Reply to: Rent

[scooterscot]

I'd agree but sometimes seeing my loved ones was more important so flight it was...

[timh]

Though I'm sure if one stayed for a weekend instead of spending £150 of the company's cash to fly back to Scotland for 36 hours, that would be quite justifiable!

[ASB]

Is it not true that, even if you maintain your original residence, if the flat that you rent is available to you on weekends then that availability is a benefit, even if you do not use it?

No it's not. But if you do use it a weekends then it is a benefit and should be declared as such.

What I did was to put down 5% of the rental as a bik to cover odd usage. Hector was a happy bunny.

[scooterscot]

My accountant said not, providing you can argue that there is a benefit to the business for having it available at weekends. For example, if I can rent a flat for £850 a month (and it's available at weekends), then there is a clear business benefit over paying £75 a night for a hotel, four nights a week.

Just don't use it for personal use though!

I got the same beef from my accountant. You're making more money for the tax man this way ergo everyone is happy.

[TheFaQQer]

Is it not true that, even if you maintain your original residence, if the flat that you rent is available to you on weekends then that availability is a benefit, even if you do not use it?

My accountant said not, providing you can argue that there is a benefit to the business for having it available at weekends. For example, if I can rent a flat for £850 a month (and it's available at weekends), then there is a clear business benefit over paying £75 a night for a hotel, four nights a week.

Just don't use it for personal use though!

[scooterscot]

Which may see you being a pointer to IR35. Definatly better to pay for it yourself and invoice for it.

I'm feeling ballsy, besides it's cheaper than paying for a hotel and keeps down unnecessary paper work. Mondey not spent on the hotel is more money for the tax man, I'm doing them a favour.

[floatsy]

Do what I do, get your client to pay the rent for you!

On 700 pounds and accomodation paid for -- some people have it all

[floatsy]

As a couple of the guys here have said - whether or not you can claim rental depends on your situation. If you normally live in Scotland, have a house there, pay the mortgage etc etc but take up a contract in London and decide to rent rather than stay in a hotel you can claim for the cost of the rent. If, however, you give up one rented residence for another there has been no additional cost to you and therefore the cost cannot be claimed as an expense

Thanks, Lisa. Good answer. So just out of curiousity, for someone from overseas, like US/Oz etc, would this be the same logic applied?

Cheers.

[Euro-commuter]

As a couple of the guys here have said - whether or not you can claim rental depends on your situation. If you normally live in Scotland, have a house there, pay the mortgage etc etc but take up a contract in London and decide to rent rather than stay in a hotel you can claim for the cost of the rent. If, however, you give up one rented residence for another there has been no additional cost to you and therefore the cost cannot be claimed as an expense

Is it not true that, even if you maintain your original residence, if the flat that you rent is available to you on weekends then that availability is a benefit, even if you do not use it?

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

As a couple of the guys here have said - whether or not you can claim rental depends on your situation. If you normally live in Scotland, have a house there, pay the mortgage etc etc but take up a contract in London and decide to rent rather than stay in a hotel you can claim for the cost of the rent. If, however, you give up one rented residence for another there has been no additional cost to you and therefore the cost cannot be claimed as an expense

[Sockpuppet]

Do what I do, get your client to pay the rent for you!

Which may see you being a pointer to IR35. Definatly better to pay for it yourself and invoice for it.

[freakydancer]

what does your brolly say ?

brolly says no.

[ASB]

- Whether you are there 5 or 7 days a week makes no difference to whether it is claimable. What does make a difference is whether you have a permanent residence elsewhere that you would normally be using. If no then it is not claimable. If yes then it is claimable subject to all the caveats mentioned previously.

How you claim it depends on your Brolly. If they won't let you claim it through their expenses system (whatever they use) then you will need to claim it through your tax return

[scooterscot]

Do what I do, get your client to pay the rent for you!

[Ardesco]

If you are going to be living there you shouldn't claim it. If you rent/own a place you live in, and then rent another place for 5 nights a week while you are working it will be ok.

If you are going to live there 7 days a week HMRC will say that you have to live in a property so it is not claimable as an expense because you are not paying out anything you wouldn't normally pay out.

HTH