Starting as a Landlord
Your first tenancy, set up the right way.
First-Time Landlord: The Complete UK Guide (2026)
Everything a first-time UK landlord needs: legal setup, certificates, tenant referencing, deposit protection, Renters Rights Act compliance and the full cost breakdown.
Landlord Insurance: The Complete UK Guide (2026)
Standard home insurance does not cover letting. Full guide to landlord buildings, contents, liability, rent guarantee and legal expenses cover with typical costs.
What is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy? Explained for 2026
An AST is the default form of letting in England. Here's what it is, when it doesn't apply, and how the Renters' Rights Act 2024 will change it forever.
Choosing the Right Tenant Type: Working Professionals vs Students
The tenant type you target shapes your yield, your void risk and your day-to-day workload. Here is an honest comparison of the main UK tenant segments.
How to Set Up a Limited Company for Property
A limited company can save higher-rate landlords thousands in tax — or cost thousands in admin and stamp duty. Here is the maths, the setup process and the trap to avoid.
How to Value a Property for Buy-to-Let
A property is only worth what it earns. Yield, not asking price, decides whether a buy-to-let works. Here is the maths every landlord should run before they offer.
Landlord Licensing in England: Do You Need One?
England has three licensing regimes and 60+ councils with active schemes. Letting without a required licence is one of the costliest landlord mistakes — up to a 12-month rent repayment order. Here is how to check and apply.
First-Time Landlord Costs: What to Budget For
First-year landlord costs typically run £3,500–£6,500 on top of the purchase, including stamp duty surcharge, conveyancing, safety certificates, insurance, agent fees, accountancy, and a maintenance buffer. Annual running costs after year one are usually 25–35% of gross rent for personal landlords once compliance, voids and tax are factored in.
Should You Use a Letting Agent or Self-Manage?
Letting agents typically charge 8–12% of rent for tenant-find only or 10–15% for full management. Self-management saves the fee but requires you to handle marketing, vetting, compliance dates, repairs, deposit disputes and possession. The right answer depends on your time, location, portfolio size, and tolerance for tenant contact at 11pm on a Sunday.
Landlord Insurance Explained: What Cover Do You Need?
Standard home insurance ends the day a tenant moves in. Landlord insurance bundles buildings, landlord contents, property owners' liability (£2m+), and optional add-ons like loss of rent, malicious damage by tenants, accidental damage, rent guarantee and legal expenses. Budget £250–£600 a year for most single-property landlords.
Buy-to-Let for Beginners: A Complete UK Landlord Guide
Buy-to-let means buying a property specifically to rent out. In 2026 you typically need a 25% deposit, will pay the +3% stamp duty surcharge, use a specialist BTL mortgage, and target a gross yield of 6%+ to make the numbers work after tax. Plan for total cash needed of around 30–35% of purchase price including fees.
How to Become a Landlord in the UK: 2026 Step-by-Step Guide
Becoming a landlord in the UK in 2026 means buying or converting a property, registering with HMRC, arranging the right mortgage and insurance, meeting safety rules (gas, electrics, EPC, smoke alarms), drafting a Renters' Rights Act-compliant tenancy, and protecting the deposit within 30 days. Plan on 8–12 weeks from purchase to first tenancy.
Section 24 Tax Changes: What Landlords Need to Know in 2026
UK landlord guide to Section 24 — why mortgage interest is no longer deductible, how the 20% tax credit works and when incorporation is worth considering.
How to Start as a Landlord in Norwich
A step-by-step guide to becoming a landlord in Norwich, from setting up the property and choosing a tenancy type through to the paperwork you legally must have in place before move-in day.