Property Expenses

Tax Question

My client is letting a residential property to their niece at below market value rent how are the expenses treated.

Tax Answer

Expenses incurred on a property occupied rent free by, for example, a relative are likely to be incurred for personal or philanthropic purposes – to provide that person with a home. The same applies where the property is let at less than a commercial rate or isn’t let on commercial terms. Unless the landlord charges a full market rent for a property (and imposes normal market lease conditions) it is unlikely that the expenses of the property are incurred wholly and exclusively for business purposes. So, strictly, they can’t be deducted in arriving at rental business profits. However, if a property is let below the market rate (as opposed to providing it rent-free), you can deduct the expenses of that property up to the rent received from it. This means that the uncommercially let property produces neither a profit nor a loss, but the excess expenses cannot be carried forward to be used in a later year.

Related Tax Questions

How has the Finance Act 2024 changed the cash basis for small businesses?

I have many sole trader and partnership clients in my practice whose profits are small and who already use the cash basis; however, I have read that Finance Act 2024 included a change to th

Home Office Upgrades: Can You Claim Tax Relief

My client closed his office during the COVID pandemic, and both the director and employees are looking to update their home offices after years of working from home. Is there any tax relief availab

UK Taxation of Foreign Income: Navigating Double Tax Treaties

My client, who is a UK resident and UK domiciled, has received income from abroad from which tax has been withheld. Do I simply return the income on the tax return and claim relief for the foreign

Stamp Duty Implications for Inherited Property: Key Considerations and Options

My 2 siblings and I recently inherited a property from our late mother. We all received 1/3 each. I was living with my mother before I inherited the property. I have the option to either buy

Abolition of FHL Regime

My client has a furnished holiday let (FHL) – what happens to it from 06 April 2025 onwards when the FHL regime is abolished?

The Overlap Relief 2023-2024

I have a few clients with accounting year ends other than the 31 March or 5 April. As a result of this they will have ‘transitional profits’ and ‘overlap relief’ to consider when dealing wi

Vantage Fee Protect Customer Testimonials

Having changed over to Vantage a couple of years ago we have been very satisfied with the service. Especially the claims handling and technical advice lines for both our firm and insured clients on employment and business legal matters. The webshop Vantage offer allows our clients to join and pay electronically. This positively impacts our bottom line and makes things simple and efficient for our clients.

Linda Giles Chartered Accountant

Real people, real results

Vantage Fee Protect provide market leading Tax Fee Protection
Insurance schemes through accountants.

Don’t be shy,
get in touch

Vantage Fee Protect provide market leading Tax Fee Protection
Insurance schemes through accountants.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.