Making Tax Digital goes live in April 2026.

Making Tax Digital goes live in April 2026. Here’s why ELA landlords shouldn’t wait to choose their software.

Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax is fast approaching. From April 2026, many landlords will be legally required to keep digital records and submit updates to HMRC using MTD-compatible software.

With the deadline getting closer, a question we often hear is:

“Should I wait until closer to April 2026 before choosing software?”

For most landlords, the answer is no.

As a member of the Eastern Landlords Association (ELA), you’ll know that the best outcomes in property come from planning ahead — and MTD is no different. Choosing your software early gives you time to get comfortable, get organised, and avoid the last-minute rush.

And if you’re choosing now, there are clear reasons why Hammock stands out for landlords (and their accountants).

Below, we explain why picking Hammock now makes sense, and what genuinely differentiates it from other solutions that are still “in development” or only “MTD-ready”.

1. Hammock is the first landlord software recognised by HMRC as MTD-compatible

This is the most important place to start.

Hammock is the accounting software for landlords:

●     Recognised by HMRC as MTD-compatible

●     Live and available to enrol in the MTD pilot

●     Authorised by the FCA (register no. 911254)

●     Tested and recommended by over 1,000 accountants

●     Delivering landlord tax statements since 2019

2. Built specifically for landlords

Many landlords have tried using general accounting software in the past and found the same issues:

●     Categories that don’t reflect property realities

●     Reporting that makes sense for a business, but not a portfolio

●     Workarounds that create confusion later

Hammock is landlord software first designed specifically around property income and expenses.

3. Fully supports all ownership structures — including joint ownership

For many landlords, joint ownership isn’t a special case — it’s the norm.

And under MTD, it’s also one of the biggest sources of admin pain.

Hammock supports:

●     Sole landlords

●     Jointly owned properties

●     Multiple owners with different ownership percentages

●     Portfolios held across different structures

4. Unlimited bank feeds no caps, no hidden limits

MTD relies on accurate, up-to-date digital records. Bank feeds help landlords stay organised without spending hours on admin.

With Hammock:

●     There’s no limit to the number of connected bank feeds

●     You can connect multiple personal and property accounts

●     You can add more feeds as your portfolio grows

Some providers restrict bank feeds or charge extra as you scale.

Hammock doesn’t.

5. Spreadsheet upload functionality — ideal for transitions and landlords who’ve used Excel for years

Not every landlord is starting from scratch.

Many ELA members have managed their properties successfully using spreadsheets for years — and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Hammock makes the transition practical by allowing you to:

●     Upload existing spreadsheets

●     Import historical data

●     Transition without losing continuity

6. FCA-authorised — your data handled properly

Hammock has its own FCA authorisation (register no. 911254).

It’s a level of assurance not all software providers can offer.

7. Award-winning landlord software — recognised by the industry

Hammock was named Product of the Year 2025/26 at the National Landlord Investment Show Awards.

MTD compliance is important — but the software also needs to be genuinely good to use.

8. Designed for collaboration between landlords and accountants

If you have an accountant, Hammock is designed to make your relationship smoother by:

●     Giving both you and your accountant access to the same live data

●     Reducing back-and-forth over missing receipts and unclear transactions

●     Making reviews faster and more structured

9. Why waiting is the riskiest option

It’s tempting to think:

“I’ll deal with MTD later.”

But in practice, leaving it too late often leads to:

●     Rushed decisions

●     Incomplete data

●     Stressful migrations close to the deadline

Starting now allows you to:

●     Get comfortable with digital record-keeping

●     Clean up existing data gradually

●     Spread the workload over time

●     Enter April 2026 confident and compliant

MTD isn’t just a filing change — it’s an operational one.

Choose your landlord MTD solution today

If you’re choosing software ahead of April 2026, the key questions are:

●     Is it recognised by HMRC?

●     Is it available now, not just promised?

●     Is it built for landlords, not adapted?

●     Does it handle real-world ownership structures?

●     Can it scale with my portfolio?

●     Will my accountant want to work with it?

Hammock answers yes to all of the above.

And crucially, it does so today — without waiting until the deadline.

Get MTD-ready with Hammock

If you’re preparing for Making Tax Digital, now is the right time to start.

Explore Hammock and check your MTD readiness