Home as office allowance – Any experience/advice?

Hi, so for twenty-odd years I’ve been told by my accountants that I can claim 10% of my home expenses (Mortgage interest or rent/utility & council tax) as an allowable home as office expense to offset against my profit, so that’s what I’ve been submitting.

Now a different accountant at the firm is only allowing £6 per week and doesn’t recognise her colleague’s advice (this has happened a lot).

As usual, Google throws up lots of different advice, some say the allowance can be calculated on floor space of the home office against the total property, others that it’s a fixed rate. Then there is the argument fo whether a landlord is actually classed as running a business or it’s just “income from land and property” (which is an insult to those of us who run a full-time BTL portfolio of HMO’s requiring hours of work and dedication each week).

Everybody reading this must submit a tax return so has anyone had any experience of HMO challenges with regard to claiming this allowance?

Please note I’m unfortunately stuck as a sole trader, unable to incorporate despite years of trying so only advice relating to that tax status please.

Hopefully, readers advice on this subject will benefit all of us!

Andy