVery high
Average time to let
22 days
Tenant demand
Moderate
Best for
Who tends to rent well in Cardiff.
- Professionals
- Families
- Commuters
- Couples
- First-time renters
| Property type | Average rent (pcm) | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Room / HMO | £633 | £7,596 |
| 1-bed flat | £1,205 | £14,460 |
| 2-bed flat | £1,506 | £18,072 |
| 3-bed house | £1,928 | £23,136 |
| 4-bed house | £2,485 | £29,820 |
Featured properties in Cardiff
Premium and featured homes listed by landlords on DR Rent across CF10, CF11, CF24.
Buying in Cardiff
What buyers and first-time buyers can expect from the local sales market.
Average price
£480,000
Price growth (1yr)
+1.5%
Buyer demand
Medium
Supply
Medium
First-time buyer suitability
Challenging — higher entry prices
Buying snapshot
Buyers in Cardiff face medium competition with prices around £480,000 and growth of about 1.5% over the last year. Challenging — higher entry prices.
Investing in Cardiff
With an average property price near £480,000 and gross yields around 5.8%, Cardiff offers landlords a balance of capital growth and rental income. Prices have moved about 1.5% in the last year, and moderate tenant demand helps keep void periods short.
Landlord opportunity score
7.4/10What tenants are looking for
Live DR Rent demand signal for Cardiff — nobody else has this.
- 1Furnished 1 bed flats
- 2Family homes near schools
- 32 bed flats
- 43 bed houses
Family living & schools in Cardiff
Schools, Ofsted ratings and family facilities that drive long-term family lettings.
| School | Type | Ofsted | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiff Primary School | Primary | Outstanding | 1.1 mi |
| St Mary's C of E Primary, Cardiff | Primary | Outstanding | 1.7 mi |
| Cardiff Junior Academy | Primary | Good | 2.3 mi |
| Cardiff Grammar School | Secondary | Outstanding | 0.7 mi |
| Cardiff Community College | Secondary | Good | 0.9 mi |
| The Cardiff Academy | Secondary | Good | 1.3 mi |
Family facilities
- Cardiff Leisure Centre & swimming pool
- Local parks and playgrounds
- Public library
- Soft play and family cafés
- NHS GP surgeries and pharmacies
- Weekend markets and community events
Eating out in Cardiff
Popular restaurants, takeaways and coffee shops with ratings and distance.
The Cardiff Brasserie
1.2 mi from Cardiff centre
Spice of Cardiff
0.8 mi from Cardiff centre
Bella Cucina
1.7 mi from Cardiff centre
The Garden Kitchen
0.3 mi from Cardiff centre
Cardiff Tandoori
1.2 mi from Cardiff centre
Coffee & Co, Cardiff
1.2 mi from Cardiff centre
Socialising in Cardiff
Pubs, bars, nightlife, entertainment and shopping.
The Crown, Cardiff
1.4 mi from Cardiff centre
The Railway Tavern
2 mi from Cardiff centre
Vault Bar
0.3 mi from Cardiff centre
Cardiff Live Lounge
1 mi from Cardiff centre
The Riverside Inn
0.4 mi from Cardiff centre
Cardiff Shopping Centre
2.1 mi from Cardiff centre
Things to do in Cardiff
Gyms, sports clubs, cinemas, golf, walking routes and family attractions.
Cardiff Sports & Fitness
0.4 mi from Cardiff centre
Cardiff Cricket Club
0.3 mi from Cardiff centre
Parkland Golf Club
1.7 mi from Cardiff centre
Cardiff Cinema
2.3 mi from Cardiff centre
Riverside Walking Route
0.8 mi from Cardiff centre
Cardiff Adventure Park
0.4 mi from Cardiff centre
Commuting from Cardiff
London, Heathrow, Reading and motorway connections with typical travel times.
| Destination | Mode | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| London (central) | Train | 30 min |
| London Paddington | Elizabeth Line / GWR | 24 min |
| Reading | Train | 19 min |
| Heathrow Airport | Car / bus | 21 min |
| M4 motorway | Car | 15 min |
| M25 motorway | Car | 14 min |
Local developments in Cardiff
What's coming soon and how it could affect the local market.
Cardiff town centre regeneration
Under construction
New residential scheme near CF10
Approved
Cardiff retail & leisure quarter
Planning
New primary school provision
Proposed
Transport & station improvements
Funded
Local services in Cardiff
Verified contractors covering CF10, CF11, CF24 — connected to the DR Rent marketplace.
EPC Assessors in Cardiff
Accredited domestic energy assessors producing valid EPCs for rental properties.
View epc assessorsGas Engineers in Cardiff
Gas Safe registered engineers issuing annual landlord gas safety records.
View gas engineersElectricians in Cardiff
Registered electricians carrying out EICR inspections and remedial works.
View electriciansPlumbers in Cardiff
Reliable plumbers for repairs, leaks, heating and bathroom works.
View plumbersInventory Clerks in Cardiff
Independent inventory clerks producing detailed check-in and check-out reports.
View inventory clerksProperty Photographers in Cardiff
Professional property photographers and floorplans to let faster.
View property photographersRenting & compliance in Cardiff
The certificates and rules every local landlord must stay on top of.
EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)
Rentals in Cardiff must hold a valid EPC rated E or above before marketing.
Annual gas safety (CP12)
Every gas appliance must be checked yearly by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
EICR (electrical safety)
A satisfactory electrical report is required at least every five years.
Deposit protection
Deposits must be protected in a government scheme within 30 days.
Right to Rent
Tenant immigration status must be checked before a tenancy begins.
Renters' Rights Act
New rules are reshaping how landlords let property across Cardiff.
More local data for Cardiff
Coming soon: schools, crime, transport, planning and investment forecasts.
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