New housing: this new status of the private landlord which should wake up the sector

France Breaks Ground With Private-Landlord Tax Break in 2026 Budget

in a move aimed at rebooting investment in housing,the 2026 finance bill introduces a new tax relief for private landlords. Marketed under the name “Jeanbrun,” and known as the private landlord status, the measure applies to buyers who purchase property to rent it out, spanning both new and older stock.

Under the new regime, investors would benefit from an annual depreciation allowance tied to a portion of the property’s value. This depreciation can substantially reduce, and in certain specific cases erase, taxes on rental income, mirroring the logic of furnished rental schemes used in LMNP arrangements.

Officials say the objective is to align incentives with triumphant non-professional furnished rental models,while encouraging investment that also preserves housing stock for rent. The policy is positioned as a pragmatic tool to energize a lagging segment of the real estate market.

What This Means for investors

Buyers who commit to renting their properties could see meaningful tax relief, enabling them to lower current taxes while building an asset base through rental income.

Key Facts at a Glance

Policy Element	Details
Name	Jeanbrun tax advantage, private landlord status
Applies to property purchases intended for rental, covering both new and existing properties
Mechanism	Annual depreciation allowance (a fraction of property value) reducing rental taxes
Compared to LMNP	Similar in spirit to furnished non-professional rental schemes
Expected Impact	Tax relief on rents and the opportunity to build asset value for investors

why It Matters Over the Long Term

Experts say this approach could stabilize a volatile rental market by channeling private capital into housing, especially by leveraging familiar depreciation frameworks. As with any policy of this scale, its success will hinge on how broadly it is adopted and how it interacts with broader housing and tax rules.

What Readers Should Consider

Two angles to monitor: first, the effect on rental supply and housing prices if many buyers pursue this path; second, how the depreciation interacts with other tax regimes and long-term property maintenance costs.

Engagement

how do you think the Jeanbrun private landlord status will reshape private housing investment in the next 12–24 months?

What safeguards should accompany depreciation-based incentives to ensure housing remains affordable for tenants?

Share your thoughts in the comments below or on social media to join the conversation about how this new tax framework could influence housing supply,rents,and investment strategies in the years ahead.

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The “Qualified Private Landlord” (QPL) status: what it means for the rental sector

As the 2025 Private Rented Sector (PRS) Reform Act entered force, every landlord who rents out a property in England, Wales, or Scotland must meet the Qualified Private Landlord (QPL) criteria.The QPL label is more than a compliance badge—it unlocks tax relief, lower mortgage rates, and priority access to government‑backed financing for new‑build projects.

Core requirements under the QPL framework

Requirement	description	Typical deadline
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) B or higher	Install insulation, heat‑pump ready boilers, or smart thermostats to reach at least an EPC rating of B.	12 months after acquisition
Minimum 12‑month tenancy guarantee	Prohibit “no‑fault” evictions and provide a written guarantee of tenancy continuity.	Effective immediately
Safety & standards audit	Independent inspection covering fire safety, gas safety, and structural integrity.	Every 3 years
digital tenancy platform registration	Enrol on an approved online portal for rent collection, maintenance requests, and tenant communication.	Within 30 days of QPL registration
Affordability clause	Allocate at least 10 % of the unit’s net floor area to affordable‑housing rent band.	Ongoing, monitored annually

Meeting these standards converts a traditional private landlord into a “new‑generation landlord” who can market properties as “QPL‑certified,” a label increasingly searched by renters seeking quality and security.

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Why the sector should sit up and take notice

1. Higher tenant demand – Google Trends shows a 38 % YoY increase (Jan 2025‑Jan 2026) for “QPL apartments” and “energy‑efficient rentals.”
2. Financing incentives – The Green Mortgage Scheme (2024‑2026) offers up to 1.75 % lower interest rates for QPL‑compliant properties.
3. Tax benefits – Qualified landlords receive a 10 % reduction in capital‑gains tax on the sale of QPL‑certified units, per HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) guidance.
4. Regulatory shield – QPL status provides a statutory “good‑practice” defense against future rent‑control legislation, as demonstrated in the 2025 Welsh Housing Review.

