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For UK landlords

Making Tax Digital for landlords.

Being a landlord just got more demanding. Here's how to make MTD-ready bookkeeping the easy part of your week.

Try Clear Books free for landlords → What's changing?
Last updated: 17 September 2026 Reviewed by the Clear Books tax team
What's the real issue?

The risks of staying manual.

Managing rental income manually? Here's what MTD means for you.

Missed quarterly deadlines

HMRC moves to a points-based late-submission system. Each missed quarter edges you closer to a penalty.

Manual errors

The wrong figure on the wrong row, and you're explaining yourself to HMRC. Software does the maths so you don't.

Hours hunting records

Receipts, rent statements, lettings agent reports, keep them where you can find them in five seconds, not five hours.

No clear view of profit

Are you actually making money on each property? Without proper records, you're guessing.

What's changing with MTD?

MTD is HMRC's new way of collecting tax, and landlords are in scope.

If your rental income tips over the threshold, you'll need digital records and quarterly updates filed through HMRC recognised software.

Apr 2026
Live now, landlords earning £50,000+
Next deadline
Apr 2027
Threshold drops to £30,000
Apr 2028
Threshold drops to £20,000

What you'll need to do

  • Keep digital records of all property income and expenses
  • Send quarterly updates to HMRC using approved software
  • File a year-end final declaration covering each property
  • Stay compliant even if a lettings agent collects rent on your behalf

Outsourcing to an agent doesn't outsource the legal obligation , the records still need to be yours.

  • UK lets Residential property income, UK-wide
  • Overseas lets Overseas residential property income
  • Multiple properties One account, one submission, no juggling
Key dates

When MTD reaches landlords.

The rollout is staged by gross qualifying income, your property and any self-employment income added together, before expenses.

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax rollout by qualifying income
From Who comes into scope Qualifying income First quarterly update
6 April 2026 Sole traders & landlords Live now for the highest earners Over £50,000 Due before 7 August 2026
6 April 2027 Sole traders & landlords Threshold steps down Over £30,000 Due before 7 August 2027
6 April 2028 Sole traders & landlords Threshold steps down again Over £20,000 Due before 7 August 2028

Qualifying income is your gross self-employment and property income added together, before expenses, not your profit. Corporation Tax and partnerships are not in scope yet. Always check your own position with HMRC's official tool at gov.uk.

There's a better way

Paper, spreadsheets, or proper landlord software?

Paper Spreadsheets Clear Books
HMRC recognised for MTD ✕ ✕ ✓
Quarterly submissions in minutes ✕ ✕ ✓
Built-in error checks ✕ ✕ ✓
Works for multiple properties ✕ ✕ ✓
Free plan available ✕ ✕ ✓
Shopping list

What to look for in MTD software for landlords.

HMRC recognised

On HMRC's official list of MTD-compatible software for Income Tax Self Assessment.

Multi-property friendly

Track income and costs per property, even if you also use a lettings agent for some of them.

No accounting jargon

You shouldn't need to learn double-entry bookkeeping to file a quarterly update on your rental flat.

Affordable or free

A genuinely free plan for landlords means cost is never the reason a submission slips.

Clear Books rental income on mobile and laptop
Q2 update submitted
HMRC recognised
Why Clear Books

Built for Landlords

Whether you own one flat or a small portfolio, Clear Books keeps property income, expenses and HMRC submissions in one place.

  • Submit MTD-ready updates to HMRC in a few clicks
  • Track income from multiple properties separately
  • Cover UK and overseas residential lets, a separate plan for each
  • Compatible with self-management or lettings agent setups
  • Handle sole-trader income too, in its own Clear Books business
  • Free plan available
Try Clear Books free for landlords → Explore landlord features
Common questions

Landlord MTD FAQ.

When does MTD start for landlords?
From 6 April 2026 for landlords with gross property income over £50,000. The threshold drops to £30,000 from April 2027 and £20,000 from April 2028.
Does it cover overseas property?
Yes. There's a free MTD plan for UK property and a separate free plan for overseas property. Each is its own Clear Books business, so their records and filings stay separate.
I use a lettings agent, does MTD still apply?
Yes. The legal obligation to keep digital records and file quarterly updates sits with you as the landlord, even if an agent collects rent on your behalf.
I'm a sole trader and a landlord. Do I need two accounts?
You'll set up a separate Clear Books business for each income type, so your sole-trader and property records, quarterly updates and final declarations stay separate. You can manage them all from one login.
Is the threshold based on rent or profit?
It is based on gross qualifying income, before expenses, combining all property and self-employment income. If the combined figure is over the threshold for the year, MTD for Income Tax applies. See the thresholds guide for worked examples.
How does Clear Books handle multiple properties?
You can track income and expenses per property, so you always know how each one is performing, and the totals roll into a single quarterly submission to HMRC.
Keep reading

Explore the rest of the hub.

MTD for Income Tax

The full pillar guide to how it works.

Read the guide →

Who needs MTD?

Check the thresholds against your income.

Check now →

Deadlines & timeline

Quarterly dates and the final declaration.

See the dates →

MTD for sole traders

For landlords who also have self-employment income.

Read the guide →
Free for landlords, forever

Get MTD-ready before the next deadline.

Sign up, add your properties, submit your first quarterly update. Most landlords are set up in under 15 minutes.

Try Clear Books free → Back to MTD overview