New announcement. Learn more

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS (ICAEW)

News and advice to help make your property business a success

Landlords TaxProperty TaxLandlords Tax ReturnsLandlords AccountsProperty Tax ReturnProperty AccountsLandlords FinancialLandlords AccountantTax ReturnsTaxChartered AccountantsOnline AccountantOnline BookkeepingOnline Tax ReturnsYour Online AccountantYour Online BookkeeperVATBusinessadviceHMRCAccountingPropertyCashflowDividendsExpensesPAYEProperty AccountantSmallbusinessBusinesstipsCapital Gains TaxFHLsFurnished Holiday LettingsIhtexemptionsIncome TaxInheritance TaxNICSDLTTaxplanningCgtInvestment Property TaxLandlord RepairsPensionProperty bookkeeperProperty LettingTax ReliefTaxreturnVAT invoiceAllowable Business ExpensesAnnual Exempt AmountBad Debt Tax ReliefBusiness ExpensesBusiness RateCapital AllowancesCapital GainsCapital gains tax propertyCashbasisChild BenefitComplianceDeductibleexpensesDirectors LoansDisincorporationEmployment AllowanceFinanceFinancialmanagementGiftsHMRC complaintsHoliday Lets TaxISALettingsMaking Tax DigitalMakingTaxDigitalMileage AllowanceMobilephonesNational InsuranceOverlapreliefPartnershipPartnershipbusinessesPprProperty Company TaxProperty Tax Deductible ExpensesPropertyallowanceReimbursedexpensesRent a Room ReliefRentalResidence ReliefSmall BusinessSole TraderTax free incomeTimetoPay60 day capital gains limitAbolitionclass2AccrualsbasisAcquisitionsAdvisoryfuelratesAIAirBnBAlphabet sharesAmapAnnual Tax on Enveloped DwellingsAppealArtificial intelligenceAssessmentAsset disposalAssociated CompanyAssociated Company Tax RulesAutumnstatementBad DebtBaddebtsBadgesoftradeBADRBeancounterBenefits in KindBreakeven PointBudgetBusiness adviceBusiness asset defermentBusiness coachBusiness ContinuityBusiness EntertainmentBusiness RatesBusiness Rates ReliefBusiness tipsBusinessgrowthBusinesstypesBuy or Lease EquipmentBuytoletCapital Allowances for CarsCapital GainCapitalallowancesCapitalexpenditureCar Capital AllowancesCarry Back LossesChange of Tax BasisChatGPTCIS SchemeClass 2 NICCommon TenantCompanies ExpenditureCompanies HouseCompany Account DeadlinesCompany Account FilingCompany Strike OffCompany Tax Efficient PropertyCompanyassociationCompanyloanstaxfreeCompulsory Strike OffConstruction Industry SchemeContacthmrcContentmarketingContributionsCorporation Tax LossesCorporation Tax New RegimeCorporation Tax RatesCorporationTaxCostsCryptocurrencyCustomerlistimplicationsDeductible Business ExpensesDeductionsDemergerDepreciationDevelopmentDirectorsDirectorsloansDisallowable Business ExpensesDiscoveryDividend allowanceDividend Allowance ReductionDividend PlanningDividendallowanceDLADomestic Items Tax ReliefDormantcompanyEISEmployee DiscountEmployee managementEmployeecompensationpaymentsEmployeeOwnershipTrustEndoflifeplanningEnquiryEnterpriseResourcePlanningEntertainmentEntrepreneurmindsetEquityExpenses Allowed For TaxExtrabenefitEyetestsFlat Rate SchemeFlippingFurnished Holiday Lets TaxGift AidGift AllowanceGrowthhacksHelp to pay tax billsHICBCHMO Licensing FeesHoldoverreliefHoliday Lettings TaxHome responsibilities protectionHow to apply for a Business LoanHow to Extract ProfitHumourHybridIllegaldividendsIncomeIncome and GainsInflationary GainsInfluencersInheritance Tax Nil Rate BandInterest RatesInterestreliefInterestrestrictionInvoicingIR35Joint TenantKeypersoninsuranceLandlords Self AssessmentLate vat registrationLBTTLeadgenerationLeadmagnetLeanbusinessmodelLetting Agent DisbursementsLetting Agent RecharresLettings ReliefLifetime LimitLimitedcompanyLiquidation