Bookkeeping for Landlords and Property Investors

The problem is most landlords try to handle bookkeeping themselves, especially if they only have one or two properties. That's fine when it's simple, but as soon as you've got multiple properties, or you're dealing with repairs vs improvements, or you're trying to maximize your allowable expenses, it gets complicated fast. You end up spending hours trying to figure out what goes where, and you're never sure if you're doing it right.

We handle bookkeeping specifically for landlords and property investors: per-property income and expense tracking, allowable expense categorization, mortgage interest calculations (with the current restrictions), capital vs revenue expense classification, and Self Assessment prep. Whether you're a landlord in Medway with one rental property, a buy-to-let investor in Maidstone with a small portfolio, or a property investor in Canterbury juggling multiple properties, we'll keep your books organized, compliant, and tax-optimized. No guessing, no stress—just proper bookkeeping that saves you time and tax.

What this helps you do (fast)

• Track income and expenses per property — See exactly what each property is earning and costing you. Know which properties are profitable and which ones need attention.
• Maximize allowable expenses — We know what landlords can claim (repairs, maintenance, letting agent fees, insurance, mortgage interest restrictions, etc.) and help you claim everything you're entitled to.
• Handle mortgage interest correctly — Mortgage interest is restricted for landlords now (basic rate tax credit instead of full deduction), and we'll make sure you're calculating it right so you don't overpay tax.
• Distinguish repairs from improvements — Repairs (revenue expenses) are deductible in full. Improvements (capital expenses) are treated differently. We'll help you classify expenses correctly.
• Stay compliant with HMRC deadlines — Your records are always current, so filing Self Assessment by 31 January is straightforward. No last-minute panic.
• Get property portfolio reports — If you've got multiple properties, see portfolio-wide profit and loss, cash flow, and performance per property. Make better decisions about your investments.

How it works

Step-by-step process for landlords:

1. Discovery call — We chat about your property portfolio: how many properties you own, whether they're residential or commercial, how they're structured (personal ownership, limited company, partnership), whether you use letting agents, what your main expenses are (mortgages, repairs, management fees, insurance), and what your current bookkeeping setup looks like.
2. Per-property setup — We set up a bookkeeping system that tracks income and expenses per property. This could be cloud accounting (Xero, QuickBooks) if you want automation, or a simple spreadsheet system if you prefer something basic. Each property gets its own income and expense categories so you can see performance individually.
3. Monthly bookkeeping — We track:
   • Rental income — Monthly rent received per property, any additional income (deposit deductions, fees, etc.)
   • Property expenses — Repairs and maintenance, letting agent fees, property management costs, insurance, ground rent, service charges (for flats), utility bills (if you pay them)
   • Finance costs — Mortgage interest (with current restrictions), mortgage arrangement fees, broker fees
   • Administrative expenses — Accountancy fees, legal fees (for tenancy agreements), advertising costs
   • Capital expenses — Improvements (new kitchen, extension, etc.) which are treated differently from repairs
4. Expense classification — We help you distinguish between:
   • Revenue expenses (repairs) — Fixing broken things (boiler repairs, roof repairs, plumbing) which are fully deductible
   • Capital expenses (improvements) — Making things better (new kitchen, extension, major renovations) which are treated as capital allowances or added to property cost base
   This matters because repairs reduce your taxable income immediately, but improvements don't.
5. Mortgage interest calculations — Since 2020, landlords can't deduct mortgage interest in full. Instead, you get a basic rate tax credit (20%). We'll calculate this correctly so you're not overpaying tax or underpaying.
6. Self Assessment prep — Throughout the year, we keep your records current per property. When it's time to file Self Assessment (by 31 January), we provide you with a summary showing total rental income, total allowable expenses, net profit per property, and the tax calculation. We can also handle the filing for you if you prefer.

We work with whatever system suits you: cloud accounting (Xero, QuickBooks) for automation and real-time reports, simple spreadsheets if you prefer, or even starting from scratch if you've been winging it. The key is keeping it organized per property—that's what makes landlord bookkeeping different from regular business bookkeeping.

Costs & timelines

Pricing factors:

• Number of properties — One property costs less than multiple properties because there's more tracking and reconciliation work with portfolios
• Property type — Residential properties are usually simpler than commercial properties (which might have different expense structures, lease variations, etc.)
• Expense complexity — Simple expenses (repairs, letting agent fees, insurance) cost less than complex cases (extensive renovations, multiple mortgages, complex ownership structures)
• Bookkeeping frequency — Monthly bookkeeping costs more than quarterly, but gives you better financial visibility

Commonly reported ranges by local providers:

• Monthly bookkeeping for landlords: £120–£350/month depending on number of properties and expense complexity
• Per-property setup (one-off): £100–£200 per property (includes Chart of Accounts setup, initial categorization, historical data import if needed)
• Self Assessment preparation: £150–£400 (separate service, or included if you're on monthly bookkeeping)

Why landlord bookkeeping costs more than standard bookkeeping:

• Per-property tracking adds complexity (each property needs its own income/expense categories)
• Expense classification matters (repairs vs improvements, capital vs revenue)
• Mortgage interest restrictions need careful calculation
• Multiple properties mean more reconciliation work

Timeline: Setup usually takes about 1–2 weeks depending on how many properties you have and whether we're migrating historical data. Once we're set up, monthly bookkeeping typically takes 2–3 days from when we receive your records. If you're behind on bookkeeping, catch-up typically takes 2–4 weeks for a tax year's worth of records.

No hidden fees. All prices exclude VAT. We offer monthly payment plans and can adjust if your property portfolio changes significantly.

Kent (UK) focus

We work with landlords and property investors across Kent: buy-to-let investors in Medway, landlords in Maidstone managing multiple properties, property portfolio owners in Canterbury, and small-scale landlords throughout the region.

Kent landlords face the same HMRC deadlines as everyone else—31 January for Self Assessment, quarterly VAT returns if you're VAT registered (uncommon for residential landlords, more common for commercial property). The difference is when your bookkeeping is organized per property and current, these deadlines aren't stressful. You know exactly what each property is earning, what expenses you can claim, and what your tax liability is going to be.

Common Kent landlord scenarios:

• Single property landlords — One buy-to-let property, tracking income and expenses, maximizing allowable deductions
• Portfolio landlords — Multiple properties across Kent (Medway, Maidstone, Canterbury, etc.), needing per-property tracking and portfolio-wide reporting
• Residential landlords — Renting out houses and flats, dealing with repairs, maintenance, letting agent fees
• Commercial landlords — Renting out commercial property, dealing with different lease structures, service charge variations
• Accidental landlords — Inherited property or moved house but kept the old one, now renting it out and trying to figure out the tax implications

Kent property market context:

• Kent has a strong rental market (Medway, Maidstone, Canterbury all have good rental demand)
• Buy-to-let investors are common (both local investors and London investors buying in Kent)
• Property management is often outsourced (letting agents handle day-to-day management, but landlords still need bookkeeping for tax)

Remote-first, Kent-focused. We don't need to meet in person (though we can if you prefer), and we understand what Kent landlords are dealing with. Per-property tracking, allowable expense maximization, mortgage interest restrictions, Self Assessment deadlines—we've helped loads of Kent landlords get sorted, and we know how to make it simple.

FAQs