Making Tax Digital: What Landlords in Bristol Need to Know
The UK Government’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) rules are changing how landlords manage their tax returns. From April 2026, any landlord with property income above £50,000 must submit digital tax updates, with the threshold dropping to £30,000 in April 2027. For landlords with student properties, this will be a big shift. Managing multiple HMOs, joint ownerships, and the unique tenancy patterns of the student market already takes time — and now tax reporting is going digital. In this blog, we have detailed everything you need to know about Making Tax Digital for Landlords and how you can prepare. What Has Changed? A Quick Comparison Here’s how the new rules compare with the old system: Before April 2026 After April 2026 One annual Self-Assessment return Quarterly digital submissions + annual End of Year Statement Paper returns and spreadsheets allowed Must use HMRC-recognised software Only one deadline each year Deadlines every quarter No income threshold Applies to landlords earning £50k+ (2026), £30k+ (2027) For many student landlords in Bristol, this means your rental income from HMOs or multiple flats could easily cross the threshold — triggering the new reporting rules. Who Will Be Affected by These Changes? From April 2026 any landlords or self-employed individuals with an income of over £50,000 must comply. From April 2027 the threshold will drop to £30,000. The government is yet to confirm the rules for those under £30,000, but consultation is on-going. Some of the key aspects to note are: Student HMO landlords: Income is assessed across all properties you own. If the total gross income goes above the threshold, MTD applies. Joint landlords: If you co-own a student property, each owner is assessed separately. Even if your share alone is over £50,000 (or £30,000 from 2027), you’ll need to comply. Non-resident landlords: Living abroad but renting to Bristol students? You’ll still need to file digitally if your income crosses the threshold. How Will Reporting Work? Quarterly Updates Every three months landlords must submit a digital summary of rental income and expenses through . Deadlines will fall a month after each quarter. End of Period Statements (EOSP) At the end of each tax year landlords must confirm their quarterly submissions are correct and adjust. Final Declaration Replaces the traditional self-assessment return form. Confirm the total income from all sources (e.g. Property, self-employment, employment, dividend) and calculate the final tax due. What Records do I Need to Keep for MTD? For student landlords, it’s essential to track: Rental income per property – HMRC requires separate records for each property. Allowable expenses – Repairs, management fees, landlord insurance, utilities (if included in rent). Capital allowances – For major improvements or furnishing HMOs. All records must be digital and kept for at least 5 years. Penalties for Non-Compliance HMRC is introducing a points-based penalty system: Miss a quarterly deadline → earn a penalty point. Points build up → fines and interest charges. Persistent lateness → daily penalties. For student landlords with multiple properties, staying organised is key to avoiding unnecessary fines. The Practical Challenges for Student Landlords Multiple tenancies – Many student properties run on 12-month tenancies with different move-in dates. Aligning these with quarterly reporting adds complexity. Joint ownership – Each landlord files separately, even for a shared HMO. Switching systems – If you’re using spreadsheets or paper, you’ll need to move to approved software. How Landlords Can Prepare Check your income – Are you likely to pass the threshold in 2026/2027? Choose MTD-ready software – HMRC lists options like Xero, QuickBooks, and Sage. Some student landlord–friendly tools are in development. Start early – Move your records online now to avoid a rushed transition. Learn the calendar – Familiarise yourself with quarterly deadlines. Track expenses properly – Especially for shared student houses with utility bills, furniture, and repairs. How Bristol Digs Can Help At Bristol Digs, we specialise in the student rental market. We know the challenges of managing HMOs, joint ownerships, and seasonal rental cycles — and we’re here to support landlords through MTD by: Sharing the latest government updates tailored to student landlords. Recommending HMRC-recognised software suitable for multiple-occupancy rentals. Connecting you with trusted local accountants who understand the student market. Providing practical guidance on record-keeping and quarterly reporting. With Bristol Digs, you’re not on your own. We’ll make sure you’re ready for the digital shift.
AML Regulations for Landlords: What you Need to Know (& Why You’ll Need a Letting Agent)
New anti-money laundering (AML) regulations came into force on 14 May 2025, and they’re already reshaping the rental market—especially for student landlords.
11 Pitfalls Student Landlords Often Encounter (and How to Dodge Them)
At Bristol Digs, we know that student landlords want to balance a strong return on investment with providing quality, compliant housing that appeals to student renters.
Why Should Landlords Use an ARLA Approved Agent?
ARLA Propertymark was formed in 2017, when leading industry bodies including ARLA, NAEA, NAVA and more combined to form a single brand with the aim of the raising industry standards, promoting education and helping landlords protect and maximise their investment.
At Abode, we are proud to be part of ARLA Propertymark and were ARLA approved for many years before the new brand was formed. Our commitment to a quality service means we not only abide by, but aim to excel the high standard required to retain ARLA Propertymark membership.
So why should you use an ARLA Property Mark member? There a number of benefits for both landlords and tenants – read our latest blog post to find out more.
A Short Guide to HMO Landlord Insurance
Whether you’re a landlord with one House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) property or a whole portfolio, owning a buy-to-let property is a substantial investment and ensuring you have the right landlord insurance in place is crucial. Having the right landlord’s insurance gives you the safeguards and protection should something happen to the building or your tenants.
There are many different types of specialist landlord insurance and it will depend on your circumstances as to which cover options they build into a policy. This guide will detail some of the key areas to consider, but please speak to your insurance provider as the terms will vary between companies.
Tips on Making Your HMO Property More Energy Efficient
With the huge rise in energy costs in the past couple of years, making your HMO property more energy efficient has never been more beneficial to a landlords, especially if rooms are let and include bills.
Student and young professionals, despite their tighter budgets, are still keen to do what they can to reduce their carbon footprint and choosing to rent a more energy efficient property is important to this group, and even more so if bills are not included in the rent.
How HMO Landlords and Student Tenants Can Work Together To Reduce Rental Costs
With the cost of living having increased substantially in the last few years, student tenants and their landlords are feeling the effects. However, there are ways that HMO landlords, letting agents and students can work together to help minimise living costs for tenants.
In this blog we’ll look at 6 key areas where proactive measures could help student tenants and landlords reduce rental costs.
12 Ways to Add Value to Your HMO Rental Property
As a landlord you want to maximise your investment in your HMO properties, whilst providing good accommodation for your tenants. With 35% of households living in social or private rented accommodation, there is good demand for rental property, but attracting a certain demographic and investing in your property takes careful consideration to ensure you get a return on your investment.
In this blog we look at the 12 ways landlords can add value to an HMO rental property and appeal to their ideal tenants, whilst keeping an eye on the budget and yield.
Why Are Student Landlords Setting Up Limited Companies for Their Rentals?
Since 2017 the number of limited companies being set up by landlords holding properties has tripled, with 300,000 being recorded in 2022. In fact, it is estimated that 40% of all new buy to let purchases are now made via a company structure.
This change in legal entity for many landlords of student properties was brought about by the alternations in the tax relief system which was announced in 2015, known as Section 24 and changed how landlords were taxed on their rental income.
This blog looks at why landlords with a portfolio of student houses have started switching to owning properties as a limited company and the pros and cons of such a move.
Everything You Need to Know About Being a Guarantor
As a student or young professional, when looking to rent a private property or a room in a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) you, the prospective tenant, may be asked to provide a guarantor. This is someone who is legally responsible for the rent, if you don’t or can’t pay or for any damage that occurs during your tenancy.