DemergerLoaninterestLong Lets TaxLongserviceLTTMainresidencereliefManaged LetsManagement accountingMaritalhomedivorceMarriage allowanceMarriageallowanceMileage paymentMinimumwageMixedusesdltMortgage costsMortgage Interest ReliefMTDMTD UpdateNew propertyNewcompanycarfuelratesNewnicrulesNIC 2023 to 2024NIC savingsNicdisregardNicreductionNMWNmwerrorsNon Allowable Business ExpensesNon-taxableNudgeletterOptiontotaxvatOverpayment ReliefOverseas propertiesPaperformPartnership schemesParttimePatternofoccupancyPAYE by Direct DebitPayrollingPenaltypointsPension Payments Tax ReliefPensioncontributionsPensionsPerformance-reviewsPeriodofgracePeriodsofabsencePersonal ExpensesPersonal financePersonalallowancePersonalguaranteesPostcessationreliefPretradingexpensesProfitProfit-and-lossProfitAndLossProperty AllowanceProperty Development CompanyProperty IncorporationProperty Investment CompanyProperty investor accountsProperty investor tax tipsProperty Rental BusinessProperty TradingPropertycompanyPRRR40Recharges by Estate AgentsRegularpaymentsReliefRent your driveRentaroomResearch & DevolopmentResidential property gainsResidentialsdltRetail stock controlRetainedprofitsRevenueRoom for rent taxRtiSASalarySavingsSDLT changesSection 455 TaxSection455taxSelective Licences LandlordsSelf AssessmentSelf-employednicSelfemployedSelling OnlineSeperationServicechargesSettlementslegislationSimplified ExpensesSmallbizSmallbusinessratereliefSoftwareSpring BudgetStaffpartiesStamp dutyStudent Loan DeductionsSuccessJourneySurplus CashTax Allowance on DrivewaysTax AllowancesTax BreakTax CodesTax DeadlinesTax DeductionsTax Filing DeadlinesTax Free ChildcareTax ImplicationsTax on Company VansTax positionTax RefundTax tips for landlordsTaxbillpaymentsTaxconsequencesTaxincentivesTaxpositionTaxpositionassetsTaxreliefTaxreliefsTaxsesTerminationpaymentsTipsTrade professionalTrading lossesTrainingTransfer AssetsTransfer Assets Between SpousesUmbrellacompanyUndisclosedincomeUnpaid RentVAT Bad Debt ReliefVAT DeadlinesVAT DisbursementsVAT PenaltiesVAT registrationVAT Reverse ChargeVatpenaltiesVatregisteredVatregistrationthresholdWellbeingWorking from home
TAGS

Rent a Room Relief

If you rent a room out in your only or main residence, you can claim upto £7,500 per year tax free income, known as Rent a Room Relief.

A new "shared occupancy clause" is to be introduced which specifies that the owner be resident in the property, and physically present, for at least some part of the letting period.  This new clause should ensure that the relief is returned to it's original purpose.  This was to incentivise the letting of spare rooms and to ease the housing crisis.

This change in the rules is designed to prevent property owners from getting tax free rentals on what is essentially a bed and breakfast or holiday let business eg. AirBNB.  Many property owners have been renting their homes out to holidaymakers, whilst they move out, and then claiming Rent a Room Tax Relief.

HMRC gives a couple of examples on how they expect the new rules to work.  

Firstly a Landlord lets their home to a student for a specific period of time.  The Landlord is occupying the house, along with the student, but then takes a holiday for a week.  This income qualifies for the tax free allowance as there is a shared occupancy for part of the rental period.

Secondly a Landlord rents out their home, and moves out, say for example during a major golf tournament being held near to their home.  As there is no shared occupancy the rent received is fully taxable and would not qualify for Rent a Room Relief.