Job with accommodation?

Re: Job with accommodation?

Steph1006 — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 21:40:43 GMT

Is this the 'tax benefit' you get charged then? I am locuming now and not sure how much I will get taxed extra for living rent free in flat above practice. Do you know anymore on this? I'm trying to find out on tax website too. Thanks :)

Re: Job with accommodation?

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:29:16 GMT

yeah - apparently the tax man can reduce your tax code to reduce your tax free allowance by the amount of your rent....

all very complicated!

Re: Job with accommodation?

Steph Worsley — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:11:10 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

[quote user="Steph Worsley"]second one i paid a small rent through my wage (it was deducted prior to NI and tax so I ended up paying a little less of both of them.)[/quote]

I'm no tax expert but that sounds a little bit illegal... You should pay rent AFTER you have paid tax on ALL your wage (and any benefits in kind.)

Don't forget that tax fraud is actually a very serious offense - and they don't care whether it is intentional or not!

[/quote]

tell me about it! - I thought because my rent for practice flat was 'deducted at source' which was the exact phrase used I was in the right and had been told by my employer that this was the way it was done to keep things right with their accountant and the taxman - just a pity the tax man knew nothing of this arrangement which my employer assured me was correct and nothing ever appeared on my wage slip to say that x amount had been deducted for rent and the promised rent book never materialised either. I ended up with a stonking bill at the end of my employment and seriously out of pocket.

Believe me there are some really shites in this job, this couple knew exactly what they were doing as I later found out from another former employee that they had done exactly the same to her .

[/quote]

It was all clear on my wage slips that rent was being deducted, I may have got hold of the wrong end of the stick as to when the rent was deducted (prior to or after tax) or I may have had a different tax code like i did when I had a company car but to be honest I have had a load of crap go on since I rented that flat so I can't remember and the wage slips are long gone.

Re: Job with accommodation?

Sal the 1st — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 19:57:46 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

[quote user="Steph Worsley"]second one i paid a small rent through my wage (it was deducted prior to NI and tax so I ended up paying a little less of both of them.)[/quote]

I'm no tax expert but that sounds a little bit illegal... You should pay rent AFTER you have paid tax on ALL your wage (and any benefits in kind.)

Don't forget that tax fraud is actually a very serious offense - and they don't care whether it is intentional or not!

[/quote]

Believe me there are some really shites in this job, this couple knew exactly what they were doing as I later found out from another former employee that they had done exactly the same to her . I really hope they meet their match before much longer - its long overdue and they more than deserve it

Re: Job with accommodation?

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:02:26 GMT

[quote user="Steph Worsley"]second one i paid a small rent through my wage (it was deducted prior to NI and tax so I ended up paying a little less of both of them.)[/quote]

I'm no tax expert but that sounds a little bit illegal... You should pay rent AFTER you have paid tax on ALL your wage (and any benefits in kind.)

Don't forget that tax fraud is actually a very serious offense - and they don't care whether it is intentional or not!

Re: Job with accommodation?

Sal the 1st — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:12:46 GMT

yes I recognise that sort of thing - recognise it well and would agree, get everything in writing its protection for both parties

Re: Job with accommodation?

Shelly vn — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:38:45 GMT

I used to live above a branch surgery and i paid a very low rent, but i came unstuck when it came to bills. My boss said when i moved in that we would wait and see how much the bills were each month before he would decide whether i had to pay anything. He then changed this to a set up where i didn't pay any bills, but i had to keep the front carpark tidy, weed free and litter free. No problem i said and work my behind of making it look nice (it was very overgrown!!!!). When i came to move out, my boss suddenly decided i owed him over £100 for bills. As i didn't have anything in writing i just paid it, but i never saw a bill so i couldn't tell if that was a tru amount or not! My advice...Avoid practice accomodation like the plague or get everything agreed in writing first!!

Re: Job with accommodation?

rachel w — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 21:18:23 GMT

I've lived in practice accom for the past 5yrs have been moved 3 times moved from a old farm hous where i paid v little rent to a on bed flat where i paid little rent, all billsi. i now live above th practice and now pay rent and all bills but now they are starting to take the mick slightly they have moved in a student vet here on work placement for a month with one days notice, they expect me to cover at short notice for night checks im now dsperatly trying to sav some mony so that i can move out and hav my own place where no one can mov in without my say so

Re: Job with accommodation?

BengalcatRVN — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:55:56 GMT

I used to live above a practice, I paid rent and the other girls didn't (they were on an old contract and used to do last rounds for inp's downstairs, I didn't) we all paid part council tax, and shared the bill for tv lience and phone. I also paid a sub for my cats to pay for any damage, but I got all this back when I moved out. As people moved out, I felt I had to help with last rounds (I'm a sucker), one evening we had 2 labs both on metronidazole!! eventually there was only 2 non payers and me! We had a cleaning rota, split the fridge/freezer space.

I moved out for about 2-3 yrs and when I moved back, it was the same set up but with no more inp's as no one was living for free. My main dislikes was no washing machine (used the practice machine) and my last lot of house mates made it unpleasent to live there! I will say, you have to be aware that in shared accomidation you have to have seperate TV licences if you have a tv in your room!

Re: Job with accommodation?

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:36:41 GMT

i had a very similar experience when living above a practice. It was great that Igot to see the best out of hours cases and could roll out of bed at 5 to 9 but the downside was they paid me very little and used the accomodation as an excuse and when a new vet came along I was chucked out. Great if you are relocating but would always view it as a tempoary arrangement.

