Staying Away for Next Contract Role

[The Spartan]

Hi Chaps and Chapettes,

Looking increasingly likely my next role is going to be too far to reasonably commute, so certainly initially going to be staying near site until I can negotiate some WFH. Clearly the best way to do this for the first couple of weeks is to stay in a hotel whilst I get my bearings, but ideally i'd look for a Mon-Fri let from somewhere like SpareRoom for the duration of the contract.

My question is, how do you go about putting the costs of a rented room from somewhere like SpareRoom (where oftentimes people want cash in hand, no invoice etc.) through your ltd.? Do you simply have to find someone that is happy to write an invoice and then pay them via your company account? That seemed to me to be the only way of doing it. I don't want to pay via my company account without having an invoice to back it up, and likewise don't want to pay personally and then claim back via expense without a valid receipt of some sort.

Any one have any alternatives?

Thanks in advance.

Have you thought about using AirBnB?

[HugeWhale]

Have you considered living in a motorhome?
They hold their value remarkably well so you'll probably get back what you paid for it and of course you'll save the £500 a month that spareroom will cost, and can get rid of your car as well! Also, you get to set your own rules - lodging in someone's house always becomes problematic at some point (often because they have their own lives, loves and tribulations. You on the other hand just need somewhere to sleep and don't want to get involved).

Another option I've considered - a canal barge. They're surprisingly comfy; you can buy a decent second-hand one for maybe 10 grand; again they hold their value really well; and also you get a sense of fun. You'll have to keep your car, but that may not be a bad thing.

Regarding your actual question though:
You won't generally get an invoice if you're a lodger. Try to avoid paying cash - pay by bank transfer under the reference "Accommodation cost" so it at least appears on your bank statement as such.

[BrilloPad]

Do people from SpareRoom etc. really want cash? There is quite a large tax free allowance on letting a room.

[TheFaQQer]

Have you considered living in a motorhome?
They hold their value remarkably well so you'll probably get back what you paid for it and of course you'll save the £500 a month that spareroom will cost, and can get rid of your car as well!

Motorhome as a car replacement is a bit of a stretch, since you'll be much more limited about ease of parking, driving down country lanes etc etc.

Now, a VW campervan on the other hand (which I happen to have one for sale ) is a much better option to take

[mattfx]

Regarding your actual question though:
You won't generally get an invoice if you're a lodger. Try to avoid paying cash - pay by bank transfer under the reference "Accommodation cost" so it at least appears on your bank statement as such.

This sounds sensible. I was just wondering if anyone else had done anything similar and not then been questioned by Hector.

[mattfx]

Have you thought about using AirBnB?

Yes. By the time I arrange a block booking deal with a hotel, pub or BnB, the costs weren't all that different.

[mattfx]

Motorhome as a car replacement is a bit of a stretch, since you'll be much more limited about ease of parking, driving down country lanes etc etc.

Now, a VW campervan on the other hand (which I happen to have one for sale ) is a much better option to take

I'm not sure an air cooled VW Camper would handle the 160 mile journey twice a week! And even if it would, I'd never want to put that kinda mileage on one!

[unixman]

For a recent gig I stayed in a Mon-Fri rented room. Landlady lived in the same house. I could leave my stuff over the weekend, paid cash, got receipts. It worked well. More convenient and sociable than a hotel, and cheaper.

[The Spartan]

For a recent gig I stayed in a Mon-Fri rented room. Landlady lived in the same house. I could leave my stuff over the weekend, paid cash, got receipts. It worked well. More convenient and sociable than a hotel, and cheaper.

I did the same last year in London I found the place initially through AirBnB and then arranged to block book it directly with the owner, it had decent parking and Virgin fibre as well as a separate Kitchenette where I could prepare food.

[unixman]

Sounds good, separate kitchenette. I found that Mon-Fri lets are also cheaper than 7 day, even though your stuff stays in the room over the weekend.