Reply to: accommodation

[TimberWolf]

You got taxed on your pole? Is that a benefit in kind, I thought you could use it as a business expense?

I needed a parking permit, and to get one of them of the council I had to...forget the details...the end result was that I had to pay council tax at home and in the city I contracted. Both councils wanted the full poll tax amount though! But eventually I ended up just paying the full amount in the most expensive part, and a lesser percentage in the cheaper. Could have been good had it worked the other way around. I've also stayed at places where landlords insist on proof of paying council taxes, and that may even be the norm now.

[TykeMerc]

A night! I used to rent bedsits for less than that a week. Self contained, cheap no hassle. Had to pay a bit of extra pole tax though.

You got taxed on your pole? Is that a benefit in kind, I thought you could use it as a business expense?

On topic I don't like hotels for long periods (over a month) so I usually head onto the house share sites. I found a great one on my last gig, £60 a week all in, great bedroom with en-suite and the run of the rest of a large victorian house in a very nice bit of Lytham.

[contractor79]

you could get lucky and get a mon-fri rent deal

[TimberWolf]

I'm not one for hotels either but would hate the idea of sharing with someone. I try and go for the self catering option, caravan, holiday home or something similar.

On my last gig I found some self catering, converted stables. Breakfast was included by way of a loaf of bread, milk, cereals, yoghurts and fruit being left daily. Microwave, toaster, power shower and free cabled broadband were all good additions too. This was £56 a night which I thought was good value.

A night! I used to rent bedsits for less than that a week. Self contained, cheap no hassle. Had to pay a bit of extra pole tax though.

[contractor79]

It's his perogative as long as you get your notice. If you have your own place I wouldn't get involved in running another one.

I know what u mean, it's easier just to pay someone an all-inclusive rent and be done with it

[Bagpuss]

I've done easyroommate last few times, agree about flexibility

but now I've discovered my flatshare landlord has put the flat on the market for a month and never told me about this, I think that's a bit underhand don't you?

It's his perogative as long as you get your notice. If you have your own place I wouldn't get involved in running another one.

[contractor79]

If it's just mon-thursday then Easyroommate, find a single person under 30 and in my experience they will hardly ever be in the flat. It's cheap and it's much easier to get out of than a 6 months rent. Flexibility is the key to contracting. Can't think of anything worse than to be tied into 6 month lets, paying all the bills and taking the hit on the deposit.

I've done easyroommate last few times, agree about flexibility

but now I've discovered my flatshare landlord has put the flat on the market for a month and never told me about this, I think that's a bit underhand don't you?

[Bagpuss]

If it's just mon-thursday then Easyroommate, find a single person under 30 and in my experience they will hardly ever be in the flat. It's cheap and it's much easier to get out of than a 6 months rent. Flexibility is the key to contracting. Can't think of anything worse than to be tied into 6 month lets, paying all the bills and taking the hit on the deposit.

[Sausage Surprise]

I'm not one for hotels either but would hate the idea of sharing with someone. I try and go for the self catering option, caravan, holiday home or something similar.

On my last gig I found some self catering, converted stables. Breakfast was included by way of a loaf of bread, milk, cereals, yoghurts and fruit being left daily. Microwave, toaster, power shower and free cabled broadband were all good additions too. This was £56 a night which I thought was good value.

[Likely]

Contractor , I've been renting several places now moving to where the contract is. Do you have a primary home ? If not you cannot claim renting expenses.

The issue i find is that I keep losing the renting deposits. Because I don't have home i will rent a place until I find the next gig. Next gigs always start ASAP hence I move out losing my deposit. On average it is a 400 loss per move.

[NickFitz]

Read this.

Makes sense to me - YMMV.

[contractor79]

Why would you want to buy a flat near your 3 month contract? Assuming you change contracts every 9 months say (couple of extensions before budget runs out and you need a new gig) you are either limiting yourself to the local area, or you need to sell and buy another.

Stamp duty and solicitor fees will eat up any increase in value on the property, and if you get stuck with negative equity you have problems...

makes sense
and property is just so expensive now it's hard to find a cheap flat anywhere
then with flats you have £100/month service charge, council tax £100-120/month, bills £100-150?/month on top of mortgage

[scooterscot]

I agree, hotel living is not nice and expensive for what it is, sometimes uncertainty that the rooms will be available in the busy periods.

But would you say renting is the way to go and that buying a flat is too much of a risk? Especially at today's prices and falling market. Most contractors I know have a property investment at home then just rent or hotel at site.

I agrees with Ardesco.

I nearly considered buying whilst on a 12 month gig a few years back. Then it was only 6 month contract to start with and the market was booming. The wife and I viewed a couple of places but in the end the costs (financial and stress) were just too great.

Make your money from your skills, what your good at, property investment right now is only for the bullish / long term who can afford to lose before things improve.

[Ardesco]

I agree, hotel living is not nice and expensive for what it is, sometimes uncertainty that the rooms will be available in the busy periods.

But would you say renting is the way to go and that buying a flat is too much of a risk? Especially at today's prices and falling market. Most contractors I know have a property investment at home then just rent or hotel at site.

Why would you want to buy a flat near your 3 month contract? Assuming you change contracts every 9 months say (couple of extensions before budget runs out and you need a new gig) you are either limiting yourself to the local area, or you need to sell and buy another.

Stamp duty and solicitor fees will eat up any increase in value on the property, and if you get stuck with negative equity you have problems...

[contractor79]

I'd always rent a flat. I used to flat share in the early days and like yourself became disgruntled with that way of living for similar reasons.

Yes renting is expensive particularly through estate agents however if your skills are in demand then I think you should factor those costs into your rate.

For the past 3 years I've rented spending a max of £1300 a month on accommodation, however as this was factored into my rate the client was happy to pay and my experience of the whole contract was a lot more satisfying as a result. Hotels are no way to live especially if the contract is going into months and months.

I agree, hotel living is not nice and expensive for what it is, sometimes uncertainty that the rooms will be available in the busy periods.

But would you say renting is the way to go and that buying a flat is too much of a risk? Especially at today's prices and falling market. Most contractors I know have a property investment at home then just rent or hotel at site.