Londoners encouraged to rent out their spare room during key sporting events.
By Mrs A
Head2Pillow read the following article in Mortgage Introducer on June 21, 2011 with interest and urges homeowners not to miss out on this opportunity.
- “With Wimbledon here and the Olympics coming up, London residents are being encouraged to serve their best shot and let out furnished rooms in their home for spectators. By taking advantage of the government’s Rent a Room scheme, potential landlords can earn up to £4,250 per year without incurring any extra tax – a sure way to score in these credit-tightened times.
- Anita Monteith, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales’ tax faculty’s technical manager, explained: “The Rent a Room scheme provides a welcome tax break to help you maximise your income without incurring tax. Major sporting events such as Wimbledon and the Olympics next year are perfect opportunities to participate in the scheme and you can save even more if you are diligent with keeping detailed records of income and outgoings.
-
“If you take in a lodger, you must tell your mortgage lender or landlord and your buildings and contents insurer to make sure you aren’t breaching the terms of your mortgage, lease or insurance. Your insurance company may need to arrange extra cover.”
- It is also important to note the following to avoid falling foul of the umpire:
- You can take advantage of the scheme if you let furnished accommodation in your only or family home to a lodger
- The tax relief does not apply to rooms let as an office or for other business purposes.
- A lodger can occupy a single room or an entire floor of your home
- The scheme does not apply if your home is converted into separate flats that you rent out. In this case you will need to declare your rental income to HMRC and pay tax in the normal way
- If you provide meals and laundry services and make an additional charge for these, you will need to add this income to the rent to work out the total receipts. If this is more than £4,250 a year in total, you will need to pay tax on the excess, even if the rent itself is less than that.
Anita added: “If you use the scheme, you cannot also claim any expenses relating to the letting, for example, wear and tear, insurance, repairs, heating and lighting. Therefore, you need to work out whether you will be better off joining the scheme or declaring all of your letting income and claiming expenses on your tax return. You may also need to arrange some liability cover which will protect you against accidents and injuries when someone is staying in your home.”
June 23rd, 2011
LONDON SHORT STAY SUCCESS, NEWSLETTER 2
By Mrs A
June 2011.
Welcome to the second Head2Pillow.com newsletter, which is issued every quarter. We hope that you will find it informative and we look forward to hearing your thoughts on what you would like to see included in future editions, just email us on admin@head2pillow.com.
ABOUT US
Head2Pillow.com launched in Autumn 2010 and offers visitors to London a solution to overpriced hotels, by bringing together homeowners with a spare room and visitors looking for an affordable room for a short stay. The innovative website enables users to search for a room by venue, town or postcode and then book and pay securely all online. At the same time, homeowners can advertise their spare room straight away, knowing that they have complete control over the room price and availability and can rent it out as often or as little as they like. For more details, check out our video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COTZauH6zzk).
Head2Pillow in the press:
We are pleased to say that the word is spreading about us in the press!
Did you see our recent mention in the MoneyMagpie weekly e-newsletter? Here’s what Jasmine Birtles had to say about us:
“Head2Pillow is a great site where you can find a spare room in superb locations around London from just £30 a night. Or if you’re a London homeowner, why not rent out your spare room through the site for some tax-free cash? You’re in control of who comes to stay, how much you charge, and when the room’s available…..”
Frost Magazine also wrote about us under the snappy heading Short accommodation website for London helps find somewhere to lay your head:
“Head2Pillow…enables homeowners with a spare room to rent it out and make tax-free money and for visitors to the capital to find an affordable room for a short stay.
The site has been developed over a considerable length of time, with the focus being on ease of use for both homeowners and guests….there has never been a better time for homeowners to make some much needed extra cash or for Guests to book an affordable room with Head2Pillow.”
Update on the London Olympics
Millions of people who applied for London 2012 Olympics tickets now know if they have been successful. Lucky ticket holders will then have to jump the next hurdle, as they navigate their way through the maze of finding somewhere to stay in the capital during the Olympics. They are likely to be in for a shock, as many hotels are either already full or have significantly increased their prices.
