Accounting
Property Expense Categories for UK Landlords
The standard chart of accounts for a UK rental business — repairs, capital, financing and management.
The Landvale Team·Updated 1 July 2026·7 min read
Key takeaways
A tight chart of accounts turns tax-time into a report export.
Repairs are deductible, improvements are capital.
Mortgage interest is restricted for individual landlords under Section 24.
Management, insurance and utilities are fully allowable.
Category consistency matters more than category cleverness.
The standard chart of accounts
•Rental income (per property).
•Repairs and maintenance.
•Redecoration.
•Cleaning.
•Gardening.
•Ground rent and service charges.
•Insurance (buildings and landlord).
•Council tax (when paid by landlord).
•Utilities (when paid by landlord).
•Mortgage interest (Section 24 treatment).
•Letting agent fees.
•Legal and professional fees.
•Accountancy fees.
•Advertising and marketing.
•Property management software (Landvale).
•Travel and mileage.
•Capital additions (kitchens, extensions, EPC upgrades).
Capital vs revenue in plain English
If it restores the asset to its previous state, it's revenue and deductible. If it enhances the asset beyond its previous state, it's capital and added to base cost. Replace a broken window: revenue. Add double glazing where there wasn't any: capital.
The Landvale chart of accounts
Landvale ships this exact chart of accounts as the default. Change it, extend it or accept it — the AI classifier learns your preferences per contractor and per property.
Pillar guide
The Complete Guide to Landlord Accounting
→
Frequently asked questions
Improvements to reach EPC C are typically capital — but HMRC allows some as revenue if they're 'like-for-like replacement' (e.g. a new boiler).
