by Asim Abbas
11 November 2026 
Landlord expenses checklist for 2026/27
Landlord expenses checklist for 2026/27
Claiming every allowable expense is the simplest way for landlords to reduce tax, yet many miss costs every year.
- Claim running costs against rent
- Finance costs give a 20% credit instead
- Capital costs aren’t deductible against rent
- Keep records for at least 5 years
This checklist covers what residential landlords can and can’t claim in 2026/27, from agent fees to safety certificates.
Use it alongside your records when preparing your return or MTD updates.
What you can claim
- Letting agent and management fees
- Advertising and tenant referencing
- Landlord insurance, buildings and contents
- Gas Safety certificates, EICRs and EPCs
- Repairs and maintenance
- Cleaning and gardening between tenancies
- Ground rent and service charges
- Council tax and utilities you pay, such as during void periods
- Replacement of domestic items
- Accountancy fees and landlord association memberships
- Travel to properties for management
- Legal fees for tenancy agreements and evictions
- Phone and stationery costs
Rental income tax calculator
Profit after expenses.
Finance costs
Mortgage interest, arrangement fees and interest on loans for the business aren’t deducted, but give a 20% tax credit. See our Section 24 guide.
What you can’t claim
- Capital repayments on your mortgage
- Buying the property and SDLT
- Improvements, such as extensions
- Initial furnishing
- Your own time
- Personal use costs
Ruth has one flat let for £14,400 a year. She claims agent fees £1,728, insurance £320, Gas Safety £90, EICR £150 spread, repairs £1,100, accountancy £300 and ground rent and service charges £1,400. Her expenses are £5,088, giving profit of £9,312 before her mortgage interest credit.
Fixed-fee accountancy support
Transparent monthly packages for sole traders, landlords and limited companies. Fixed fees agreed upfront, VAT included.
Get a fixed-fee quoteCall 0161 531 4179The £1,000 property allowance
Instead of expenses, you can deduct £1,000. It only helps if your costs are lower, which is rare for full lets. See our property allowance guide.
Pre-letting costs
Costs incurred in the seven years before letting starts can be claimed if they would have been allowable once letting began.
Records
Keep invoices, agent statements and bank records. With MTD, these need to be digital.
See HMRC’s guide to rental expenses, our repairs vs improvements guide and our landlord tax returns.
What should I do next?
All fees.
Missed anything?
Capital vs revenue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can landlords claim mortgage interest?
Not as an expense. It gives a 20% tax credit.
Can I claim safety certificates?
Yes, Gas Safety, EICRs and EPCs.
Can I claim my travel to the property?
Yes, for management and maintenance visits.
Can I claim costs before letting started?
Yes, within seven years, if they would otherwise be allowable.
Are improvements claimable?
Not against rent, but they reduce CGT later.
Need help with this? Wingate Accountants offers fixed-fee online accountancy support across the UK. Call 0161 531 4179 or request a quote at wingateaccountants.co.uk.
About the Author
Ali Imran
I’m Ali Imran, an accountant at Wingate Accountants. I help sole traders, landlords and directors get their returns filed early and accurately, without the last-minute panic.