London is expecting around four million visitors in July and August 2012 and demand will be high for all types of accommodation. With over half of Londoners already thinking about renting out their spare room during the Olympics, Head2Pillow urges people considering doing so to register now to make sure that they are ready to take advantage of this surge in demand.
Why not be part of the Olympics and rent out your spare room? You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by registering with us today.
We’d love to hear from you:
If you have a question you would like answered, please submit this to us by email on: admin@head2pillow.com
Competition
We are pleased to confirm that the deadline for our free competition has been extended to July 18, 2011 to give more people the chance to win £50 of Amazon vouchers.
The answer can be found on our Homepage in case you are stuck!
How to find Head2Pillow.
Visit out website www.head2pillow.com
Find us on Facebook .
You can also follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/Head2Pillow
HEAD2PILLOW URGES HOMEOWNERS WITH SPARE ROOMS TO REGISTER NOW, AS OLYMPIC TICKET ALLOCATION CONFIRMED.
By Mrs A
Millions of people who applied for tickets to the London 2012 Olympics are anxiously watching their bank balances to see if they have been successful. Lucky ticket holders will then have to jump the next hurdle, as they navigate their way through the maze of finding somewhere affordable to stay in the capital during the games. They are likely to be in for a shock, as many hotels are either already full or have significantly increased their prices and, with around four million visitors expected in July and August 2012, the demand for accommodation will be unprecedented.
Recent surveys show that over half of Londoners are thinking about renting out their spare room during the Olympics and Head2Pillow urges people considering this to register with them now and make some extra cash, whilst at the same time helping alleviate the shortage in rooms.
People living in the London area who are considering renting out their spare room can register for free with www.head2pillow.com. They can advertise their spare room straight away and have complete control over room price and availability – they can choose to rent it out as often or as little as they like. Also, they can earn up to £4,250 a year tax-free by renting out their spare room, which is in addition to their Personal Allowance – for more details see www.direct.gov.uk. In these uncertain economic times, the extra cash that can be made from your spare room can really help.
Moneymagpie recently said in their weekly newsletter:
“Head2Pillow is a great site where you can find a spare room in superb locations around London from just £30 a night. Or if you’re a London homeowner, why not rent out your spare room through the site for some tax-free cash? You’re in control of who comes to stay, how much you charge, and when the room’s available.”
For visitors to London wanting a short stay, Head2Pillow offers an affordable alternative to overpriced hotels for a short stay; and the website enables users to search for a room by venue, postcode or town, check availability, book and pay securely all online. The innovative search facility means that visitors can look for rooms near the Olympic venues, as well as those close to popular tourist attractions. Registration is free and there is no booking fee for guests when they book a room through Head2Pillow.
With the number of people renting out their spare room likely to increase further as London counts down to the 2012 Olympics; Head2Pillow is ideally placed to help people make extra cash from their spare room, whilst also enabling visitors to find affordable rooms for a short stay. Why not be a part of the Olympics and rent out your spare room with Head2Pillow? For more information, please visit www.head2pillow.com ; you can also follow Head2Pillow on Twitter @Head2Pillow and Facebook.
Head2Pillow calls Londoners wanting to rent out their spare room to register now and be part of the 2012 Olympics.
By Mrs A
Millions of people who have applied for London 2012 Olympics tickets are now waiting with bated breath to see if they have been successful.
As soon as the lucky applicants have been notified, they will then start looking at where to stay and they are likely to be in for a shock as many hotels have already significantly increased their prices . London is expecting around four million visitors in July and August 2012 and demand will be high for all types of accommodation. With around 60% of Londoners are already thinking about renting out their spare room during this period, Head2Pillow urges people considering renting out their spare room to register now to make sure that they are ready to take advantage of this surge in demand for accommodation.
It is free and simple to register your spare room with Head2Pillow and the website gives you complete control over the price and availability of your room, so that you can choose to rent it out as little or as often as you like. In addition, homeowners can earn up to £4,250 a year tax-free by renting out their spare room (http://www.direct.gov.uk).
