Claiming accomodation if office is closed

[dicky1980]

Hi,
I'm currently in a contract in the EU. In the past month there have been a few random days when the office i'm based at is closed so i'm unable to come to work. However, as its generally a wednesday i still have to pay for a hotel and just hang around for the day rather than flying home, so i'm still incurring the expense of accomodation. Would i be within my rights to claim for this, e.g only work for 4 days but claim accomodation/subsisdence for 5?

Thanks

[chef]

are you at that accommodation solely and exclusively for business reasons? i.e if you were not working would you be staying at that hotel? In my opinion it is your co.'s decision that is financially beneficial for you to stay at client site hotel for the off day rather than foot the cost of return flights and you would not be in that hotel in the first place unless you are working for the client i.e it's not a holiday. Therefore it is a valid business expense in my opinion, however, if client co insist it is not then point out that the cost of return flights would be far higher and in future this is what you will claim instead of course travelling during work time for which you are being paid and they will lose out on at least half a days work while you travel.

[chef]

another alternative is to not only claim for the hotel but also bill an extra day and explain you worked at the hotel because the client site was not open.

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

Agree with Chef - I can't see any reason why this wouldn't be classed as a legitimate expense