Factors to consider when calculating rental expenses.

Generally, when calculating the rental business profits, expenses will be treated as revenue expenditure provided they are incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the business and are not of a capital nature.

Capital expenditure cannot be deducted against the rental income if it forms the base cost of the property and is used in the capital gains tax computation. Capital expenditure includes the cost of land and property as well as the costs of any capital improvements.

Wear and tear allowance

If the property is let furnished, the landlord is able to claim a wear and tear allowance. This is 10% of the ‘net’ rent and covers plant and machinery that a landlord would normally provide in a furnished accommodation, such as furniture, fridges, carpets and curtains. ‘Net’ rent is the total rent for the year, less any expenses paid by the landlord that would normally be borne by the tenant, for example utility bills.

Changes to wear and tear allowance – 1 April 2016 for corporation tax payers and 6 April 2016 for income tax payers

The wear and tear allowance for fully furnished properties will be replaced with a relief that enables all landlords of residential dwelling houses to deduct the costs they actually incur on replacing furnishings, appliances and kitchenware in the property. The relief given will be for the cost of a like-for-like, or nearest modern equivalent, replacement asset, plus any costs incurred in disposing of, or less any proceeds received for, the asset being replaced.

Wholly and exclusively – cost of travel to visit the property

Revenue expenses are allowable deduction against rental income only if they are incurred wholly and exclusively for the purpose of letting. Where expenditure has a dual private and business purpose, unless the business element can be clearly distinguished then the whole of the expenditure will be disallowed for tax purposes.

While reasonable costs for inspection visits are usually allowable, if the trip is mainly for private purposes and it is not possible to separate this private element from the business portion, then none of the cost is deductible.

Legal fees

Solicitors’ fees incurred to evict tenants or to recover rental income are treated as incurred wholly and exclusively for the purpose of the rental business and as a result are allowable. Management fees/agents’ fees will be fully tax deductible. If the landlord chooses to advertise his property privately, this cost is also allowable.

Redecoration costs

Ordinarily, the cost of redecorating would be an allowable revenue expense. However, if the work is undertaken as part of an improvement, the entire cost is treated as being capital, including the redecoration.

Finance cost

Finance interest payable on loans (including incidental cost of financing) used to buy land or property which is used in the rental business, or on loans to fund repairs, improvements or alterations, is deductible in computing the profits or losses of the rental business regardless of the security given for borrowed funds.

If a property is let for short periods in a tax year, or only part of it is let throughout a tax year (or both), the interest charged on a qualifying loan on that property has to be split between the rental business use and the private or non-business use. The split is done in whatever way produces a fair and reasonable business deduction, taking account of both the proportion of business use and the length of business use. The interest does not have to be split if the landlord is genuinely trying to let the property but it is empty because they have not been able to find a tenant. In this case, the interest will meet the ‘wholly and exclusively’ test.

Changes to interest and other finance charges – 6 April 2017
From 6 April 2017, tax relief on interest paid by landlords of residential properties will be restricted gradually (by 1/4 for each tax year) so that from 6 April 2020, interest will not be an allowable expense in computing the profits of the business, but will attract tax relief at 20%. Landlords will be able to obtain relief as follows:

Finance cost allowed in full               Finance cost allowed at basic rate

Year to 5 April 2017             100%                                      0%

Year to 5 April 2018             75%                                        25%

Year to 5 April 2019             50%                                        50%

Year to 5 April 2020             25%                                        75%

Year to 5 April 2021             0%                                          100%

An example on how the changes will affect a basic and higher rate taxpayer can be found here.

Accountancy fees

The cost for preparing rental accounts is an allowable expense; however, the cost of completing the landlord tax return is not allowed as it is a private expense.

Article from ACCA In Practice