Working from home expenses

Freeman_Tom

Due to Covid I'm working from home, it would normally be empty during the day, how much do you think your weekly utilities have increased by?  I use two PC's, several cups of tea through the day, it's not long off until the heating will have to go on, normally it wouldn't needed until I got home from the office.  It would be good to get an average of what some of you think.

TIA

strawb_shortcake

My electric bill was broadly similar to the same quarter last year that's with having 3 children working from home as well as myself. Though my Husband is a stay at home Dad so we are used to electric being used all day.
Overall I'm far better off wfh than working from the office by a long way. 

Marcon

Freeman_Tom said:

It would be good to get an average of what some of you think.

Why? What use would that be to anyone? Full info about cost claiming at https://blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2020/04/martin-lewis--working-from-home-due-to-coronavirus--claim-p6-wk-/?_ga=2.149729718.1816507810.1584632588-353475065.1523260899

JamoLew

currently about -£20 as I am saving on fuel

Undervalued

Freeman_Tom said:

Due to Covid I'm working from home, it would normally be empty during the day, how much do you think your weekly utilities have increased by?  I use two PC's, several cups of tea through the day, it's not long off until the heating will have to go on, normally it wouldn't needed until I got home from the office.  It would be good to get an average of what some of you think.

TIA

Unless you walk or cycle to work, probably less than your commuting costs!

[Deleted User]

Freeman_Tom said:

Due to Covid I'm working from home, it would normally be empty during the day, how much do you think your weekly utilities have increased by?  I use two PC's, several cups of tea through the day, it's not long off until the heating will have to go on, normally it wouldn't needed until I got home from the office.  It would be good to get an average of what some of you think.

TIA

Perhaps you could offset it against what you would spend travelling to work every day? If you are saving more by working from home, you could give the money to your employer as a thank you. 

TELLIT01

If you are looking to claim from your employer I think you can only claim for the overall difference in costs compared to when working from the office.  That means you have to take into account the reduced travel costs, not having to pay for several cups of tea at work etc. etc.

MovingForwards

Didn't notice any difference with my utility bills.
Definitely saving on commute costs.

Daz147

Why do people think that because you are saving on the cost of commuting it is ok for the employer to transfer business costs onto the employee ? The 2 are completely separate, if the employee moved house to further from their place of work do you think the employer would pay them the extra commuting costs ?

amandacat

I’ve been working from home for about 5 years. The increase in my utilities has been no more than about £5 month averaged over the year. The winter is worse with heating and lighting. I claim the tax relief for working from home which makes a difference of a few pounds in my wages. My employer have never contributed to my home bills but the advantages and savings from working at home in general outweigh this so I accept this arrangement. If I was unemployed I’d still be using the utilities so don’t think my employer should cover this but the extras such as keeping my laptop and phone charged, I guess should fall to my employer but if I quibbled they’d tell me to work from the local office and I’d pay more out in fuel and lose personal time travelling. 

Daz147

amandacat said:

I’ve been working from home for about 5 years. The increase in my utilities has been no more than about £5 month averaged over the year. The winter is worse with heating and lighting. I claim the tax relief for working from home which makes a difference of a few pounds in my wages. My employer have never contributed to my home bills but the advantages and savings from working at home in general outweigh this so I accept this arrangement. If I was unemployed I’d still be using the utilities so don’t think my employer should cover this but the extras such as keeping my laptop and phone charged, I guess should fall to my employer but if I quibbled they’d tell me to work from the local office and I’d pay more out in fuel and lose personal time travelling. 

I aggree if it is your choice to work from home or travel to the office then there is no room to quibble, however in the case where the office is closed by the employer, then there should be some recompense.