If you let property in Nottingham — student houses in Lenton or Dunkirk, terraces in Radford, Sneinton or Sherwood, or city-centre flats — and HMRC has written to you, the first thing to know is that most enquiries are settled with organised paperwork, not disaster. We help you understand exactly what HMRC is asking for, gather the records for the years in question, and prepare a clear response.
The local rule that catches Nottingham landlords out
Nottingham is one of the most heavily regulated rental markets in England, and one of the most heavily enforced. It runs all three regimes: selective licensing across around 30,000 homes in some 20 wards (renewed from December 2023 to 2028), citywide additional HMO licensing (from January 2024) for smaller shared houses, and mandatory HMO licensing on top. An Article 4 Direction in the student areas (Lenton, Dunkirk) means you need planning permission to create a new shared house.
The council enforces hard. In February 2026 it won a Court of Appeal case that strengthened HMO enforcement powers nationally, and recent penalties include a landlord couple ordered to pay over £170,000 and new powers with fines up to £150,000 for commercial landlords. This is a council matter, not a tax one — but the licences you hold and the rents behind them are exactly the records an HMRC enquiry looks at, and in a city that inspects and prosecutes, good records matter twice over. Always check the current position for your address with Nottingham City Council.
Areas we support
- Student areas: Lenton, Dunkirk, Radford, Arboretum, Hyson Green
- Selective-licensing wards: Aspley, Basford, Berridge, Bulwell, Meadows, Sherwood, Sneinton
- City centre and the Lace Market
- Suburbs and surrounding Nottinghamshire: Beeston fringe, West Bridgford edge
Why an HMRC enquiry can feel harder in Nottingham
- All three licensing regimes at once — most properties are licensed under one scheme or another, so there is a lot of paperwork per property.
- A large student market — two universities, HMOs re-let yearly, many tenancies and deposits to track.
- Heavy enforcement — a council that inspects, prosecutes and has won landmark cases, so records must be in order.
- Older terraced portfolios acquired over years, sometimes across several banks and agents.
What we do for landlords under enquiry
We help you deal with the enquiry from start to finish, on your side of the table:
- Explain the HMRC letter in plain English, so you know exactly what is being asked.
- Help you gather and organise the records for each property and year — use our Seven-Part Check.
- Help you prepare your reply — our reply-letter builder writes the safe first response — and, where something was missed, a Let Property Campaign disclosure.
- Give you the figures with our penalty estimator and liability estimator.
- Explain the letter and the deadline
- Help you organise records and spot gaps
- Help you prepare your response and any disclosure
- Give you the tools to work out the figures
- Your tax agent — you sign and send
- A regulated financial or legal adviser
- Able to guarantee an HMRC outcome
- The right place for a Code of Practice 9 case — get a specialist
Common questions from Nottingham landlords
Do you only help landlords in Nottingham?
No. This page is for Nottingham landlords, but we help landlords anywhere in the UK facing an HMRC enquiry.
Nottingham enforces licensing hard. Does that affect an HMRC enquiry?
Licensing enforcement is a council matter, separate from tax. But the licence fees you pay and the rents from each property are records HMRC will want to see, and in a heavily-enforced city those records are worth keeping in good order.
Are you my tax agent?
No. We help you understand the letter, get your records in order and prepare your response. You sign and send it. Nothing here is regulated financial advice.
Do you work with my existing accountant?
Yes. Often our job is to get your records and response ready so your accountant can act efficiently. You remain their client for advice.
Landlord Tax Enquiry helps landlords prepare for and respond to HMRC enquiries. We are not a tax agent, not a regulated financial or legal adviser, and this page is general information, not advice on your own position. Local licensing figures are current at the review date; always confirm with Nottingham City Council. Phone 07359 169970.