Offsetting rental cost employee

Pennywise

DenABac wrote: »

Back to my original question: Prior to 2006 the HMRC allowed for offsetting rent expenses, this had changed with the new manual.

There were law rewrites/consolidations in the early noughties, such as ITEPA 2003, and also removal of various extra-statutory concessions, so a lot of things changed around then. However, I can't remember it ever being "open season" for employees claiming relatively large proportions of their home costs. It was, and still is, possible for self employed to claim proportions of home costs in relation to space/time used for business, but from memory, I can't remember those same methodologies applying for employees.

sheramber

DenABac wrote: »

What I was referring to when using the word preference, was the location itself.

I live over 500 miles from the next office. So it’s necessary to work from home.
However my employer could argue that I can live somewhere cheaper, say in the countryside.

However I’ll still incur higher expenses due to the additional room I have too have.

Back to my original question: Prior to 2006 the HMRC allowed for offsetting rent expenses, this had changed with the new manual.

Does someone know why that had changed? Or if there isa way to challenge their guidelines?

Best
D

Do you choose not to move nearer the office?

DenABac

Yes. But I was living in the same place before I got employed by them.

01afraser4

DenABac wrote: »

Yes. But I was living in the same place before I got employed by them.

I am assuming you applied for the employment, or if you were headhunted, you understood the position regarding the nearest office to your home prior to commencing the role?

uknick

DenABac, the rule are the rules. Unless you get your employer to put in writing you must work at home, then there's not a lot you can do. Even then, as has been stated, you can only claim additional costs you incur because you are working at home. You could put a case to HMRC to convince them the office room is built specifically for your work and you never ever use it for anything else. However, unless the room is built on the outside of your flat as an extension, built after you started working and has facilities for your work no other room can provide, I think you've got two hopes, no and Bob.