Undeclared rental income? Facing an HMRC enquiry or investigation?
Preparation beats panic.You have more options than you think.
Whether a letter has already landed or you just know something isn’t straight, you have options — and more control than you might think. Start calmly, for free: the tools run on your own device, with nothing to sign.
Free tools · Private · No obligation to buy
New here? Either path above is a fine place to start — we’ll help you find your feet. One exception: if HMRC has already opened an enquiry or investigation, or your letter mentions COP9 (a serious fraud investigation) or the Contractual Disclosure Facility, that needs specialist advice first — see what your letter means.
You are not the first, and this can be put right.
Thousands of landlords fall behind with rental tax — through a change in the rules, a gap in their records, or simply not knowing they had to declare. HMRC deals with this every day, and there are proper, recognised ways to sort it out. And one thing is worth knowing early: coming forward before HMRC contacts you almost always means a smaller penalty than waiting to be found. That’s why the sooner you start, the better it tends to go. The worst thing you can do is nothing.
Not just information — real ways to pay less and stay in control
This isn’t a site that just tells you the rules and leaves you to it. Every route here is built to show you the outcome — how to come out of an HMRC matter in the best, and cheapest, honest position:
- Come forward first — it’s the biggest saving there is. A voluntary, unprompted disclosure can cut the penalty dramatically (sometimes to nothing) compared with waiting to be found. That saving is entirely in your hands.
- Pay the right amount, not a penny more. The guides show you the reliefs, costs and allowances people routinely miss — the reason the real bill is almost always smaller than the one you fear.
- Do it yourself if you want to. The information and free tools are built so a capable landlord can genuinely handle a straightforward case without an accountant — and know exactly when a complex one is worth getting help with.
Each guide below carries the money-saving tips, a realistic worked example, and a plain “here’s how you actually do it” walkthrough.
First, in plain English
If you’re new to all this, a few words get used a lot — here’s what they actually mean, without the jargon.
“A disclosure”
Simply telling HMRC about rental income you didn’t declare before, and paying the tax owed on it. That’s all it is — putting the record straight.
“An enquiry”
HMRC asking questions about your tax return — a check. It doesn’t automatically mean serious trouble, but it is time-sensitive: there’s a date to reply by, so don’t ignore it.
“An investigation”
A more serious, formal look into your affairs — usually where HMRC suspects something was done deliberately. This one needs specialist help early.
Free tools to prepare for an HMRC enquiry
Here’s something worth knowing: many landlords handle a straightforward disclosure themselves — HMRC designed the process to be done without an accountant, and these free tools are built to walk you through it. You don’t need a finance background, and you don’t have to pay anyone to get started. Use them to understand your situation and prepare — all on your own device.
Work out where you stand
Answer a few plain questions and see, calmly, what your situation is and what to do next.
See what HMRC can ask for
A clear checklist of the documents that matter, so nothing catches you out.
Rebuild your records
Even years old, even with gaps — reconstruct them in the Disclosure Workbench.
Estimate what you might owe
See an indicative range to prepare. It’s a guide only — your exact figure depends on facts a professional confirms.
You stay in control the whole way through
We help you prepare everything; you sign it and send it to HMRC. That means it’s always your disclosure — and we’ll tell you honestly the moment a situation needs a specialist instead. We’re not your tax agent, and this isn’t formal advice; it’s practical help to get you ready.
If your letter asks you to sign a “certificate of tax position”: don’t — not without understanding it first. A signed certificate that isn’t true can be a criminal matter. See what your letter means →
Three recognised ways to disclose undeclared rental income
These are simply the official routes HMRC gives you to put things right — you don’t need to know which is yours yet. Whether you’re coming forward voluntarily or responding to an HMRC enquiry or investigation, we’ll help you find the right one. Each has a plain-English guide.
Let Property Campaign
The principal route for individual residential landlords: notify HMRC, prepare, disclose and pay.
Digital Disclosure Service
HMRC’s general route for situations that fall outside the Let Property Campaign.
Property Disposals & Capital Gains Tax
Sold a rental and didn’t declare the gain? Organise the disposal records and understand the position.
Questions landlords ask us first
- I’ve had a letter from HMRC. What does it mean?
- How does HMRC know I’m a landlord?
- What happens if I don’t declare rental income?
- HMRC has sent me a certificate of tax position. Should I sign it?
- Do I need to declare rent from a lodger?
- My rental income is small. Do I still have to tell HMRC?
New: Making Tax Digital for landlords and three cases in practice. Start here if HMRC has already written to you, or use the Seven-Part Check to gather what HMRC asks for.
Latest for landlords
- Official HMRC, Treasury and housing announcements, updated automatically.
Ready to talk it through? Send us the details
This is fixable — and you can do a lot of it yourself. For a straightforward case, the free tools take you through it step by step, no accountant needed. For the genuinely complex ones, a professional earns their keep — and we’re here if you want one, or if you’d simply rather not do it alone. The choice is yours.
There’s no charge to make contact and no obligation. Hands-on help starts from a fixed £450 case review, and the full price is always agreed with you before any work begins.