Everything first-time
landlords need to know —
and most find out too late.
18 chapters, 38 pages, no fluff. Written from experience with a real 17-property portfolio, not from a textbook.
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Preview — what you'll get
What first-time landlords get wrong — and the cost
Section 21 invalid because the How to Rent guide wasn't issued at the right time
Maximum fine for letting without a gas safety certificate in place
Section 24 not accounted for — higher rate taxpayers can end up paying tax on a loss
Buying a property in the wrong area or at the wrong price before understanding yield
None of these are uncommon. The handbook covers every one of them — before they become your problem.
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Open the handbook online or download the full PDF immediately. All 18 chapters, all checklists, all takeaways.
Use the companion tools
Each chapter links to a free HomeDash tool: the BTL calculator, compliance checklist, and landlord message templates.
What is included
18 chapters. Every stage covered.
From deciding if landlording is right for you to building a portfolio and planning your exit. Every stage, in the right order.
Is Landlording Right for You?
Ch. 1The honest questions to ask before you spend a penny. Capital, time horizon, and the interpersonal reality.
Understanding Your Costs
Ch. 2Every cost before you buy, while you hold, and when you sell. Acquisition, ongoing, maintenance, and voids.
Choosing the Right Property
Ch. 3Area research, yield targets, property types, leasehold vs freehold, and what to look for at viewings.
Mortgages & Finance
Ch. 4BTL mortgages, the ICR stress test, limited company vs personal ownership, and Section 24 explained clearly.
Landlord Insurance
Ch. 5Buildings, contents, rent guarantee, and liability cover. What is essential, what is optional, and what voids a claim.
Preparing Your Property
Ch. 6Safety checks, condition standards, what to replace before a tenancy, and how to protect yourself with a solid inventory.
Setting the Right Rent
Ch. 7Market research, yield calculations, rent review planning, and what overpricing actually costs you in voids.
Letting Agents vs Self-Management
Ch. 8The real cost comparison, what agents do and do not do, and the hybrid approach used by experienced landlords.
Finding Tenants
Ch. 9Where to advertise, photography, writing a great listing, conducting viewings, and what to watch for.
Referencing Tenants
Ch. 10Credit checks, employment verification, previous landlord references, Right to Rent, and when to say no.
The Move-In Process
Ch. 11AST agreements, deposit registration, prescribed information, and every document that must be served on day one.
Compliance Essentials
Ch. 12EPC, Gas Safety, EICR, deposit protection, smoke alarms, and every legal obligation in one place.
Day-to-Day Management
Ch. 13Communication, maintenance response, inspections, reserves, and the habits that prevent small problems becoming large ones.
Accounts & Tax
Ch. 14Section 24, allowable expenses, the repair vs improvement distinction, self-assessment, and record-keeping done right.
Rent Arrears
Ch. 15Prevention, early intervention, the formal notice process, payment plans, and when to escalate.
Eviction: Sections 21 & 8
Ch. 16Both possession routes, their preconditions, timelines, costs, and what the Renters Rights Act changes.
End of Tenancy
Ch. 17Checkout process, deposit deductions, adjudication, returning the property to market, and minimising void time.
Exit Strategy & Portfolio Building
Ch. 18CGT planning, selling with tenants in situ, Section 21 checklist, and how experienced landlords grow deliberately.
Why landlords use this
Written from experience.
Not from a textbook.
- UK-specific: covers England's legislation, HMRC tax rules, and tenancy law
- 18 chapters from first principles to portfolio building — in the right order
- Written from real experience managing a 17-property portfolio, not from a textbook
- Covers the questions first-time landlords actually ask (and are afraid to)
- Updated for 2026: Section 24, EICR rules, the Renters Rights Act, current EPC standards
- Companion tools inside: BTL calculator, compliance checklist, message templates
- Completely free: no credit card, no upsell hidden inside
"I wish I had had this before buying my first property. The mortgages chapter alone would have saved me thousands. I had no idea about Section 24 or the ICR stress test."
First-time landlord— Liverpool
"The compliance chapter is the clearest explanation of landlord obligations I've read. No jargon, no waffle. Just exactly what you need to know."
Portfolio landlord— 4 properties, Manchester
"I've been a landlord for 3 years and still learned things from this. The tax section was an eye-opener — I was doing my self assessment wrong."
Landlord— South Yorkshire
Start with the handbook. Build from there.
The complete UK guide for first-time landlords. 18 chapters, 38 pages, free, and instantly accessible.
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