BTL empty; tax loss?

[Cogcog]

I may soon have a property to let in the short term (<12 months) before sale. If I cannot find a tenant, are the costs of running the house whilst empty a 'loss' I can off-set against my personal tax bill if I have offered the house to the market?

[Eric Mc]

Losses incurred on a rental property can only be -

carried forward against future rentakl profits

offset against other rental profits in the same tax year

They CANNOT be offset against "other income" (i.e. salaries, self employed income, other investment income) in the same tax year

If you have inherited a property, it is highly unlikely you will make a capital loss on disposal.

[Cogcog]

Thanks Eric, I don't want to be a reluctant landlord.