The Latch Blog
Property management insights, product updates, and rental market trends.
Council Tax Between Tenancies: A UK Landlord's Survival Guide (2026)
Who pays council tax between tenancies in 2026? The owner — and a furnished void is a second home from day one. Full landlord guide with the LGFA 1992 hierarchy, Class H, and the new Renters' Rights Act traps.
Empty Homes Premium: The Class H 'Marketed for Let' Exception Every Landlord Should Use
An empty rental can trigger a 100%-300% council tax premium under LURA 2023. Here is how Class H buys you 12 months and how to evidence it.
Second Homes Council Tax Premium 2026: Which Councils Charge Double + How Landlords Stay Exempt
211 English councils now charge a 100% second home council tax premium, with 38 more joining in April 2026. Here are the councils, the statutory exception classes E-M, and how landlords stay exempt.
HMO Council Tax in 2026: The Single-Dwelling Rule with Worked Examples (Including the New Welsh Regs)
The 2023 England regulations and the brand-new Welsh equivalent (in force 3 June 2026) treat most HMOs as a single dwelling for council tax. We walk through the rules, the s.257 trap, and a 5-bed worked example that saves tenants around £1,000 each per year.
Mansion Tax 2028: What the High Value Council Tax Surcharge Means for UK Landlords with £2m+ Properties
The High Value Council Tax Surcharge lands on 1 April 2028, adding £2,500-£7,500 a year to England's priciest homes. Here is what landlords with £2m+ stock need to do now.
Landlord Tax Changes April 2026: The Full Round-Up (Autumn Budget 2025 + Spring Statement 2026)
Every landlord tax change landing in April 2026 and beyond — MTD ITSA going live, BPR/APR caps, the new property income tax rates from 2027, the mansion tax, frozen thresholds, and what the Spring Statement 2026 did (and did not) do for buy-to-let.
HMRC Recognised MTD Software for Landlords: What It Actually Means (2026)
HMRC's Making Tax Digital mandate hits landlords earning over £50,000 from April 2026. But 'HMRC recognised' doesn't mean what most landlords think it means. We explain the recognition process, what software actually qualifies, and why purpose-built landlord software beats generic accounting tools for MTD compliance.
Landlord Software vs Accountant: True Cost Comparison UK 2026
UK landlords spend £300-1,500/year on accountants for tax returns and bookkeeping. With MTD mandating quarterly digital submissions from April 2026, that cost is set to rise. We built a complete cost model comparing landlord software vs accountant fees across 1, 5, 10, and 20+ property portfolios — including the hidden costs most landlords overlook.
Best MTD Software Under £10/Month for UK Landlords
Five MTD-compliant platforms cost less than £10 per month. We compared features, limitations, and true value at the sub-£10 price point to find the best budget option for landlords filing quarterly.
Affordable MTD Software for Portfolio Landlords: 5+ Properties Guide
Per-property pricing traps make MTD software expensive for portfolio landlords. We modelled costs at 5, 10, 15, and 20 properties across 8 platforms to find the most affordable options that scale without hidden fees.
Why Latch Is the Best Low Cost MTD Solution for UK Landlords
Latch offers free MTD submissions, AI expense categorisation, and full property management from £0/month. Here is exactly what you get on the free tier, how the Pro plan multiplies value, and why Latch beats tax-only MTD tools.
How Latch Saves UK Landlords £200+/Year on MTD Compliance
The average UK landlord spends £300+ annually on MTD software and accountant fees. Latch eliminates the software cost entirely and reduces accountant bills through AI categorisation — saving over £200 per year.
Cheapest MTD Software UK 2026: HMRC Options Ranked
MTD compliance is mandatory from April 2026, but it does not have to be expensive. We ranked every HMRC-recognised MTD-compatible software option by annual cost for landlords with 1, 5, 10, and 20 properties. The cheapest option is free.
MTD Software for Landlords and Accountants: 2026 Guide
Your accountant uses Xero. You want landlord-specific software. Can they work together under MTD? We mapped the integration and handoff options for every major landlord software and accounting platform combination.
Free MTD Software for UK Landlords: Why Latch Is Free
Most MTD-compliant software charges per property or hides MTD behind a paywall. Latch includes core MTD compliance features free on every plan. Here is why.