How Stopfords is Getting Ahead of MTD with Landlord Studio

Stopfords Accountant Partner Case Study

Preparing for a 5× Workload Increase — Without 5× the Fees

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD for IT) has been phased in since April 2026. This change to the UK tax system fundamentally reshapes the way landlords and their accountants are required to manage property finances and report income.

For landlords earning above £50,000, MTD requires them to:

• Keep digital records
• Submit four quarterly updates plus a final declaration
• Use HMRC-recognised software

And if the landlord is also self-employed, or runs a VAT registered business, these returns need to be completed simultaneously.

For accountants like Stopfords, a trusted Mansfield-based firm of chartered accountants and business advisers, this means up to 13 submissions per landlord client each year. Five times the current admin load, without necessarily five times the fees.

“Landlords will expect us to ‘just sort it’, but won’t necessarily want to pay more. Some may even expect their end-of-year fees to go down because they think software is doing the work,” Tim from Stopfords explained during our recent meeting. Tim, Stopfords

The Challenge

Aside from the uncertainty of a new and untested digital taxation system, Stopfords identified three major hurdles ahead of April 2026:

1. Increased Workload & Risk

Bound by high operating standards, Stopfords explained that, should they take on the responsibility of managing submissions for their clients, which many clients expected, then they would need to review and reconcile every transaction to ensure the accuracy of those updates. A massive and unnecessary workload burden that clients were unlikely to be willing to pay for.

2. Tech Resistance Among Landlords

Many of their landlords are older and still use pen, paper, or Excel.

“Most landlords don’t even know MTD is coming,” Tim said at the time. “And without a simple, guided setup, they won’t adopt software unless they absolutely have to.” Tim, Stopfords

And while there are exemptions available, it is unlikely that all of their less tech-savvy clients will qualify. Meaning, clients have to move from paper systems that have been working perfectly fine, perhaps for decades, to learn a completely new accounting system. The likely result is going to be less accuracy, not more (at least to begin with).

3. Unclear Fee Structure for MTD

The firm anticipated there would necessarily be additional costs for their clients to cover software access, onboarding help, and submission processing. However, they also recognised the challenge of charging for extra work when clients may feel they’re getting the same service as before or believe the change is unnecessary.

The Solution: Partnering with Landlord Studio

In June 2024, Stopfords joined the Landlord Studio Partner Program with one clear goal: to have the landlord clients that are impacted by the first wave fully MTD-ready before the April 2026 deadline.

Why They Chose Landlord Studio?

• Easy-to-use interface for landlords, even those less tech-savvy
• Accurate digital record-keeping for MTD readiness
• Bank feed integrations and letting agent statement imports
• Accountant-ready reports that save time and support tax planning
• Direct HMRC integration for streamlined submissions

In-person collaboration: Shortly after signing up, the Landlord Studio team visited Stopfords in Mansfield to map out their MTD rollout plan. Together, we discussed client onboarding strategies, product feature needs, and how Landlord Studio could best support their accountants and landlords.

“For the client we’ve trialled so far, Landlord Studio has saved us at least 10–15 hours of manual input,” says Tim. “The reporting gives us more time for planning and cuts down the information we need to transfer to the self-assessment tax return.” Tim, Stopfords

MTD Implementation Plan

Phase 1 — Early Trials (2024)

• Onboarded one major landlord client to trial the workflow ahead of MTD.
• Collected feedback from both client and staff to identify product improvements, such as more flexible tenancy types and VAT handling for UK users.

Phase 2 — Client Rollout (2025)

• Focused on the ⅓ of landlord clients impacted immediately by the MTD launch in April 2026.
• Offering a paid setup service for clients needing help with onboarding, supported by Landlord Studio’s checklists, webinars, how-to videos, and example data sheets.

Phase 3 — Scaling for April 2026

• Establishing a repeatable process for quarterly and annual submissions.
• Ongoing client education through webinars, guides, and reminders to keep records up to date.

Phase 4 — Broad Client Adoption

• Once processes are established, they intend to roll out the software to the rest of their landlord clients.

Results So Far

While still in early stages, Stopfords are already seeing the benefits.

“The client we’ve trialled it with has been very complimentary,” Tim shares. “It’s helped them manage the huge amount of items in their rental portfolio, and for us, it makes the planning side much easier.” Tim, Stopfords

Looking Ahead

Stopfords aimed to have all £50k+ earning landlord clients MTD-ready before April 2026, and is now working through the clients captured by the later thresholds. With Landlord Studio’s support, they’re building a streamlined, digital-first process to handle MTD’s extra workload without compromising on accuracy or client service.

“If another accountant asked me whether they should offer Landlord Studio, I’d say give it a go,” says Tim. “We like it, and I think they will too. It’s just about getting on board and giving it a try.” Tim, Stopfords

As part of our commitment to help accountants and landlords adapt to this new tax-normal, we’re offering Landlord Studio Pro for free to all of our partners until 2028. 

About Stopfords

Founded in 1994, Stopfords is an experienced and trusted firm of chartered accountants and business advisers committed to helping businesses grow and succeed. Based in Mansfield, they work with clients across a wide range of industries, delivering tailored advice and support.

About Landlord Studio

Landlord Studio is an all-in-one property management and accounting platform designed for landlords and their accountants. With bank feeds, expense tracking, and powerful reporting tools, it simplifies digital record-keeping and MTD compliance for rental property owners.

About the Accountant Partner Program

Stay ahead of MTD for landlords. Partner with Landlord Studio to onboard clients, reduce manual admin, and ensure your clients meet the MTD requirements, without adding to your workload. 

Book a call today to learn how Landlord Studio can help your firm master MTD.