Andy Woollon: Four buy-to-let tax traps to beware

The rapid growth of buy-to-let has seen the number of private landlords reach almost two million, owning one in five homes in the UK. Against this backdrop, however, the government has been making life more expensive for landlords, taxing them at every step from mortgage to purchase and ongoing letting through to sale. As a result, advisers need to be wary of potential tax traps when managing the affairs of clients with second homes. Reduction in tax relief Changes in the taxation of buy-to-let properties could leave clients facing much higher tax bills. Under the reforms introduced...