Accommodation expenses for a new contractor

[lucyclarityumbrella]

My understanding is that
1) if I will not work on other assignments I cannot claim accomodation expenses
2) if I work on another assignment (and then stop contracting) then I can claim expenses for both assigments.

Nope, all gone at source via any compliant brolly - sorry to break the news to you

If you can prove you are not under Supervision, Direction and/or Control by the end client then you would have to claim back via self-assessment at the end of the year.