Landlords have been advised to wait until 6 April to replace furniture in let properties when the 10% wear and tear allowance is replaced and costs become deductible under a new tax relief.
The 10% wear and tear allowance for fully furnished residential properties will no longer be available from 6 April and only the actual costs incurred in replacing furniture, furnishings, appliances and kitchenware will be deductible. Initial costs are not allowed, only the replacement of such items.
The government expects this measure will bring in around £165 million/year from 2017 onwards.
Robert Pullen, personal tax manager at chartered accountants Blick Rothenberg, said: “This is a significant step away from the wear and tear allowance, bringing the position more in line with the general deductibility of repair costs or replacing toilets, boilers, etc. Landlords of fully furnished properties will feel this change adds additional complexity to an increasingly complicated area of deductible costs, following closely on the heels of the restriction to finance cost expenditure.
“However, the change is good news for landlords of part or unfurnished properties, who will be eligible to claim this new relief. Currently such landlords do not generally receive any relief for such costs (following the changes brought in from 6 April 2014).”
HMRC has promised to provide comprehensive guidance on the thorny areas of whether a replacement is an improvement or not. Where the asset is replaced to its nearest modern equivalent, the improvement as a result of technological upgrades should be ignored so that the cost is still allowed in full.
Qualifying furnished holiday lets and commercial properties are outside of these rules and relief on the initial cost of such items, as well as replacements, remain allowable.
