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If you’ve ever spent a Sunday afternoon buried under receipts, rent schedules, and half-finished spreadsheets, you’ll know that managing property finances is rarely straightforward. Even small landlords quickly realise that ordinary accounting tools don’t quite fit the job. Tracking rent payments, recording expenses, filing taxes, and staying compliant with Making Tax Digital all take time – and plenty of patience.
That’s where dedicated accounting software for landlords earns its keep. The right platform does the heavy lifting: linking to your bank, matching payments automatically, and pulling everything together into tidy reports. In this guide, we’ll look at the best accounting software for rental property managers – what each one does well, where they differ, and which might be the best fit for your portfolio.
Spoiler: Landlord Vision tends to come out on top for most landlords, thanks to its UK-specific features and sensible pricing, but there are other strong contenders too.
What to Look For in Rental Property Accounting Software
Every landlord’s setup is slightly different, but the same headaches usually appear: late rent, missing invoices, and that creeping fear you’ve mislaid a repair receipt just before tax season. Software can’t remove the stress completely, but it can automate a surprising amount of it.
Start with UK tax compliance. Under Making Tax Digital, landlords earning over £50,000 will soon have to keep digital records and send updates to HMRC through approved software. So whatever you choose, make sure it’s compatible.
Then there’s rent tracking. The best systems link straight to your bank feeds, spot incoming rent automatically, and flag anything that’s late. That alone can save hours of manual checking. Add expense management, so you can snap receipts on your phone and have them filed instantly, and you’ll wonder why you ever relied on spreadsheets.
For those with more than one property, multi-property dashboards are invaluable. They let you see at a glance which tenants have paid, what your cash flow looks like, and whether any compliance certificates are about to expire.
Finally, look for integration. A platform that talks to your accountant’s system – or better yet, manages your property admin as well – means fewer logins and less risk of double-entry errors. Generic tools like Xero can do some of this, but purpose-built landlord software simply handles it better.
The Best Accounting Software for UK Landlords: Detailed Reviews
Here’s a quick comparison before we dive into the details.
| Software | Best For | Starting Price | Key Features |
| Landlord Vision | All-in-one accounting and management for UK landlords | £19.97/month | Rent tracking, tax compliance, MTD-ready, expense logging |
| Arthur Online | Larger portfolios and letting agencies | From £70/month | Integrated workflows, maintenance, accounting syncs |
| COHO | Shared and HMO properties | From £12/month | Tenant management, rent by room, modern interface |
| Landlord Studio | Mobile landlords who want app-based control | From £5.99/month | Bank feeds, reminders, tax summaries |
| Xero | Business-style accounting with add-ons | From £15/month | Invoicing, reconciliation, reports |
| QuickBooks | Company landlords or mixed-use portfolios | From £12/month | VAT handling, automation, multi-account support |
| Rentila | Budget option for small landlords | Free tier | Simple accounting, rent and expense tracking |
| Property Hawk | Free software for straightforward portfolios | Free | Tenancy records, rent schedules |
| Hammock | Finance-focused landlords | From £5.99/month | Live bank feeds, real-time insights |
| FreeAgent | Limited companies and contractors | From £14.50/month | Tax automation, MTD compliance |
1. Landlord Vision
Best for: UK landlords who want a complete accounting and property management solution.
If you’re after one system that does everything to do with commercial property management – from rent collection to tax returns – Landlord Vision is hard to beat. It’s built entirely around UK landlord life rather than being a business tool that’s been awkwardly repurposed. You can tell from the moment you log in: the terminology makes sense, the tax settings already match UK rules, and it even reminds you about compliance deadlines.
Rent payments link automatically to your bank account, expenses are categorised for you, and the software produces clean Making Tax Digital reports when you need them. It’s like having an accountant who actually remembers which boiler you replaced last spring.
For landlords juggling several rentals, that combination of clarity and automation is priceless.
Pricing: From £19.97/month, with a free 14-day trial.
Ideal for: Individual landlords, letting agents, or small housing organisations wanting an all-in-one UK platform.
2. Arthur Online
Best for: Letting agents and landlords who want full property management with built-in financial tools.
Arthur Online is the heavyweight of this list – the kind of system that large letting agents and property managers swear by. It’s less about simplicity and more about control. You can set up custom workflows, assign maintenance jobs, generate rent schedules, and integrate everything directly with your accounting software, whether that’s Xero or QuickBooks.
Where Arthur really shines is scale. Once it’s configured, it can manage hundreds of units without breaking a sweat. There’s a bit of a learning curve if you’re new to this kind of software, but the payoff is a system that keeps every process joined up. If you’ve ever had to chase contractors, reconcile payments, and send reports to landlords all in the same week, you’ll see the appeal.
Pricing: From £70/month.
Ideal for: Larger landlords or letting agencies with complex operational needs.
3. COHO
Best for: HMO and co-living landlords who want tools tailored to shared housing.
If your properties are mostly HMOs or student lets, COHO deserves a look. It’s designed around shared living arrangements, where rent comes in from several tenants per property and rooms change hands regularly. The layout is clean, the navigation is intuitive, and it handles those awkward shared-payment scenarios far better than most tools.
COHO also includes a messaging hub for tenants, which makes everyday communication less painful. The accounting tools are fairly lightweight compared with Landlord Vision, but that’s by design. It’s perfect for landlords who value ease of use and just need a reliable way to see who’s paid and what’s outstanding.
Pricing: From £12/month.