Re: Job with accommodation?

Rachael_24 — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:25:07 GMT

Thank you all for your replies.

Clearly practice accommodation varies alot so I will need to check exactly what it is that they are offering.

Re: Job with accommodation?

hayleyw — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 16:29:51 GMT

I've lived in two - both above the practice. One was very low rent and nothing to pay on bills and the other was completely free. I have also applied for a job where there was practice accomodation available but the rent was at the lower end of the going rate for the area with no bills included. So worth clarifying exactly what they mean by that, if there are bills included, where it is (i.e. above the practice or not) and if it's furnished - what you do/don't need. Hope that helps.

Re: Job with accommodation?

Sal the 1st — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 10:43:33 GMT

sorry just wanted to make sure people werent going to end up with the problems I had, it put me off ever taking a job with practice accomodation again - and yet there are some really decent practices out there, they arent all bad

Re: Job with accommodation?

Ilovehorses — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 09:56:03 GMT

Yes xx

Re: Job with accommodation?

Sal the 1st — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 09:10:10 GMT

for those that are living rent and bill free are you being taxed on benefits in kind - the tax man is getting very hot on this, you may find yourselves in for a big bill when you leave if you arent being taxed on it.

Re: Job with accommodation?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 00:52:42 GMT

I used to live above work - no rent, no council tax, no water, this was before the days of sky/internet access being the norm, so no sky/web. Gas & Leccy were 'wired' to the flat apart from the practice, and we had our own phone line which we (meaning me & the other nurses there) trawled through and paid for what we had used.

It was a good, gentle introduction into being a grown up - I liken it to being in halls.

The only downsides ( quite big ones!) were

a) we (there were 4 of us living up there) had to take it in turns to do inpatient checks at daft o clock, and

b) we were on a rota to cover the 10hr night nurse shift in case of illness etc

Despite all that it was worth it, as V cheap, and hardly ever got called upon! 99% of cases were hosp'd at main hospital, and given there were 4 of us, very rare I had to cover nights.

Re: Job with accommodation?

Ilovehorses — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 22:15:29 GMT

I live above work, as does another of our nurses at another branch. We don't get payed any less than the other nurses and don't loose out on OOH pay etc. We both live totally rent and bill free and in return we do the inpatient checks during week at 9-10pm and also checks at weekend, so four times on sat and same sun. We get two weekends off each in the six week nurses rota and these weekends which ever nurse is on call does them. Hope that makes sense!! I have had vets in the past who have taken the mick re calling me out cause they know I'm upstairs but I've been strict and my bosses have always been 100% supportive, I do also occasionally have to deal with clients outside waiting for vet but it doesn't happen often and I don't mind if it's a emergency. Never touch wood had any problems with security, we've got our own front door and flat door too, both well locked and we're in a ok area which helps. I'm in a very good position because they let my OH live with me again for free and it means we can save nearly all our wages for a deposit. It will be nice not to do inpatients forever!!! Also if we have more than four complicated cases in then nurse on call can be requested to help. All in all a good practice to work for, I have been with them for 20yrs though!!!

Re: Job with accommodation?

SmegSlayer — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 21:35:54 GMT

When i lived above the practice i lived rent and bill free but didn't get paid for the ooh and weekends I did.

Re: Job with accommodation?

Sal the 1st — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 20:09:37 GMT

If you are going to be living above a practice I would recomend finding out prior to this how many break ins they have had, if your accomodation is secure (ie is there a locked door between you and practice) , if the place is alarmed and what the procedure is if somebody breaks in downstairs - ie is there somebody you can call who will get there quickly, ie faster than the police. I would hate for anybody to have to share my experience.

I agreement with previous posters - get everything in writing and written into your contract AND make sure the tax office are aware if you are paying a peppercorn rent otherwise you could find yourself with a hefty tax demand at the end of your employment. Ask for a rent book if paying rent.

Would also agree that some places really take the pee re checking on inpatients so beware of that.

re wages yes my wage was pretty low because they said I had the flat but was it my flat ?( when we had locum cover locums were automatically put in my spare room)

http://www.vetnurse.co.uk/forums/p/1503/11029.aspx#11029 I am not wanting to put you off as some places are really reasonable - but do go into it with your eyes open

feel free to pm me if it helps

Re: Job with accommodation?

Steph Worsley — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 19:56:06 GMT

Hi I've lived in 2 different practice accomodations, both above a practice, first one I just paid bills including council tax on the flat, wasn't too bad and didn't have a problem with security, the main problem was when I was on call the vets did take the mickey a bit with checks. second one i paid a small rent through my wage (it was deducted prior to NI and tax so I ended up paying a little less of both of them.) again security wasn't a problem I was planning on moving out when we had a new vet start who needed accomodation so my move out date was just moved forward a bit.

But definately have something written into the contract or have a rental agreement depending on how they want to work things through their books

Re: Job with accommodation?

Tracy Windler RVN — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 19:14:24 GMT

Hi,

I've lived in 3 practice accomodations. 1 was cheap rent (flat above practice), 2nd was a shared house, with standard rent, 3rd was a free house (just paid all bills). The downside of 1 and 3, although being cheap, was lack of security. I was made homeless when they wanted it for another purpose (usually a new vet) So make sure you get it written into your contract, or have a signed rental agreement.

Good luck!