Reply to: London Rates

[Paddy]

Hi

Could anyone advise me on whether I've quoted too low on a contract. It's based in London (Canary Wharf) and I quoted £400 per day. It will cost £90 per week in travel and will require accommodation for 4 nights which I'm hoping will be within walking distance. I'm working as a Ltd company.

First time I've worked in London and after looking at accommodation on the web I'm now wondering if it was enough and whether to renegotiate the day rate. Even the Contractor Accommodation Service were quoting over £100 per day and they are meant to get good contractor rates.

So with £90 per week travel (train down from the North and tube fare) and 4 nights accommodation, is £400 per day doable?

Andrew

Buy a decent van and convert it to a stealth campervan on company expenses. You will have an asset that your limited company can sell to you personally as a tax loss.

[kal]

The hassle involved in working in London is not worth £400 a day, you can get around that in most big cities in the UK.

+1, £450 a day is my minimum for the big smoke and that's only cause I can commute, if I had to stay over I would be asking for £500pd.

[ChimpMaster]

£400/day is around, say, £92,000 a year gross revenue.

If it is a longer term contract you might be better off trying to rent a room in a shared house, perhaps a short train ride away.

The rate is low for London - but the fact that you agreed to it shows your inexperience and that's what the client is paying only £400 for. But you have your feet in the door - and well done on getting a role there - so hopefully the only way is up from here.

[quackhandle]

I felt the Travel Lodge Wifi charge a con, you pay for 24 hours, but you won't be using it when your on client site, but the clock stil ticks down. You come back to hotel and you only have an hour or two left.

Days Inn is free, if there are any nearby.

qh

[Unix]

The hassle involved in working in London is not worth £400 a day, you can get around that in most big cities in the UK.

[kal]

When I tried to book there they wanted my passport, since I don't need it when I'm booking other hotels I declined.

Stayed at the old street one a cpl of times, only ever been asked for ID when I got there to check in (like most places), photo driving licence has sufficed. Think they get a lot of Europeans staying hence the Passport request but can't see why they would need that for a UK bod? Also Tune hotels is nice, bit more expensive but bigger rooms.

[TheFaQQer]

So with £90 per week travel (train down from the North and tube fare) and 4 nights accommodation, is £400 per day doable?

Yes

[cojak]

Easyhotel normally charge around that for a night for a room with an en-suite, the room is tiny though but clean and central locations. May be a bit much for a regular Monday to Friday but fine for the occasional night or 2 when I've stayed there (especially if out on the lash after work and only requiring a crash pad )

When I tried to book there they wanted my passport, since I don't need it when I'm booking other hotels I declined.

[Old Greg]

WoldG+pjcS

And you can get digs for less than £100pn if you look around.

Mind your language.

[cojak]

Yes it is doable. But you may have under-quoted against the market rate for your skills and the gig. Hard to say about that.

WoldG+pjcS

And you can get digs for less than £100pn if you look around.

[Scrag Meister]

When on a recent tour on the motorbike in Europe, the wife and I stayed at quite a few Ibis hotels.

Not the most luxurious, but functional and clean, comfortable beds, tasty breakfast, wifi, all the essentials were there.

Ibis London Docklands

[tarbera]

I work at CW and used to stay in hotels 4 days a week average about £140 some weeks it's 250+ for travel lodge per night

This week you will pay £700+

Go on try to book the travel lodge (docklands it's a dump of all dumps) this or next week or any week <£100

If you fancy a beer (sorry tap water on your rate) let me know and will give you some tips (or a cardboard box)

[Old Greg]

Fantastic. Above a pub, £25 per night.

We look forward to your reports.

[SpontaneousOrder]

Easyhotel normally charge around that for a night for a room with an en-suite, the room is tiny though but clean and central locations. May be a bit much for a regular Monday to Friday but fine for the occasional night or 2 when I've stayed there (especially if out on the lash after work and only requiring a crash pad )

I'll remember that.

[Scotchpie]

airbnb.co.uk is going to be your friend here.

Fantastic. Above a pub, £25 per night.