Ideal for: HMO landlords and shared property investors.
4. Landlord Studio
Best for: Mobile landlords who want an app-based approach to tracking rent and expenses.
Some landlords don’t want a full desktop system at all – they just want something quick they can use from their phone. That’s where Landlord Studio fits in. Its mobile app lets you connect your bank, record expenses, and check rent status while you’re out on site or travelling.
It’s tidy, modern, and perfect for smaller portfolios. You can take photos of receipts, create instant expense reports, and even record mileage for tax purposes. It won’t replace a full property management suite, but it does make daily tracking effortless.
Pricing: From £5.99/month.
Ideal for: Landlords managing a few properties who prefer a lightweight, app-first experience.
5. Xero
Best for: Landlords already familiar with business accounting tools.
Xero isn’t built for landlords, but plenty still use it. It’s reliable, flexible, and integrates with many property platforms. Think of it as a foundation – a strong accounting core that can be customised for property rental income if you know your way around its settings.
The key strength here is professional-grade bookkeeping: smooth reconciliation, excellent reporting, and multi-user access. The downside? You’ll have to set up your own categories and rent schedules manually. Pairing it with Landlord Vision covers those gaps nicely.
Pricing: From £15/month.
Ideal for: Landlords running property as part of a wider business.
6. QuickBooks
Best for: Landlords who want familiar business-style accounting software.
Another accounting staple, QuickBooks works well for landlords who already run a business or operate through a limited company. It handles VAT, payroll, and corporation tax with ease, and its automation tools mean less manual entry.
It’s polished and familiar, but remember – it’s not property-specific. There’s no built-in rent management or tenant tracking, so it’s best used alongside something like Landlord Vision or Arthur Online. Think of QuickBooks as your financial backbone rather than your day-to-day property tool, but to monitor your financial performance, it’s one of the best around.
Pricing: From £12/month.
Ideal for: Company landlords or those already using QuickBooks for other ventures.
7. Rentila
Rentila is a handy middle ground for landlords who want simple software without spending a fortune.
There’s even a free tier for one property, so you can try it without risk. It tracks rent, logs expenses, and generates basic income reports.
It’s not as refined as premium platforms, and it lacks deep integration or MTD-ready reporting, but for landlords with a single buy-to-let, it’s perfectly serviceable. Straightforward, no-nonsense, and lightweight. You just may need a more thorough solution if you own multiple properties.
Pricing: Free for one property, £9.90/month for additional properties.
Ideal for: First-time or small-scale landlords.
8. Property Hawk
Property Hawk has been around for years and remains a reliable option for landlords that want to try free accounting software.
It’s web-based, offers basic rent schedules, and helps with simple accounting and tenancy records. The interface feels a little old-school, but that’s also part of its charm – everything is right where you expect it to be.
If you only have one or two properties and don’t need automation, it’s a solid starting point before moving on to something more complete like Landlord Vision.
Pricing: Free.
Ideal for: Small landlords with straightforward finances.
9. Hammock
Finance-focused landlords often go for Hammock.
It’s all about real-time tracking: every payment in or out of your bank is categorised automatically, and dashboards show rent performance across all properties. It’s also a great way to make your income tax return a bit more straightforward.
It doesn’t include compliance or document storage features, but for pure financial visibility, it’s excellent. Many landlords use Hammock as a supplement to other software rather than a replacement.
Pricing: From £5.99/month.
Ideal for: Data-focused landlords and investors.
10. FreeAgent
Finally, FreeAgent – a popular choice for limited companies and landlords who prefer an accountant-friendly platform. It automatically tracks income and expenses, calculates tax, and integrates with HMRC for Making Tax Digital.
It’s not built around property management, but it’s polished and easy to navigate. If your accountant already uses FreeAgent, it might make sense to do the same.
Pricing: From £14.50/month.
Ideal for: Incorporated landlords and small property companies.
Why Dedicated Landlord Tools Beat General Accounting Software
Spreadsheets and generic accounting tools can only go so far. They don’t understand tenancies, arrears, or compliance reminders – and they certainly won’t chase missing rent. Dedicated landlord software like Landlord Vision fills in all those blanks, linking your financials to the realities of property management.
For landlords with multiple units, the difference is huge: you see everything in one place, you stay compliant automatically, and you spend your evenings doing something other than paperwork.
Final Thoughts
Every tool here has its strengths, but if you’re a UK landlord who wants accounting and management in one neat package, Landlord Vision is still the standout property management software. It’s designed for the way landlords actually work – tracking rent, managing expenses, and preparing MTD-ready tax returns without fuss.
For those already using business-style tools like Xero or QuickBooks, pairing them with Landlord Vision offers the best of both worlds: professional accounting plus property intelligence.
Try the free 14-day trial, see how it fits your workflow, and decide for yourself. Most landlords who give it a go rarely look back.
FAQs
Do landlords need dedicated accounting software?
Not legally, but it makes life much easier. Landlord tools automate rent tracking, property expenses, and compliance tasks.
Is the cost tax-deductible?
Yes – HMRC usually allows software subscriptions used for property management as a business expense.
Can I use Xero or QuickBooks instead?
You can, though they lack property-specific features. Many landlords use them alongside Landlord Vision.
What’s the best option for Making Tax Digital?
Landlord Vision is fully MTD-compatible and built for UK landlords, so it’s one of the safest bets.
Can I move from spreadsheets easily?
Absolutely. Most platforms let you import your old data so you can start fresh without losing history.
