Last updated: 18 October 2026
Can you claim a whole trip as a business expense against rental income?
Only if the trip was wholly and exclusively for your rental business. If you travel to inspect, repair or manage a rental property, you can claim the travel, and reasonable accommodation and meals if you need to stay overnight. If the trip mixes property business with a holiday or family visit, you can usually claim only the costs that relate to the business part, and if the main purpose is personal, you can’t claim the travel itself.
What landlords can claim
| Cost | Allowable? |
| Travel to a rental property for inspections, repairs, viewings or meeting tenants | Yes |
| Mileage at 55p/25p, or actual vehicle costs | Yes, for business journeys |
| Hotel and meals on a necessary overnight stay | Yes, if reasonable |
| Travel to buy a new rental property | No; it’s a capital cost (may be added to the property’s cost for CGT) |
| Travel combined with a holiday | Only the clearly business element |
| Overseas trips to a foreign rental property | Yes, on the same principles, against the overseas property income |
The “dual purpose” problem
HMRC’s rule is that an expense must be wholly and exclusively for the business. A trip that is partly a holiday has a dual purpose, so the travel cost isn’t allowable. You can still claim costs that are clearly identifiable as business only, such as an extra night in a hotel near the property, or a taxi to the letting agent.
Example
Sanjay lives in London and owns a flat in Edinburgh. He travels there for two days to deal with a boiler replacement and to meet a new tenant. The train fare (£140) and one night in a hotel (£95) are allowable. The next year, he spends a week in Edinburgh with his family and visits the flat for an hour. The trip’s main purpose is a holiday, so he can’t claim the travel. He could claim a £15 taxi to the flat.
Overseas property
For a holiday home abroad that you let commercially, travel costs are particularly scrutinised. Keep evidence that the trip was for maintenance or management, such as contractor invoices and emails.
Records to keep
- Dates and purpose of each trip
- Invoices for work done on the property during the trip
- Tickets, hotel bills and mileage
- Emails with agents, contractors and tenants
Property allowance alternative
If your property income is small, you can claim the £1,000 property allowance instead of actual expenses. But you can’t claim both.
Mileage or actual costs?
If you use your own car, you can claim 55p a mile for the first 10,000 business miles in 2026/27 (45p in earlier years) and 25p after that. This covers fuel, insurance and wear. Parking and tolls can be claimed on top. Keep a mileage log with dates, destinations and the reason for each journey.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim travel to my letting agent?
Yes, if it’s for the rental business.
Can my spouse’s travel be claimed?
Only if they are a joint owner travelling for the business.
Can I claim travel to view potential properties?
Not as a revenue expense; it’s capital.
Is mileage allowed for landlords?
Yes, using the simplified rates or actual costs.
Related: what landlords can claim and repairs vs improvements.
Talk to Accotax
Want this handled for you? Our team at Accotax can help with landlord travel expenses. See our landlord accountants service, or contact us for a free, no-obligation quote.
This page is general guidance based on HMRC rules for the 2026/27 tax year, checked against gov.uk on 18 October 2026. It is not personal advice, so speak to an accountant about your own situation.
