Self Assessment
Straightforward support preparing and submitting your Self Assessment tax return, whether you are self-employed, a director or have other income.
Who we help
Accountants for Landlords and Property Investors
Rental income looks simple until mortgage interest relief, capital gains, Scottish property taxes and Making Tax Digital arrive. We keep each property's figures straight, file the returns and explain the choices, so you know what you are really making after tax.
Accountancy for landlords and property investors
About our support for landlords and property investors
The money side of letting property
Every property has rent coming in and mortgage interest, insurance, agent fees, repairs, safety certificates and the occasional void going out. For individual landlords, mortgage interest no longer reduces rental profit directly, which changes the tax picture for anyone with a mortgage. Selling a property triggers capital gains tax with a short reporting deadline, and Making Tax Digital is bringing quarterly updates to landlords. We keep the records per property and file everything on time.
Hislop Business Solutions is run by Michelle Hislop, an AAT licensed accountant with more than 15 years in accountancy and over 8 years of hands-on payroll experience. You deal with Michelle directly, and you should never feel like you are bothering her with a question.
What we take care of
- Rental income and expenses tracked property by property, with repairs and improvements treated correctly.
- Self Assessment with the property pages, mortgage interest tax credit and any other income all in one return.
- Making Tax Digital for landlords: the right software and quarterly updates from the date it applies to you.
- Capital gains tax when you sell, including the report and payment due within 60 days of completion.
- The personal versus company ownership question, worked through with your own numbers.
- Bookkeeping and Corporation Tax for property companies.
Points that matter for landlords
Mortgage interest
Individual landlords cannot deduct mortgage interest from rental profit. Instead they receive a basic-rate tax credit on the interest, which means higher-rate taxpayers pay more than the headline figures suggest, and some landlords are pushed into a higher band by rental income that is mostly interest. Property companies deduct interest in full but face their own costs. We show you the actual after-tax position rather than the gross yield.
Making Tax Digital for landlords
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax applies to landlords and sole traders with qualifying income over £50,000 from April 2026 and over £30,000 from April 2027, with lower incomes planned to follow. Property income counts towards the threshold alongside any self-employment. It means digital records and quarterly updates, and it is far easier to start on the right software before your first quarter than to catch up afterwards.
Selling: capital gains and the 60-day rule
A gain on a residential property that is not your main home is reported and the tax paid within 60 days of completion, separately from the annual return. Improvement costs, purchase and sale costs and any period you lived in the property all affect the gain, so records from the day you bought it matter.
Buying and holding in Scotland
Additional properties in Scotland attract the Additional Dwelling Supplement on top of Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, landlords must register with the local council, and there are rules on deposits, safety and tenancy that carry costs. Holding property through a company can be sensible for some portfolio landlords and a poor idea for others, especially once transaction taxes and mortgage rates are included. We work it through case by case.
Local when you need it, remote when you don’t
We are based at 119 John Street, Larkhall, and work with businesses across Lanarkshire in person and across Scotland and the UK remotely. Your bookkeeping lives in QuickBooks or FreeAgent, so we both see the same live figures, and questions are a phone call, video call or email away.
Getting started
The first step is a free, no-obligation conversation about your business. We will suggest the right mix of support and a clear monthly price, and if you decide to go ahead we take care of the handover from your previous accountant or your spreadsheets. Book your free consultation or call 07510 914616.
Most relevant services
The services landlords and property investors use most
Pick one or combine several; the support fits the size and shape of your business.
Making Tax Digital
Practical support to understand and meet HMRC’s Making Tax Digital requirements, with the right software and no stress.
Bookkeeping & Software
Accurate, organised records and the right accounting software, without spending your evenings buried in paperwork.
Why Hislop
Accounting is about more than submitting forms.
It is about having someone approachable to ask, knowing what needs done and when, and getting your evenings back.
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Someone to ask
A real person who knows your business and is only ever a phone call or message away.
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Know what is due and when
We keep track of what needs filed and when, so deadlines never sneak up on you.
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Accurate, up-to-date records
Bookkeeping that shows whether you are making enough money and helps you plan ahead.
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Support shaped to you
No one-size-fits-all packages: as much or as little help as your business needs.
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Plain English, no jargon
Clear explanations of what your numbers mean and what HMRC expects of you.
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Time back to run your business
We take care of the financial admin so you can get on with what you do best.
How it works
Simple from the first conversation.
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Tell us about your business
Start with a friendly, no-obligation conversation about where you are now and what support you need.
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We make things clear
We explain what needs handled, recommend the right level of support and agree a simple monthly arrangement.
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We take care of the detail
Your records, returns and payroll are kept organised and on track, and you are kept updated as we go.
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You focus on your business
Get back to running the company knowing the accounting side is handled by someone who cares.
Who else we help
Other trades and industries
Questions
Questions from landlords and property investors
Still have a question?
Ask Michelle directly. There is no such thing as a silly question.
Can I still claim mortgage interest on my rental property?
Not as a straight deduction if you own the property personally. Instead you receive a tax credit worth the basic rate of tax on the interest. Higher-rate taxpayers therefore get less relief than the interest cost, and rental income can push you into a higher band. A property company can deduct interest in full, but company ownership has other costs, so we compare the two with your figures.
Does Making Tax Digital apply to landlords?
Yes. Landlords with qualifying income over £50,000 are in from April 2026, those over £30,000 from April 2027, with lower incomes planned to follow. Rental income and any self-employed income are added together for the test. It means keeping digital records and sending quarterly updates to HMRC, which we set up and run for you.
Should I put my rental properties into a limited company?
Sometimes, but not automatically. A company deducts mortgage interest in full and pays Corporation Tax on profits, but moving existing properties in usually triggers capital gains tax and Land and Buildings Transaction Tax with the Additional Dwelling Supplement, company mortgages cost more, and taking the profits out is taxed again. It tends to suit landlords building a portfolio for the long term. We work through the numbers before you decide.