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The Rent-a-Room Scheme allows owner occupiers and tenants to receive tax-free rental income if you provide furnished accommodation in your only or main home.

For the tax year 2021 to 2022, the annual Rent-a-Room limit is 拢7,500. This reduces to 拢3,750 if someone else receives income from letting accommodation in the same property, such as a joint owner. The limit is the same even if you let accommodation for less than 12 months.

1. When you can use the Rent-a-Room Scheme

You can use the scheme if:

• you let a furnished room to a lodger
• your letting activity amounts to a trade, for example, if you run a guest house or bed and breakfast business, or provide services, such as meals and cleaning

2. When you cannot use the Rent-a-Room Scheme

You cannot use the scheme if the accommodation is:

• not part of your main home when you let it
• not furnished
• used as an office or for any business 鈥� you can use the scheme if your lodger works in your home in the evening or at weekends or is a student who is provided with study facilities
• in your UK home and is let while you live abroad

3. Rent-a-Room Scheme

If your gross receipts from letting are not more than the Rent-a-Room limit of 拢7,500 (or 拢3,750), you do not pay tax on your profit. If they鈥檙e more than the limit, you may still be able to benefit under the Rent-a-Room Scheme.

Your gross receipts include:

• rental income (before expenses)
• any amounts you receive for meals, goods and services, such as cleaning or laundry
• any 鈥榖alancing charges鈥�

You usually count your gross receipts for a tax year 鈥� that鈥檚, from 6 April one year to 5 April the next.

If your letting activity amounts to a trade, you count your gross receipts for your basis period. Read Helpsheet 222 How to calculate your taxable profits for more information.

3.1 If your gross receipts are less than the Rent-a-Room limit

If your gross receipts are less than 拢7,500 (or 拢3,750) you鈥檙e automatically exempt from tax on that income.

If you鈥檝e made a loss, however, it may be better for you to pay tax in the normal way 鈥� that is, on your receipts less expenses. You will need to tell HMRC that you want to do this within the time limit.

3.2 If your gross receipts are more than the Rent-a-Room limit

If your gross receipts are more than 拢7,500 (or 拢3,750), you can choose how you want to work out your tax:

Method A

You pay tax on your actual profit 鈥� your total receipts less any expenses and capital allowances.

Method B

You pay tax on your gross receipts over the Rent-a-Room limit 鈥� that is, your gross receipts minus 拢7,500 (or 拢3,750). You cannot deduct any expenses or capital allowances if you choose this method.

HMRC will automatically use your actual profit (Method A) to work out your tax.

If you want to pay tax using Method B, you need to tell HMRC within the time limit. You will continue to pay tax on your gross receipts over the Rent-a-Room limit until you tell HMRC that you want to change back to paying tax on your actual profit (Method A]).

If you pay tax using Method B, this automatically stops if your rental income drops below 拢7,500 (or 拢3,750) limit.

4. Changing the way you pay tax on your rental income

You can change between each method from year to year. You need to decide which method is best for you and tell HMRC within the time limit each time you want to make a change.

Example

Chris rents out a room in his own home. The rent is 拢200 a week plus contributions to heating and light. His gross receipts for 6 April 2021 to 5 April 2022 are 拢10,600 (拢10,400 rent plus 拢200 for the heating and light).

Chris has expenses of 拢9,000:

• if Chris uses his actual profit (Method A), he pays tax on 拢1,600 (拢10,600 minus 拢9,000)
• if Chris uses his gross receipts over the Rent-a-Room limit (Method B), he pays tax on 拢3,100 (拢10,600 minus 拢7,500)

It is better for Chris to pay tax on his actual profit, using Method A. If Chris had previously asked to pay tax using Method B, he will need to tell HMRC that he wants to change back to paying tax on his actual profit (Method A).

4.1 If you move home during the year

If you rent out a room in both your old and new home, you need to add together the total rent from the old and new home that you received for the year. If your total gross receipts are below 拢7,500 (or 拢3,750), you do not pay tax on your lettings.

5. Time limit

You must let HMRC know within one year of 31 January following the end of the tax year if you:

• do not want to use the Rent-a-Room Scheme when your receipts are below 拢7,500 (or 拢3,750) for example, if you want to claim losses
• want to start or stop paying tax on your gross receipts over the Rent-a-Room limit (Method B)

Example

Greg runs a small bed and breakfast business. A few years ago, he told HMRC that he wanted to pay tax on his gross receipts over the Rent-a-Room limit (Method B). For the tax year ending 5 April 2022, Greg has worked out that if he paid tax on his actual profit (using Method A) then he鈥檇 pay less tax. He must let HMRC know that he wants to use Method A by 31 January 2023.

5.1 Extending the time limit

You can only extend the time limit in certain circumstances. For example, if you were seriously ill and it was impossible for you to deal with your tax affairs.

6. Losses

6.1 Creating a loss

If you use the Rent-a-Room Scheme because your gross receipts are exempt from tax (under 拢7,500 or 拢3,750) or you pay tax using Method B, you cannot create a loss.

If you want to create a loss, you must tell HMRC that you want to pay tax on your income less expenses (Method A).

6.2 Using losses

If you鈥檝e made a loss, you can use them against your rental profits in future years to reduce the tax you have to pay. You can also use them against your gross receipts over 拢7,500 (or 拢3,750) if you pay tax using Method B.

If your letting activity amounts to a trade, you can use your losses in other ways. Read Helpsheet 227 Losses for more information.

7. Contact

For advice about online forms, phone numbers and addresses go to Self Assessment: general enquiries.