Articles by RentVault Team
Do I Need a Licence to Let a Single Property?
Licensing in the private rented sector is more complex than most landlords realise. Many assume that a single property let to a single household does not require a licence.
2026-08-25 · Compliance
MTD Quarter 2 — What Landlords Need to Submit Before 7 November 2026
Your second MTD quarterly submission covers the period from 6 July to 5 October 2026. The deadline for submitting it to HMRC is 7 November 2026.
2026-08-25 · Tax & MTD
Rent Arrears: What to Do Before They Reach Ground 8
Rent arrears are the most common reason landlords seek possession. They are also the most preventable situation to end up in — and the most damaging when they escalate without a clear response.
2026-08-25 · Legal Updates
Property Hawk Has Closed — Move Your Records to RentVault in 20 Minutes
Property Hawk closed at the end of July 2026. This guide explains how to preserve your records, choose a modern replacement, and move to RentVault in around 20 minutes.
2026-08-23 · Guides
The Landlord Compliance Calendar: Every Deadline from Now to April 2028
2026, 2027, and 2028 contain more regulatory change for UK landlords than any comparable period since the Housing Act 1988.
2026-08-18 · Compliance
Pets in Rental Properties: The New Rules Under the Renters' Rights Act
Since 1 May 2026, tenants in England have a statutory right to request a pet. Landlords cannot unreasonably refuse. A blanket no pets policy in a tenancy agreement is no longer enforceable.
2026-08-18 · Legal Updates
How Long Does a Section 8 Eviction Take?
Section 8 is now the only route to possession for landlords in England.
2026-08-11 · Legal Updates
The Private Rented Sector Database: What Every Landlord Needs to Do Before Registration Opens
The most significant new compliance obligation for private landlords after the Renters' Rights Act 2025 is not yet in force — but it is coming this year.
2026-08-11 · Compliance
Why MTD Software Alone Isn't Enough for UK Landlords in 2026
For landlords, the MTD submission is only one layer of a much larger compliance picture — and it is not the layer where the biggest penalties live. HMRC will not apply quarterly late-submission penalty points in 2026/27.
2026-08-11 · Tax & MTD
Damp, Mould and the Law: What Landlords Must Do in 2026
Damp and mould are the most common serious hazards found in English rental properties.
2026-08-04 · Compliance
Joint Ownership and Making Tax Digital — How UK Landlords Should File
HMRC does not accept a joint MTD submission. Each owner files their own quarterly update, under their own UTR, through their own Government Gateway account. One property, one set of transactions — two entirely separate quarterly filings.
2026-08-04 · Tax & MTD
Deposit Deductions: What Landlords Can and Cannot Charge a Tenant For
Deposits are where most landlord-tenant disputes happen. The question of what can be deducted — and what cannot — is the single most common source of disagreement at the end of a tenancy.
2026-07-28 · Compliance
EPC C by 2030: What Landlords Need to Do Now
From 1 October 2030, rental properties in England must have an Energy Performance Certificate rating of C or above to be legally let out — or have a valid registered exemption.
2026-07-28 · Compliance
Can a Landlord Charge a Tenant for Professional Cleaning?
Professional cleaning is one of the most contested deposit deduction items. Landlords frequently include it; tenants frequently dispute it; deposit scheme adjudicators deal with it constantly.
2026-07-21 · Compliance
MTD Quarter 1 — What If You Made a Mistake? How to Correct Your Submission
The deadline for your first MTD quarterly submission is 7 August 2026. Many landlords will submit on time, review their figures afterwards, and realise something is wrong.
2026-07-21 · Tax & MTD
What Is a Periodic Tenancy? What Every Landlord Needs to Know After the Renters' Rights Act
Since 1 May 2026, periodic tenancies have been the default for all private residential lettings in England.
2026-07-21 · Legal Updates
How to Increase the Rent Under the Renters' Rights Act — The Section 13 Process
Since 1 May 2026, the way landlords increase rent has changed fundamentally.
2026-07-20 · Legal Updates
Is Landlord Software Worth It in 2026? The Honest Answer for UK Self-Managing Landlords
With MTD live and Section 21 abolished, the case for managing on spreadsheets is harder than ever. Here is the honest answer on when landlord software is worth it — and when it isn't.
2026-07-14 · Tax & MTD
Student Let Turnaround 2026: Ground 4A, Deposits and What Changes This Summer
July and August are the busiest months of the year for student landlords. Old tenants leave, new tenants move in, properties need to be turned around, and deposits need to be settled.
2026-07-14 · Legal Updates
Landlord Allowable Expenses: The Complete 2026 Guide
Every landlord doing their first MTD quarterly submission or preparing their self-assessment return faces the same question: what can I actually claim? The answer matters more than most landlords realise.
2026-07-07 · Tax & MTD
Section 21 Transitional Window Closed 31 July 2026 — What Landlords Need to Know
The Section 21 transitional window closed on 31 July 2026. Notices not taken to court by that date are no longer enforceable.
2026-07-07 · Legal Updates
Making Tax Digital for Landlords — The Complete 2026 Guide
Everything UK landlords need to know about Making Tax Digital for Income Tax — who is affected and when, the thresholds, quarterly submissions, Section 24, penalties, and how to get compliant.
2026-06-24 · Tax & MTD
HHSRS Changes 23 June 2026 — What Every UK Landlord Needs to Know
The HHSRS is being simplified from 23 June 2026 — 29 hazards become 21, A-J bands become High, Medium and Low. Here is what changes, what stays the same, and what landlords need to do now.
2026-06-19 · Compliance
Thinking of Leaving the Market? Why Staying Compliant Beats Selling Up
Tens of thousands of landlords are exiting over compliance anxiety — yet the data shows those who stay and get organised are thriving. Here is why, plus a 30-day plan to get compliant.
2026-06-19 · Compliance
How to Serve a Section 8 Notice in 2026 — The Complete Landlord Guide
Section 8 is now the only route to possession in England. This step-by-step guide covers every ground, the correct notice periods, and how to serve a notice that stands up at court.
2026-06-14 · Legal Updates
Section 21 Is Gone — What Every Landlord in England Must Do Now
Section 21 no-fault evictions were abolished on 1 May 2026 under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Here is what changed, what grounds you can now use, and exactly what to do next.
2026-06-09 · Legal Updates
The First MTD Quarterly Submission Was Due 7 August 2026 — What to Do Now
The first MTD quarterly update, covering 6 April to 5 July 2026, was due by 7 August 2026. Here is what affected landlords need to do now.
2026-06-04 · Tax & MTD
HMO Licensing 2026: A Complete Compliance Checklist for UK Landlords
HMO landlords face one of the heaviest compliance burdens in UK rental law. Mandatory, additional and selective licensing explained, plus a full 2026 checklist for staying compliant.
2026-05-12 · Compliance
The Renters' Rights Act 2025: A Complete Guide for UK Landlords
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 is the most significant change to private rental law since 1988. Section 21 abolition, new possession grounds, the landlord database and Awaab's Law explained.
2026-05-07 · Legal Updates
MTD ITSA for UK Landlords: April 2026, 2027 and 2028 Explained
MTD ITSA is now mandatory for landlords with combined qualifying gross income from UK property and self-employment exceeding £50,000 (from April 2026). The threshold drops to £30,000 in April 2027 and £20,000 in April 2028. Quarterly submissions, digital records, and what you need to do.
2026-04-30 · Tax & MTD