Where a property business makes a loss, the loss can usually be carried forward and set against future rental business profits.

HMRC’s guidance is clear that any losses made in one rental business, cannot be carried across to any other rental business the customer carries on at the same time in a different legal capacity.

There is no special claim required to carry forward the losses and the losses can be carried forward indefinitely until full relief for the losses can be given.

Under some limited circumstances, the property losses can be set against general income of the same year or the following year. However, where a property business claims loss relief against general income, they must take the full amount of the loss available up to the amount of their general income.

There are exceptions to the loss relief rules for properties that are let on uncommercial terms (for example, at a nominal rent to a relative).