Going rate for board and lodging for a week or so

I am planning to take on a lad with his own kit for a week or two's contract work.

he is coming some distance, we have agreed an hourly rate for his work and paying half his transportation costs.

he has asked if we can put him which we have agreed to.

what is a fair price for board and lodgings though? it used to be £50 a week when I was a harvest student but that was several moons ago! I am going to suggest he goes to the shop a few miles away for lunch and we will supply breakfast and a cooked supper. He will have a nice room with ensuite etc.

what's considered fair these days?

TYIA
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
I am planning to take on a lad with his own kit for a week or two's contract work.

he is coming some distance, we have agreed an hourly rate for his work and paying half his transportation costs.

he has asked if we can put him which we have agreed to.

what is a fair price for board and lodgings though? it used to be £50 a week when I was a harvest student but that was several moons ago! I am going to suggest he goes to the shop a few miles away for lunch and we will supply breakfast and a cooked supper. He will have a nice room with ensuite etc.

what's considered fair these days?

TYIA

Is this for real? In any other industry if required to be away from home for overnight then accommodation and food are provided, or a tax free allowance to cover the same.

When I stay with customers they provide 3x meals a day and a bed as part of the contract. If someone tried charging me for the privilege I’d not work for them again.
 
Last edited:
So if you are self employed and you take a job away from home, you don't factor in accommodation in the price you charge for the job you do?!

The price he has quoted is reflected in my post's question.
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
I recently worked with a self employed fuel driver. He was staying away for some weeks with a job. The place he stayed charged £150/week for en suite room, breakfast and cooked dinner. This also includes all his washing.

His employer paid him £275/week digs and food allowance.
 
I recently worked with a self employed fuel driver. He was staying away for some weeks with a job. The place he stayed charged £150/week for en suite room, breakfast and cooked dinner. This also includes all his washing.

His employer paid him £275/week digs and food allowance.
So "his" employer footed the bill, not the customer directly, , the rate your driver mate was charged out at would of allowed for the £275 , this guy would be a self employed outside contractor. However when I used to contract cut corn the farm I was at would often put me up for a few nights, no mention of a charge, but this was 25 yrs ago, maybe things have moved on.
 
interesting feedback - thanks everyone.

last time I did this was in 1998 so things may well have changed.

others started the discussions with him about his wish to come and do some contracting so i'm trying to work out what the 'norm' is.

the perception it seems is that accom and food should be included.
 

Chae1

Member
Location
Aberdeenshire
I recently worked with a self employed fuel driver. He was staying away for some weeks with a job. The place he stayed charged £150/week for en suite room, breakfast and cooked dinner. This also includes all his washing.

His employer paid him £275/week digs and food allowance.
Where did he stay for £150/week with all that provided?

I might move out!
 

Highland Mule

Member
Livestock Farmer
I am planning to take on a lad with his own kit for a week or two's contract work.

he is coming some distance, we have agreed an hourly rate for his work and paying half his transportation costs.

he has asked if we can put him which we have agreed to.

what is a fair price for board and lodgings though? it used to be £50 a week when I was a harvest student but that was several moons ago! I am going to suggest he goes to the shop a few miles away for lunch and we will supply breakfast and a cooked supper. He will have a nice room with ensuite etc.

what's considered fair these days?

TYIA

Speak to your accountant.

You can earn £4K+ per year for renting out a room.
Whatever you (personally) charge him, you (corporately) will end up paying him anyway.

I’d suggest £200 a day, which for the fortnight means you’ll save about £1000 in tax.
 
He asked us if we wanted his services, we said we may do.

He offered us £X hr to come south and do as much work as we wanted. He asked us to pay half the transport costs. He then asked where he could stay, was there space with us.

It never occurred to me that his hourly rate for working away from home did not include him living away from home.

We have offered him a bed at Mums, which he was very happy with. I’m now trying to tie up the loose ends, final rates being one of them hence this post.

Not sure I’m much further forward. If the contractor was a plumber or sparky would I be thinking any different, I’m not sure.
 

sawdust

Member
Location
Argyll
So if you are self employed and you take a job away from home, you don't factor in accommodation in the price you charge for the job you do?!
Yes you do! :banghead:

I price the job as I would a local one, then work out accommodation prices, normally £50/£60 per day, work out how that would be broken down into to the daily work rate, then give that price for the job, if customer is happy I work away, if not, I sleep in my own bed without loosing money.
 

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