Accommodation expenses and what I can claim

[SueEllen]

Why on earth are you going to rent somewhere near to work, to then work from home? Why don't you just work from home?

Great minds

[FrontEnder]

Great minds

I'm not as quick though. Maybe it was because I re-read what he was saying a few times thinking "WTF?"

[Johndc30]

Do you have an eye problem that requires you to use such monitors?

If not your set up with carting monitors around is ridiculous. If you are only needed on-site 2 days a week then use a hotel for those 2 nights and stay at home 350 miles away the rest of the time.

Get it agreed with your client in advance what consecutive days of the week you should come in. Then book hotels and trains accordingly.

You're right Sue, I don't need them for Video Editing, In fact I'm going to eBay them right now and get a couple of Ipad screens.

[Johndc30]

Why on earth are you going to rent somewhere near to work, to then work from home? Why don't you just work from home?

Good point. But it's primarily down to saving costs and flexibility at short notice for meetings and scrums. Granted you have Skype these days, but it doesn't quite work that way. If we need an emergency scrum or I require to use internal hardware for a job, I'm just down the road as opposed to having to book a train journey and get across London. That's the best part of a day lost.

[LondonManc]

Good point. But it's primarily down to saving costs and flexibility at short notice for meetings and scrums. Granted you have Skype these days, but it doesn't quite work that way. If we need an emergency scrum or I require to use internal hardware for a job, I'm just down the road as opposed to having to book a train journey and get across London. That's the best part of a day lost.

Surely they'll understand that it's an inconvenience to you?

Or have you told them that you'll rent something down in London to secure the gig?

[Johndc30]

Surely they'll understand that it's an inconvenience to you?

Or have you told them that you'll rent something down in London to secure the gig?

We seem to be going off course here. I'm not looking for advice regarding negotiations with my contract, I was just asking the question about what would be considered as an expense.
Hypothetical or not, but thanks for the interest/comments.

[SueEllen]

Good point. But it's primarily down to saving costs and flexibility at short notice for meetings and scrums. Granted you have Skype these days, but it doesn't quite work that way. If we need an emergency scrum or I require to use internal hardware for a job, I'm just down the road as opposed to having to book a train journey and get across London. That's the best part of a day lost.

It's not saving costs as I pointed out in my previous post.

And regards to flexibility as long as people can contact you any time they are working and you/they can screencast then it's fine.

[LondonManc]

We seem to be going off course here. I'm not looking for advice regarding negotiations with my contract, I was just asking the question about what would be considered as an expense.
Hypothetical or not, but thanks for the interest/comments.

It's only slightly off topic as we're discussing most cost-effective ways for you to manage your accommodation from accounting and practical points of view.

Probably cheaper to flatshare and not claim at all than rent the place for yourself.

[Johndc30]

It's not saving costs as I pointed out in my previous post.

And regards to flexibility as long as people can contact you any time they are working and you/they can screencast then it's fine.

How so? So say I have to be in London short notice in the afternoon, I drive, at 45p per mile x 350+ miles, or get the train and risk paying a short notice premium as we all know the train service is really cheap. Then i pay for hotel cost at £80 per night. Then back. I then have to do this maybe 2-3 times a week including loss of time commuting. Roomshare near onsite would cost approx £200 per week.

[FrontEnder]

This still seems like an odd arrangement. Surely if you're working off-site, then there's an expectation that you shouldn't need to go to a face-to-face meeting at short notice? So if discussions are needed, email, phone, IM or even skype should be acceptable.

If this is going to be normal when you're offsite for the 3/5 days, then is it worth working off site this frequently, or at all?