Section 24 · Mortgage Interest Restriction
Since April 2020, landlords who own property personally can no longer deduct mortgage interest from rental income. Instead, you receive a 20% tax credit on your mortgage interest payments. This means higher-rate (40%) and additional-rate (45%) taxpayers pay significantly more tax than basic-rate taxpayers, because they pay tax on gross rent but only get a 20% credit back.
Section 24 Example
A higher-rate taxpayer with £10,000 annual rent and £6,000 mortgage interest: taxable income = £10,000 (expenses deducted but not mortgage interest). Tax at 40% = £4,000. Less 20% credit on £6,000 = £1,200. Final tax = £2,800 · leaving only £1,200 profit before paying the £6,000 mortgage.
Stamp Duty Surcharge
Additional residential properties (including buy-to-let) attract a 3% SDLT surcharge on top of the standard rates. Rates for 2026/27: 3% on the first £250,000; 8% on £250,001–£925,000; 13% on £925,001–£1.5m; 17% above £1.5m.
Limited Company Advantage
Purchasing through a limited company means mortgage interest remains fully deductible and corporation tax of 25% applies to profits. This can be advantageous for higher-rate taxpayers, though company formation, accountancy costs and mortgage product differences must be weighed carefully.