Sammie Ellard-King
I’m Sammie, a money expert and business owner passionate about helping you take control of your wallet. My mission with Up the Gains is to create a safe space to help improve your finances, cut your costs and make you feel good while doing it.
Living without paying a penny. Sounds great, right?!
So if you’re wondering how to live rent free, you’ll be happy to know that it’s more than possible. In fact, there are plenty of different ways you can do it, and we’ll show you how.Â
Since the pandemic ended, rents have been on a meteoric rise and aren’t slowing down. Landlords faced with higher costs and mortgage rate increases are passing those down to their tenants.Â
Private rents have risen up to 20% in certain areas, which could add up to hundreds of extra pounds a month for some. Not ideal if you could just about afford your rent before all this happened.Â
Unsurprisingly, people are looking for a way to lower their highest cost and save money. So let’s get into it and show you some ways to live rent free in the UK.
Boon Brokers are one of the UKs leading online mortgage brokers. They have a 5-star excellent Trustpilot rating with over 543 reviews.
- No mortgage fees
- Whole of market access
- Free online consultations
- Directly authorised by the FCA
- No in person meet ups
Table of Contents
How to live rent free in the UK
You will need to get creative, but it’s more than possible. We’re going to show you 14 ways you can do it. Bare in mind that some options are more suitable than others.
For example, a family of four can’t just uproot and start new jobs halfway across the country, but those with fewer responsibilities could. Buckle up. It’s going to be a fun ride!
14 ways to live rent free
1. House Hacking
Simply put, house hacking is renting part of your residence to subsidise living costs or generate income.
For example, you rent a property for the price quoted by the landlord, say a three-bedroom house, for £2000 a month.
Then you rent the two other bedrooms individually to other tenants for £1000 a month, thus living rent free.
If the rooms are worth the cost, you could even charge £1200 and make £400 monthly in income.
It’s perfectly legal, and many people make a living doing this. Landlords are perfectly fine with it as they have the rent and a lead tenant responsible for the costs and minor maintenance.
You do, however, 100% require the landlord’s written permission to sublet a rental property. Please do not do this without permission or you may be breaking the law.
2. Living with parents
Now this one might seem obvious, but it is a known way to live rent free. Of course, you need to have that luxury available to you and moving back home after moving out isn’t always ideal, but it is an option.
Living with your parents could be particularly useful if you’re looking to save some money for a house deposit or if you lose your job and need to lower your outgoings immediately.
In this case, I would offer to contribute in other ways, like helping around the house or paying a portion of the bills.
3. Private School Teachers
Often preparatory schools are located in remote parts of the UK, meaning they are far from major cities or towns. Due to the children attending often needing to board there, these schools require teachers to be available outside of regular working hours to supervise them.
Boarding schools will usually provide some form of lodgings for some staff members who live close by. If you’re looking to study as a teacher or already are one, this could be a great option.
4. Become a property guardian
There are 1000s of properties across the UK where the owner is not present for parts of the year. This could be due to them travelling or working abroad.
In these circumstances, the owners will look for property guardians to live there to ensure nothing gets stolen or squatters move in. You will be required to have a full-time job and, most likely, attend an interview of sorts to ensure the owner can trust you.
There are lots of websites on Google that can help you set up opportunities.
5. Become an Au Pair
Au Pair – what a great sounding word!
Essentially, it’s French for a nanny but one that lives with the family to attend to the children’s needs as often the parents have busy working or social lives.
These living arrangements mean your income might be slightly lower as many things are provided for you. You can also expect pleasant living situations as families that can afford an Au Pair are often wealthy.
6. Become an estate manager
There are 1000s of stately homes and larger estates all across the UK that require management and upkeep.
Often these houses will have teams of people that need managing, such as gardeners, kitchen teams and administrators.
Due to some of these locations being quite remote, often they will provide lodgings somewhere on the grounds.
Some roles pay pretty well, and a quick Google picked up two positions for 30k a year plus boarding, food and a car. Not bad!
7. Live in a van
According to the DVLA, around 22,000 people call their van a dwelling though this number is thought to be a lot higher at around 140,000.
Large communities of van dwellers across the UK make the most of the outdoors and technically free living.