Visitors to the London are looking for a room for a short stay can use Head2Pillow’s innovative search facility to find a room by venue – including the Olympic venues, postcode or town, then book and pay securely all online in simple and easy to follow steps. There are no charges to guests for registering or booking a room through Head2Pillow and no minimum stay required.
Be part of the Olympics and rent out your spare room; you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by registering with www.head2pillow.com.
Can I rent out my spare room tax-free?
By Mrs A
The simple answer to this is YES! Head2Pillow helps to explain in simple terms how the Government’s ‘Rent a Room scheme’ actually works.
What is the scheme?
The Government’s ‘Rent a Room’ scheme enables you to receive a certain amount of tax-free ‘gross’ income from renting furnished accommodation in your only or main home. At present this is figure is set at £4250 a year. If you share your home with your partner and if you both rent out a room or rooms in your joint home, you will each be entitled to receive half of the allowance (up to £2,125) without paying tax.
Who can take advantage of the scheme?
If you rent out furnished accommodation in your only or main residence, then you can take advantage of the scheme. You can claim under the ‘Rent a Room’ scheme whether you rent out a room or an entire floor of your home. Please be advised though that if your room is converted into individual flats then you are not eligible under the scheme. Also, if you rent out a room or rooms which are not furnished, then this would not be eligible either.
Is the scheme only for Homeowners?
You do not have to be a homeowner to take advantage of the ‘Rent a Room’ schem but, if you are renting your home then you need to check to see if your lease allows you to rent out a room. Also, if you have a mortgage then it is a good idea to contact your mortgage lender and insurance company to make sure that renting out a room is within their terms and conditions.
Can I charge for additional services?
You can charge for additional services, but if you do this then you will need to add any money you receive for these to the rent and if you receive more than £4,250 a year in total, then you will have to pay tax, even if the rental amount is less than that.
Can I claim for expenses?
If you are using the ‘Rent a Room scheme’ then you cannot claim any expenses relating to the room rental. This includes wear and tear, insurance, repairs, heating and lighting etc.
I run a B&B, can I still use the ‘Rent a Room’ scheme?
Yes. If you run a B&B or a guest house, or provide catering and cleaning services as part of a letting business, the Rent a Room scheme can still apply to you. You will need to complete the relevant parts of the self-employment pages of your Self Assessment tax return.
How do I join the scheme?
If you don’t usually receive a tax return and you earn below the tax threshold, then the tax exemption is automatic so you do not need to do anything. However, if you earn above the tax-free threshold, you must tell your Tax Office by completing a tax return and claiming the allowance.
Head2Pillow mentioned in MoneyMagpie email.
By Mrs A
Did you see Head2Pillow mentioned recently in MoneyMagpie’s Bargain Box email?
” Get a room in London from £30… Head2Pillow.com is a great
site where you can find a spare room in superb locations around
London from just £30 a night. Or if you’re a London homeowner, why
not rent out your spareroom through the site for some tax-free
cash? You’re in control of who comes to stay, how much you charge,
and when the room’s available. Check the site out here www.head2pillow.com.”
London Short Stay website success, Newsletter 1
By Mrs A
Welcome to the first Head2Pillow.com newsletter, which will be issued every quarter. We hope that you will find it informative and we look forward to hearing your thoughts on what you would like to see included in future editions via email on admin@head2pillow.com.
ABOUT US
Head2Pillow.com launched in Autumn 2010 and offers visitors to London a solution to overpriced hotels, by bringing together Homeowners with a spare room and visitors looking for an affordable room for a short stay. The innovative website enables users to search for a room by venue, town or postcode and then book and pay securely all online. At the same time, homeowners can advertise their spare room straight away, knowing that they have complete control over the room price and availability and can rent it out as often or as little as they like. For more details, check out our video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COTZauH6zzk).
RECENT PRESS:
“London 2012 Olympics: quick-buck property websites on the rise.” Rod Gilmour writes in the Daily Telegraph:
“Homeowners near equestrian venue in Greenwich can make money in 2012. Google ‘renting property London 2012 Olympics’ and a myriad of websites are displayed. There are likely to be a few more in the game after the Telegraph reported that letting agents in the capital claimed that an average one bedroom property could generate more than £2,000 a week during the Olympics.”
