UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi

I'm moving away from renting my property in Suffolk from holiday letting into an AST rental, ideally keeping the furniture and including all bills (except potentially Council Tax).  Are there any obvious pros and cons in doing this?   Thanks

Bills inlclusive letting is very unusual, because it's a dumb idea for most landlords.

No way should you do this. Tenants will make no effort at all to be economical with energy, and you will be badly out -of- pocket.They should also pay council tax direct. Apart from white goods,carpets and basic blinds I stopped letting furnished years ago.

Thanks both, I'm possibly being a bit naive....I'd ensure the monthly charge would be high enough to offset this, however,  I get that I would not have a great deal of control....

Quote from: New and unsure on August 11, 2025, 05:50:08 PMThanks both, I'm possibly being a bit naive....I'd ensure the monthly charge would be high enough to offset this, however,  I get that I would not have a great deal of control....

It would be impossible to build in an offset large enough to cover someone using free energy. Heating on full with the windows open during winter sounds wonderful.

Quote from: New and unsure on August 11, 2025, 05:50:08 PMThanks both, I'm possibly being a bit naive....I'd ensure the monthly charge would be high enough to offset this, however,  I get that I would not have a great deal of control....

I don't see how you could do that and not price yourself out of the market. Energy prices are very volatile.

Some context:  Property is in an affluent part of Suffolk where there is shortage of properties to rent (as so many are holiday lets).  Due to local industry expanding, there is a need for rented accommodation for employees to move to the area to work short term.  I'd be overseeing heating consumption using Hive or other phone monitored system.

Quote from: New and unsure on August 19, 2025, 08:12:41 PMthere is a need for rented accommodation for employees to move to the area to work short term

How short is "short term"?

Quote from: New and unsure on August 19, 2025, 08:12:41 PMI'd be overseeing heating consumption using Hive or other phone monitored system.

Bad idea.

1. You'd be unnecessarily making extra work for yourself and creating conditions in which arguments with the tenants could arise.

It's much simpler and safer to go the normal route of the tenant taking responsibility for energy bills (and Council Tax) for the duration of their tenancy. This also keeps the headline rental price lower, so the place looks a more attractive deal to prospective tenants.

2. You'd make the tenant feel that you were 'spying' on them.

The tenant has a right to be left to the 'quiet enjoyment' of their property (for that's what it is for the duration of the rental). A tenant is entitled to live in their home as they wish without undue interference from their landlord or others acting on the landlord's behalf.

Pros - None
Cons - Very long list

You seem determined to go down this path though.

Out of curiosity. I am a new landlord (this financial year) and am letting a house with broadband included*, when I come to complete my tax return am I allowed to list the broadband cost (just over £340 for the year 2025/26 and around £80 for 2026/27) as an allowable expense? I can't find an answer online.




* Reason is I'm renting out the house I used to live in and am tied into a good value contract. My tenants will be gone next June and that is when the broadband will be cancelled.

It sounds like the expense is only being incurred because of the business, so it passes the "wholly and exclusively" test.

Quote from: jpkeates on August 28, 2025, 02:59:45 PMIt sounds like the expense is only being incurred because of the business, so it passes the "wholly and exclusively" test.

Thanks that's helpful. I won't need a definite answer for some time (although I fear there won't be one).

Only examples I can find online are landlords wanting/trying to claim a proportion of their home/personal phone/broadband contact which I'm not doing.