UK Property 09 - Legal, management and other professional fees

Management fees paid to an Agent to cover rent collection, advertising and similar administrative expenses can be deducted.

The normal legal and professional fees for renewing a lease, if the lease is for less than 50 years, can be deducted. You can also deduct the professional fees incurred in evicting an unsatisfactory tenant, with a view to re-letting, or in appealing against a compulsory purchase order.

You cannot claim:

• expenses incurred in connection with the first letting or subletting of a property for more than a year. These include legal expenses such as:
  • the cost of drawing up a lease
  • agents' and surveyors' fees and commission
• any costs of agreeing and paying a premium on renewal of a lease
• fees for planning permission or registration of title on property purchase

Note: Do not complete if you claim the property income allowance, you cannot deduct any allowable expenses or claim any other allowances on this income.