Head2Pillow comment – Our site has been developed over a considerable length of time, with the focus being on helping homeowners make money from their spare room and at the same time offering affordable rooms for guests.
“Londoners planning a Royal windfall.” Mira Bar-Hillel writes in This is London:
“one in four London homeowners (are) considering letting out at least one room to the ‘crowds’ coming to London for the wedding on April 29, a survey has found…… the average charge will be £38 per room per night.”
Head2Pillow comment – with less than 50 days to go until this Royal occasion, any homeowner thinking about renting out their spare room should register now.
New search facility launched
Head2Pillow’s innovative Quick Search facility enables users to search for rooms by either:
Town
Postcode
Venue, which now includes the Olympic venues.
In addition, the Advanced Search allows users to carry out a more detailed search based on a selection of criteria, including cost, distance and availability dates.
Enter our competition
Fancy winning £50 of Amazon vouchers? Just follow the link from our Homepage and answer a simple question for your chance to win. What have you got to lose?
How to find Head2Pillow.
Visit out website www.head2pillow.com
Don’t forget to visit us on Facebook and join in the conversation http://www.facebook.com/pages/London-United-Kingdom/Head2Pillow/196731733684726?sk=app_7146470109
You can also follow us on Twitter
http://twitter.com/Head2Pillow
Your Questions answered.
Q What makes Head2Pillow different to other online accommodation sites?
A Our website has many benefits over its rivals, including:
- no sign up fees for Guests or Homeowners.
- an innovative search facility (see left for more details)
- Guests can search, book and make secure payment all online.
- No booking charges for Guests.
- Simple and easy to use.
Q How do I register?
A Simply follow the Register Here button from the Homepage and click on the Register now option.
Q How soon will by room appear on the website?
A As soon as you have completed all the sections for your room you will be asked if you would like to ‘Activate’ or publish your room. Your room will then appear on the Head2Pillow website.
Q How often do I have to rent out my spare room?
A With Head2Pillow, you have complete control over how often you rent out your spare room – whether it’s 7 days a week or once a month, the choice is yours.
Q What should I provide in the room for guests?
A Think about what you would like to see in a room you were staying in. Tea and coffee making facilities always go down well, maybe with a few mini packs of biscuits. An information pack – including bus and train timetables, leaflets on local places of interest, nearby restaurants etc is a good idea for visitors.
Q Do I have to pay tax on any money I make from renting out my spare room?
A If the spare room is in the house you live in, then you can earn up to £4250 a year tax-free under the Government’s ‘Rent a Room’ scheme. See http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/moneytaxandbenefits/taxes/taxonpropertyandrentalincome/dg_4017804 for full details
Q How often should I change the sheets?
A It goes without saying that every time a guest leaves, you need to change the bedding! Also, if you have guests staying any length of time, more than a few nights, it is a good idea to change the bedding and towels half way through their stay.
For towels, why not have an environmentally-friendly in the bathroom suggesting that guests place towels in the bath if they would like them changed or leave them on the towel rail if they are happy to reuse them.
Q How many pillows should I provide for guests?
A Everyone has different preferences when it comes to pillows, but two per person should be enough. Remember that some people have allergies to feathers, so it may be wise to provide foam as a safe option.
Q How many towels should I provide?
A We suggest one hand towel and one large bath towel per person.
Q Should I include any toiletries in the bathroom?
A Apart from the necessary toilet rolls (and plenty of spare ones!) and handwash, it would be a nice touch to have some mini soaps, bubble bath and shampoo to make your guests feel particularly welcome
If you have a question you would like answered, please submit by email to us on admin@head2pillow.com
Head2Pillow offers guidance on what to consider when thinking about renting out you spare room.
By Mrs A
We hope that the following questions and answers may cover some of the queries you may have and will help you to decide if renting out your spare room with Head2Pillow is right for you.
Q How often do I have to rent out my spare room?
A With Head2Pillow, you have complete control over how often you rent out your spare room – whether it’s 7 days a week or once a month, the choice is yours.
