Business type
What does a bookkeeper do for a landlord?
A landlord bookkeeper records your rent and property costs property by property, checks letting-agent statements against what reached your bank, keeps the evidence for each cost, and prepares the figures you need for Making Tax Digital quarterly updates and the UK property pages of your Self Assessment return.
At a glance
- Who: Larissa Johnson, Easy Business Accounting (sole trader bookkeeper)
- Based at: 18 Prospect Street, Caversham, Reading, RG4 8JG
- Phone: 07918 665435
- Who it is for: individual landlords and joint owners, locally in Reading and Caversham and remotely across the UK
- What is covered: rent and costs recorded by property, letting-agent statement checks, a missing-evidence list, MTD for Income Tax quarterly update figures, year-end figures for your Self Assessment or your accountant
- Fees: a written fixed scope after a short review of your records
If you receive rental income, read our MTD guidance for landlords.
Ask Larissa about thisWhat useful support looks like
A clear result, not an open-ended promise.
- ✓Organised rental income and costs
- ✓Property-level record support
- ✓A missing-evidence list
- ✓Self Assessment and MTD preparation support
Before you ask for a quote
Use this practical checklist.
- 01
List every property and ownership share
- 02
Gather agent statements and rent records
- 03
Capture repair and finance evidence
- 04
Check MTD qualifying income
Making Tax Digital for landlords: the dates that matter
- MTD for Income Tax started on 6 April 2026 for landlords and sole traders whose qualifying income was over £50,000 in the 2024 to 2025 tax year.
- From 6 April 2027 it applies if qualifying income was over £30,000 in 2025 to 2026, and from 6 April 2028 if it was over £20,000 in 2026 to 2027.
- Qualifying income is your gross rental income plus any self-employment income, before expenses. It is not your profit.
- If you own a property jointly, you count your own share of the rent.
- Quarterly updates are due by 7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May. The final declaration is due by 31 January after the tax year ends.
- The next quarterly deadline is 7 November 2026, covering 6 July to 5 October 2026.
Not sure whether MTD applies to you yet? Read our MTD guidance for landlords
Example
What this can look like in practice.
A landlord with three properties receives agent statements and pays some costs directly. Transactions are organised by property and unresolved evidence is listed before Self Assessment.
This is an illustrative example, not a promise of a particular result or turnaround time.
Compare the process
From uncertainty to a defined bookkeeping routine.
| Area | Before support | With an agreed EBA scope |
|---|---|---|
| Records | Rental transactions and property costs are spread across accounts, agents and receipt folders | Organised rental income and costs |
| Questions | Unclear items stay unresolved until a deadline is close | Questions are grouped, prioritised and resolved to an agreed timetable |
| Next step | No clear owner, cut-off date or completion point | A written scope sets responsibilities, timing and the next action |
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers before you commit.
What does bookkeeping for landlords include?
Recording rent and costs for each property, checking letting-agent statements against your bank, keeping receipts and invoices with each transaction, listing anything that is missing, and preparing totals for MTD quarterly updates and your Self Assessment. The written scope confirms exactly what is included before work starts.
Do I need to use Making Tax Digital as a landlord?
You need MTD for Income Tax from 6 April 2026 if your qualifying income was over £50,000 in 2024 to 2025, from 6 April 2027 if over £30,000 in 2025 to 2026, and from 6 April 2028 if over £20,000 in 2026 to 2027. Qualifying income is gross rent plus any self-employment income, before expenses.
Can you work from my letting agent's statements?
Yes. Agent statements are matched to the payments that reach your bank, with the agent's fees and any repairs they paid recorded against the right property.
I own a property jointly. How is that handled?
Records are kept for the whole property and your share is worked out from them, so each owner can report their own part of the income and costs.
Can you decide whether a property cost is tax deductible?
Bookkeeping organises and codes the evidence. Where the tax treatment is not clear, it should be confirmed within an agreed tax scope or with a qualified tax adviser.
Do you only work with landlords in Reading?
No. Larissa works with landlords in Reading and Caversham in person and with landlords across the UK remotely. For a local page, see Bookkeeper for landlords in Reading.
How much will the work cost?
The fee is confirmed after the number of properties, how records are kept, software and deadlines are reviewed. You receive a written fixed scope before any work starts.
Can Larissa work with my accountant?
Yes. With your permission, Larissa can keep the records and hand clear year-end figures to your accountant. Tax advice, filing and bookkeeping responsibilities are agreed in writing.
Official information
Check the current HMRC guidance.
Tax rules and deadlines can change. These official sources were checked when this page was reviewed on 29 October 2026.