From 6 April 2026, any landlord with gross rental (+self-employed) income over £50,000 must use MTD-compatible software to submit quarterly updates to HMRC under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD ITSA). The £30,000 threshold kicks in a year later from April 2027, then £20,000 from 2028.
That means spreadsheets alone no longer cut it for most BTL landlords. You need HMRC-recognised software (or a bridging tool that connects to a spreadsheet).
This guide compares the five most common options UK landlords actually use in 2026: Hammock, Landlord Vision, Xero, FreeAgent, and QuickBooks. We look at price, MTD readiness, landlord-specific features, bank feeds and verdicts by portfolio size.
The 5 options at a glance
| Product | Price / month | MTD ITSA ready | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hammock | £9–£29 | Yes | 1–10 personal BTLs |
| Landlord Vision | £12–£40 | Yes | 3–30 properties, UK-focused |
| Xero | £15–£45 | Yes | Mixed businesses, ltd-company |
| FreeAgent | £15 (free via NatWest/Mettle) | Yes | Freelance + small ltd BTL |
| QuickBooks | £12–£45 | Yes | Multi-currency, US-origin familiarity |
All prices ex-VAT, Spring 2026 UK pricing.
Hammock — £9–£29 / month
Best for: 1–10 personal BTL properties where you want the lowest friction.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Verdict: Excellent for individual landlords with 1–10 properties. Best price–feature combo for MTD ITSA.
Landlord Vision — £12–£40 / month
Best for: Portfolio landlords (3–30 properties) who want a proper landlord CRM + accounting.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Verdict: The choice if you want tenant-management plus accounting in one UK product. Strong pick for 5+ properties.
Xero — £15–£45 / month
Best for: Landlords with a limited-company BTL structure, multi-business users.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Verdict: The gold standard if you need proper accounts. Over-kill for 1–2 personal BTLs.
FreeAgent — £15 (or free)
Best for: Landlords who are also self-employed and bank with NatWest / Mettle / Royal Bank of Scotland (free if you have a business account with them).
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Verdict: Unbeatable if you qualify for free access. Otherwise mid-pack.
QuickBooks — £12–£45 / month
Best for: Multi-currency, US-trained bookkeepers, or landlords with an existing QuickBooks setup.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Verdict: Capable, but rarely the first pick for a UK-only landlord in 2026.
How to decide: by scenario
Scenario A: 1–2 personal BTLs, simple finances
Pick Hammock (or FreeAgent if you’re already on NatWest). Start on the entry plan; upgrade when MTD ITSA kicks in.
Scenario B: 3–10 personal BTLs, no limited company
Pick Landlord Vision for the tenancy management, or Hammock if you just want accounting + MTD. Both handle MTD ITSA for personal self-assessment.
Scenario C: BTL via a limited company
Pick Xero or FreeAgent for the limited-company accounts. Add Hammock for personal portfolio P&L if you also own BTLs in your name.
Scenario D: Mixed self-employed + rental
FreeAgent (especially free via NatWest/Mettle), or Xero if you want more power.
What to check before you subscribe
FAQs
Can I still use a spreadsheet under MTD ITSA?
Yes, but only with bridging software (e.g., BTC Software, Absolute, 123 Sheets). The spreadsheet must have digital links to the bridge — no copy-paste. Most landlords find a dedicated package cheaper in practice.
Do I need separate software if I have a limited company AND personal BTLs?
Often yes. Limited-company statutory accounts, corporation tax, and dividend planning are different beasts from personal self-assessment. Xero / FreeAgent handle the company; Hammock often plays nicely alongside for the personal property P&L.
Where to go next
Start your 14-day LetCompliance trial to keep every compliance cert, rent statement and expense receipt stored per property, ready to export into whichever accounting tool you pick.
🧠 Free PDF — Allowable vs Capital Repair Decision Tree
The single line HMRC actually draws between an allowable repair and a capital improvement — with 24 worked examples for UK landlords.
- 24 real repair scenarios classified
- Repair-vs-capital decision tree (1-page A4)
- Replacement-of-domestic-items relief explained
- Self Assessment line mapping for SA105
Frequently asked questions
Which accounting software is MTD ITSA ready for landlords in 2026?
HMRC-recognised MTD ITSA software for landlords as of April 2026 includes Hammock (landlord-specific), Landlord Vision (landlord-specific), Xero, FreeAgent, QuickBooks, Sage, and Coconut. Always confirm the provider’s status on the GOV.UK "Find software that works with MTD ITSA" page before subscribing. Some general-purpose tools (e.g., pure spreadsheets) are not MTD-compliant on their own.
Is Hammock or Xero better for a small BTL landlord?
Hammock (£9–£29/month) is purpose-built for landlords: auto-matching rent from open banking, per-property P&L, CGT tools, MTD ITSA submission. Xero (£15–£45/month) is general-purpose — more powerful for multi-business users but requires manual setup for rental reporting. Under 5 properties: Hammock usually wins on price and simplicity. Mixed portfolio or BTL via a limited company: Xero / FreeAgent are often better.
Can I still use a spreadsheet for MTD ITSA?
Yes, but only with bridging software. HMRC allows digital links (spreadsheets + a bridging tool that submits to HMRC APIs). This is cheaper but requires you to maintain rigorous digital-linking discipline (no cut-and-paste). For 1–2 properties with simple finances it can work. Most landlords find a dedicated package cheaper in total hours saved.
Do limited-company landlords need separate software?
Yes, typically. Limited-company BTL needs full statutory accounts, corporation-tax filing, directors’ loan tracking and dividend records. FreeAgent, Xero, QuickBooks and Sage all handle this; Hammock / Landlord Vision are generally individual-landlord focused. If you have a limited company plus personal BTLs, you usually run two products.
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