Q What should I provide in the room for guests?
A Think about what you would like to see in a room you were staying in. Tea and coffee facilities always go down well if you have the space for them, maybe with a few mini packets of biscuits too. An information pack – including bus and train timetables, leaflets on local places of interest, restaurant guides etc is also a good idea for visitors.
Q Should I provide breakfast?
A It is up to you if you wish to provide breakfast for your guests, but bear in mind how this may impact on your morning routine. If you decide to do so, then you should take this into account when setting your room rates and remember to tick the box on your room details to show that breakfast is included.
Q Do I have to pay tax on any money I make from renting out my spare room?
A If the spare room is in the house you live in, then you can earn up to £4250 a year tax-free under the Government’s ‘Rent a Room’ scheme. See www.direct.gov.uk for full details.
Q Do I need to inform my insurance company if I plan to take in paying guests?
A This will vary depending on your insurance company, so you definitely need to call them to let them know.
Q Should I offer to collect guests from the local train/bus station?
A This is not necessary, but if you would like to offer to do this then it will make guests feel very welcome.
Q How often should I change the sheets?
A It goes without saying that every time a guest leaves, you need to change the bedding! Also, if you have guests staying any length of time, more than a few nights, it is a good idea to change the bedding and towels half way through their stay. For towels, why not have an environmentally-friendly sign in the bathroom suggesting that guests place towels in the bath if they would like them changed or leave them on the towel rail if they are happy to reuse them.
Q How many pillows should I provide for guests?
A Everyone has different preferences when it comes to pillows, but two per person should be satisfactory. Remember that some people have allergies to feathers, so it may be wise to provide foam as a safe option.
Q How many towels should I provide?
A We suggest one hand towel and one bath towel per person.
Q Should I include any toiletries in the bathroom?
A Apart from the necessary toilet rolls (and plenty of spare ones!) and handwash, it would be a nice touch to have some mini soaps, bubble bath and shampoo to make your guests feel particularly welcome.
If you have any other questions you would like answered, then don’t forget to visit www.head2pillow.com or email us on admin@head2pillow.com
Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Twitter @Head2Pillow and on Facebook.
HEAD2PILLOW’S 20 ROMANTIC THINGS TO DO IN LONDON FOR FREE.
By Mrs A
- Go for a romantic picnic in one of the London Royal Parks www.royalparks.org.uk/ – St James’s is one of our favourites and you may get to listen to a band playing in the bandstand.
- Enjoy a relaxing stroll around one of the many markets in the capital. We like Borough food market on from Thursday to Saturday, see www.boroughmarket.org.uk for details. Or browse the antiques market every Saturday in Portobello market (www.portobellomarket.org/antiques.htm).
- A stroll around Colombia Road Flower Market in London’s East End, which is held every Sunday morning www.columbiaroad.info/flowermarket.html , will go down well with the girls.
- Visit places in London from your favourite romantic film. Check out www.movie-locations.com/places/uk/london.html where you can find out all this information by film title. The Head2Pillow team love ‘Notting Hill’!
- Visit a London museum – the British Museum houses the largest collection of the Egyptian and Greek antiquities in the world www.britishmuseum.org/default.aspx The Natural History Museum in South Kensington www.nhm.ac.uk and the Science Museum www.sciencemuseum.org.uk are both very popular.
- Enjoy a leisurely day looking around one of London’s many art galleries – the Tate Modern www.tate.org.uk/modern/ and Tate Britain www.tate.org.uk/britain/ both on the River Thames, have something for everyone. There is a boat which runs every 40 minutes linking the two galleries (charges apply).
- Visit Lambeth Palace Garden Museum www.gardenmuseum.org.uk/visitingthemuseum/index.html where you can enjoy a free guided tour at 2pm every last Tuesday in the month.
- Cycle or walk along the Regent’s Canal, from Little Venice to Limehouse taking you past London Zoo and Camden Market. Why not take a picnic with you as well? (www.waterscape.com/canals-and-rivers/regents-canal)
- A walk by the River Thames along the Embankment , with its many London landmarks including the London Eye, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, especially during the evening can be very romantic. Check out www.london-footprints.co.uk/wkembankmentroute.htm for ideas of routes you can take.
