Reply to: London Premium

[Scrag Meister]

Hi I think I may have just secured my first contract and will be working away from home, can I ask if this cost for a room whilst working away is claimable against any tax allowances?

Cheers
AJ

Yes, pay it out of your company, or expense it back to the company, and you save CT on it.

Make sure you get a receipt.

[AJ76]

This works well for me. £360 per month for a nice room in a nice house in Herts for 4 nights a week then back up to the NE on a friday afternoon and back monday morning. No contracts, no packing each weekend and use of kitchen and washing machine.

Hi I think I may have just secured my first contract and will be working away from home, can I ask if this cost for a room whilst working away is claimable against any tax allowances?

Cheers
AJ

[Sausage Surprise]

If you do a search people have suggested alternative places to stay rather than hotels and B&Bs as these tend to be sh*t in London and very expensive. For example loads of people are looking for lodgers so you won't be stuck in a long term contract, and some of the rooms will have their own bathrooms. You will have to share the kitchen but least you will be able to cook every now and again.

This works well for me. £360 per month for a nice room in a nice house in Herts for 4 nights a week then back up to the NE on a friday afternoon and back monday morning. No contracts, no packing each weekend and use of kitchen and washing machine.

[SueEllen]

As for the rate, I suppose I'd be happy with my usual rate, so I think it would be better to under cut rather than go too high, especially with the market as it is.

The agency will get suspicious if you are too cheap. Go at least for the average rate as they can only knock you down.

[scooterscot]

You've got it all backwards. Tell them what your rate would be if you worked from you own office.

[nomadd]

Just out of interest what is a good rate in London? I know its a difficult question to answer but for me I ven seen 500->750 for london finance

According to Jobserve, some roles are "below £10 / hour", some "over £100 per hour".

I'd say a "good" rate is £600+. And "average" rate £400-500.

All depends on what you do and how much experience you have. And your negotiating skills. Oh, and luck.

[RichardCranium]

Just out of interest what is a good rate in London? I know its a difficult question to answer but for me I ven seen 500->750 for london finance

Funnily enough, there has been a thread discussing this just lately on CUK: here.

[DeludedAussie]

Never thought about that, my brother is on the border of Wiltshire/Hampshire at Tidworth so its only 75 mins on the train into Waterloo but I will take a look at alternatives.

As for the rate, I suppose I'd be happy with my usual rate, so I think it would be better to under cut rather than go too high, especially with the market as it is.

Just out of interest what is a good rate in London? I know its a difficult question to answer but for me I ven seen 500->750 for london finance

[SimonMac]

Never thought about that, my brother is on the border of Wiltshire/Hampshire at Tidworth so its only 75 mins on the train into Waterloo but I will take a look at alternatives.

As for the rate, I suppose I'd be happy with my usual rate, so I think it would be better to under cut rather than go too high, especially with the market as it is.

[SueEllen]

If you do a search people have suggested alternative places to stay rather than hotels and B&Bs as these tend to be sh*t in London and very expensive. For example loads of people are looking for lodgers so you won't be stuck in a long term contract, and some of the rooms will have their own bathrooms. You will have to share the kitchen but least you will be able to cook every now and again.

[Jubber]

Its a Service Delivery role for a Govt. organisation in central London, I'm based in Yorkshire so its not really commutable, however I have family in Wiltshire that I would look to stay with. I've had a look at itjobswatch.co.uk, just wanted to see if anyone had similar thoughts, or see how accurate the site is.

Wiltshire to London ?? Unless the job is right next to Paddington not really a goer. I'd take my minimum local daily rate then add

(4 x nights at very local hotel + 1 return trip (train or car expenses)) / 5

to make my expected daily rate.

[Billy Pilgrim]

I rack up about £500 per week travelling to / from London/Manchester and hotel bills -- you can generally get a load off the hotel rack rate if you commit to 3 or 4 nights per week for 3 to 6 months -- it also helps if you can start a bit later on the monday and finish earlier on the friday to take advantage of off peak trains !!!

[kaiser78]

Its a Service Delivery role for a Govt. organisation in central London, I'm based in Yorkshire so its not really commutable, however I have family in Wiltshire that I would look to stay with. I've had a look at itjobswatch.co.uk, just wanted to see if anyone had similar thoughts, or see how accurate the site is.

It may be better to ask yourself what is the lowest rate you would be prepared to work for in order to make the travel cost/time etc worthwhile and enable you come away with a little spending money each month - Wiltshire is still a bit of a commute and you are still away from your family home.

[SimonMac]

What role? what industry? duration? Central london or outskirts?

It all depends. where are you coming from, i.e. how far commute? or staying over?

Look at itjobswatch.co.uk to get a broad idea.

Its a Service Delivery role for a Govt. organisation in central London, I'm based in Yorkshire so its not really commutable, however I have family in Wiltshire that I would look to stay with. I've had a look at itjobswatch.co.uk, just wanted to see if anyone had similar thoughts, or see how accurate the site is.

[Scrag Meister]

Not normally looked at contracts in London, but got a phone call out of the blue from an agent asking if I would consider a role in London, and if so what would be my rate. I have no idea about rates in London, what is a good premium on what I would normally accept out of London?!

What role? what industry? duration? Central london or outskirts?

It all depends. where are you coming from, i.e. how far commute? or staying over?

Look at itjobswatch.co.uk to get a broad idea.