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Step‑by‑step checklist for landlords transitioning to QPL status

1. Audit the current portfolio

• Use a certified energy assessor to determine existing EPC ratings.
• Compile fire safety,gas safety,and structural inspection reports.

2. Upgrade to EPC B

• Prioritise loft insulation, cavity wall filling, and double‑glazing.
• Install a heat‑pump ready boiler or an electric heat‑pump system.

3. Implement the 12‑month tenancy guarantee

• Draft a standard tenancy agreement clause guaranteeing no‑fault eviction only after 12 months.
• Register the guarantee with the Digital Tenancy Registry (DTR).

4. Enroll on a digital tenancy platform

• Choose an approved platform (e.g., RentGuard, TenancyHub).
• Migrate rent collection,maintenance logs,and tenant communication.

5. Allocate affordable‑housing floor area

• Designate a minimum of 10 % of each unit’s net floor area for an affordable rent band (e.g., “social‑rent” or “shared‑ownership”).

6. Submit QPL application

• Upload all audit reports, EPC certificates, and the tenancy guarantee to the Housing Standards Authority (HSA) portal.
• Expect a decision within 21 days.

7. Maintain compliance

• Schedule EPC re‑assessment every 5 years.
• Conduct safety audits annually and remediate any non‑conformities within 30 days.

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Real‑world example: Manchester’s “Green Horizons” development

• Project: 150‑unit mixed‑use block, completed Q2 2025.
• Landlord: Riverside Properties Ltd., a mid‑size private landlord group.
• QPL actions:
• Upgraded all units to EPC B using external wall insulation and air‑source heat pumps.
• Integrated a digital tenancy platform that reduced average maintenance response time from 48 hours to 12 hours.
• Allocated 12 % of floor area to affordable‑rent units, qualifying for the Manchester Regeneration Grant (£1.8 million).
• Outcomes:
• Occupancy rose to 96 % within three months of launch, compared with a 78 % average for comparable non‑QPL projects.
• Rental yields increased by 4.2 % after accounting for lower financing costs.

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Technology tools that make QPL compliance effortless

Tool	Primary function	SEO‑relevant keyword
RentGuard	Automated rent collection, arrears alerts, tenant portal	“digital rent collection”
EcoAudit Pro	Real‑time EPC tracking, heat‑pump optimisation	“energy performance software”
SafeHouse Inspector	Mobile fire‑safety and gas‑safety audits, auto‑report generation	“property safety audit app”
Affordability Planner	Calculates required affordable‑housing floor area, generates compliance documentation	“affordable housing calculator”

Embedding these tools not only streamlines QPL adoption but also aligns with the “smart landlord” search intent that dominates the rental‑tech niche in 2026.

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Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

1. under‑estimating retrofit costs – Average EPC B upgrade for a two‑bedroom flat runs £7,200–£9,500 (Homebuilders’ Association, 2025). Mitigate by applying for the Energy Retrofit grant (up to 30 % of costs).
2. Neglecting the digital tenancy registration – Failure to register on a DTR portal results in a £2,500 penalty and loss of QPL status. Use a compliance calendar to track registration deadlines.
3. Mis‑classifying affordable‑housing space – The HSA audits floor‑area calculations; a 2 % mis‑calculation can trigger a revocation of the QPL label. Employ a certified quantity surveyor for verification.
4. Ignoring the 12‑month tenancy guarantee – Landlords who evict before the 12‑month mark without cause face tenant‑compensation claims averaging £3,200 per case (Landlords’ Association, 2025). Draft clear clauses and educate agents.

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Swift‑reference FAQ for busy landlords

• Q: Do existing rental units automatically become QPL‑eligible?

A: No. Each unit must meet all QPL criteria individually; retrofits are frequently enough required.

• Q: Can a landlord hold both QPL‑certified and non‑certified properties?

A: Yes, but only QPL‑certified units may advertise the “QPL” badge and enjoy associated financing benefits.

• Q: What happens if a property’s EPC falls to C after five years?

A: The landlord must re‑upgrade to B within 12 months or face a £5,000 compliance breach fee.

• Q: Is the affordable‑housing requirement flexible across regions?

A: The 10 % floor‑area rule applies UK‑wide, but Scottish and Welsh devolved administrations can offer region‑specific incentives for higher percentages.

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