April 2026 Property News Snapshot For Landlords

A snapshot of property news for landlords in April 2026.

MTD kicks off for landlords

After a series of delays and rewrites, HM Revenue and Customs' game-changing project, Making Tax Digital, came into force on April 6 2026, for landlords earning more than £50,000 a year. Heralded as the biggest change in tax since self-assessment was introduced three decades ago, MTD is a major shake-up for taxpayers. Instead of filing a single tax return, the admin is split across the year with a rolling program of quarterly returns. Landlords on the MTD path must upgrade their software to meet HMRC specifications and the digital demands of the new rules. The first filing deadline is August 7.

Companies do not have to follow MTD rules unless they are VAT registered.

Build-to-rent investment highest since 2022

Financial institutions and developers ploughed £762 million into build-to-rent projects in the first quarter of this year - the strongest first-quarter commitment since the first three months of 2022, according to property experts at Savills. The firm says 108,000 homes across 12 cities are in the pipeline, a three per cent increase over the last quarter of 2025.

Bankrupt landlords who don't pay penalties, says minister

Housing minister Matthew Pennybrook is urging councils to place charging orders or bankrupt rogue landlords who fail to pay civil penalties. The Renters Rights Act, which starts phasing in from May 1, gives councils stronger powers to punish landlords for breaking private letting laws, but is considered difficult to enforce, which is why the minister is reminding councillors of their powers.

Vulnerable tenant escape from residential blocks

Landlords letting multi-occupied apartment blocks must have fire evacuation plans for vulnerable residents. The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 introduce Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (RPEEPs) for landlords and apply to buildings with two or more homes that are more than 18 metres or seven storeys high. The new rules cover creating evacuation plans for renters and identifying who is responsible for block safety.

Capital gains - fastest growing house prices in London

London's outermost eastern boroughs have grown the most during the past ten years, according to new data from estate agent Foxtons. Redbridge, which covers the town of Ilford, posted the top gain of an average 3.6 per cent growth each year in the decade. Havering, which includes the market town of Romford, with 3.1 per cent growth, and Barking and Dagenham, with 3.6 per cent growth, were the other boroughs in the top three.

Which city has the most shared houses?

Shared housing - officially called houses in multiple occupation or HMOs - is one of the UK's most popular ways to rent a home. The idea is to split the bills to make living more affordable. Data analysed by property firm Just Landlords has revealed some startling figures about HMOs for the first time. The firm says investors have made 57,725 applications for HMO licences. Topping the league is Edinburgh with 5,158 applications, followed by Oxford (2,458), Bristol (1,491), Southwark, South London (1,412), and Tower Hamlets, East London (1,394).