- Watch the Changing of the Guard at 11.30 every day throughout the summer at Buckingham Palace www.royalcollection.org.uk/default.asp?action=article&ID=492
- See the street performers every afternoon in Covent Garden. They have to pass an audition to perform here, so they are all of a good standard. For more details go to www.coventgardenlondonuk.com/events-entertainment-culture
- Visit Westminster Abbey – the venue for the upcoming Royal Wedding. If you plan your visit, then you may be lucky enough to hear the Choir sing Evensong at 5pm every weekday (except Wednesday) and 3pm at weekends. See www.westminster-abbey.org for more information. The Abbey will be closed from April 27 to 29, but will reopen on Saturday April 30, when the floral displays and seating from the wedding will still be in place.
- Visit the Diana Fountain in Hyde Park, which was built in 2004 as a memorial to Diana, Princess of Wales and is open every day. Full details are available at www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/hyde_park/diana_memorial.cfm
- Enjoy a concert for free at various venues across the capital. The Royal Opera House (www.roh.org.uk/) has free lunchtime recitals every Monday at 1pm, but you do need to book this online in advance. The Royal College of Music also has free concerts every Friday, showcasing their ‘performers of the future’ see www.ram.ac.uk/whats-on for details.
- Ceremony of the keys at the Tower of London – this 700 year old ceremony to lock all the doors at the tower takes place every night. It is free to attend, as long as you apply in advance www.hrp.org.uk/toweroflondon/whatson/ceremonyofthekeys.aspx
- Enjoy looking around Harrods www.harrods.com/ , which has something for everyone – from the famous food hall to the pet shop. Open Monday to Sunday, excluding certain bank holidays.
- Stroll around Greenwich Park and visit the National Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory www.nmm.ac.uk/server/show/nav.2837 .
- April 23 – enjoy the St George’s Day Concert in Trafalgar Square www.london.gov.uk/stgeorges which is on all day and is free. There will be performances by young musicians from across London and the day ends with a show of popular songs from musical theatre.
- Visit the Serpentine Gallery www.serpentinegallery.org/index.html in Kensington Gardens. The gallery has a large collection of modern and contemporary art. In the grounds there is a permanent work dedicated to the Serpentine’s former Patron, Diana, Princess of Wales.
- Finally, if marriage is on your mind, then a trip to Hatton Garden www.hatton-garden.net/, which has been the centre of London’s jewellery trade since the Middle Ages, is a must. It is home to almost 300 jewellery shops and some of the best craftspeople and designers in the country can be found here.
Short Accommodation Website For London Helps Find Somewhere to Lay Your Head.
By Mrs A
The following has been taken from Frost Magazine in March 2011, written by Catherine Balavage.
‘Head2Pillow launched its short stay accommodation website for the London area in Autumn 2010, enabling homeowners with a spare room to rent it out and make tax-free money and for visitors to the capital to find an affordable room for a short stay.
The site has been developed over a considerable length of time, with the focus being on ease of use for both homeowners and guests.
For Guests looking for a room, the site has an innovative Quick Search facility, enabling users to look for a room by *either
*town
*postcode
*venue, which now also includes the main Olympic venues.
In addition, the Advanced Search allows users to carry out a more detailed search based on a selection of criteria, including cost, distance and availability dates.
Many online accommodation sites only allow users to find out limited information online and the actual booking process is dealt with by email. Head2Pillow enables users to search for a room in real time, book and pay securely via Barclaycard all online. In addition, there is no sign up fee for Guests, no minimum stay required and no booking fees.
Homeowners with a spare room can advertise their room straight away with no sign up fee, knowing that they have complete control over the room price and availability and can rent it out as often or as little as they like. In addition, they can select to receive an SMS alert every time a booking is made for their room.
With the Government’s cuts really hitting households across the country now, there has never been a better time for homeowners to make some much needed extra cash or for Guests to book an affordable room with www.head2pillow.com