Many farm and land owners now offer van communities the chance to pitch up and pay a minimal fee for doing so. The only thing is you will need to ensure you have basic things like access to water and a place to wash.
Some vans are impressive inside, and van dwellers go to enormous lengths to make the fit-out as practical as possible. Could you live in a van?
8. Work for a hotel or restaurant
One thing that the world isn’t short on is hotels, and they are found in every corner of the globe, even the most remote parts.
If you take on a management position, you could be offered dwelling as part of a package to sweeten the deal.
Other jobs such as caretakers, chefs, waiting staff and reception team get offered the chance to live on-site, especially the more remote ones.
Boon Brokers are one of the UKs leading online mortgage brokers. They have a 5-star excellent Trustpilot rating with over 543 reviews.
- No mortgage fees
- Whole of market access
- Free online consultations
- Directly authorised by the FCA
- No in person meet ups
9. Become a live-in helper
As we get old, we often need a lot of care and support to manage daily tasks. This could also apply to those with disabilities and those who are injured.Â
In these cases, some individuals require round-the-clock care and, therefore, would need you to live with them to provide that.Â
Again this combines work with lodging, but if you’re interested in it, then there are plenty of opportunities here.
10. Live with WWOOF
Have you ever thought about getting your hands dirty with organic farming? Well, if so, you should check out WWOOF.Â
If you’re thinking about how to live rent free in the UK, then WWOOF can help you with this. They provide lodgings in exchange for working and living sustainably in their communities.Â
It works with no money being exchanged, and essentially you give up your time and effort for lodgings, food and community.Â
11. Start fruit picking
On the subject of farming, many seasonal farms require an extra pair of hands for the summer when their fruit comes into season.Â
This could be the perfect way to live rent-free, helping out on the farm and getting paid for your work.Â
This type of work is big all around the world, but many travellers do this in Australia as it’s a VISA requirement for you to stay longer; you need to work on the land!
Remember though, this work is only seasonal.
12. Work away for the summer
My sister recently completed a 6-month stint with Camp America. She interviewed here in the UK and then was whisked off to Ohio, where she spent the entire summer looking after the kids there.
She’s now going back again this summer as she made some incredible friends and also went travelling across the US after camp had ended.
Other opportunities like this include working as a rep for a holiday tour agency or for restaurants and bars.
13. House rafflesÂ
It’s not as sure footing as the other options in this article, but a great way to live completely free for the rest of your life is to win a house.Â
There are lots of raffles each month, including sites like Omaze, Rafflehouse and many more.Â
Remember, your chances of winning are like entering the lottery, so try this one alongside one of the others and keep your fingers and toes firmly crossed.
14. Join the armed forces
If you’re wondering how to live rent free in the UK, have you considered joining the armed forces?Â
Only some roles in the forces require fighting or learning how to! There are also medics, engineers, chefs, HR, finance, and marketing.Â
The good thing about the armed forces is they provide boarding and a solid wage. There are also roles for men and women in all departments.
You will be required to complete some basic training in most roles, but it’s not insanely tricky and will at least improve your fitness!Â
FAQs
Is living rent free taxable?
No, you are not subject to any type of tax for living rent free. In fact, there is no tax on you if you’re paying rent. If you own a property and rent it out rent-free, then it is tax neutral and outside the scope of property income tax, but you will need to declare it.Â
Can you house hack in the UK?
Yes, house hacking is perfectly legal in the UK. You will require the permission of the landlord, ideally in written form, to sublet your rental, but there is no law stopping you otherwise. If done correctly, it is a great way to live rent free and even earn a good income.
Can I sell my house and still live in it rent free?
Yes, there are ways to do it, including sell-back schemes. You can also sell part of your home via equity release. Both options are very different, so it’s very important to do your research, consult an advisor and pick reputable businesses with a track record of these kinds of deals.
Can you actually live rent free?
Yes, you can. There are jobs you can take that can provide boarding. Often for a much lower cost than you think though most will subsidise some of the cost from your wages. A popular way is through house hacking, where you rent a property and then sub-let the rooms to others, which means you have your rent covered.
Final Thoughts
So, now you know how to live rent free UK style. There are plenty of options available to you so if it’s something you want to take advantage of to lower your cost base go for it!
Be cautious, though and make sure that you’re making the right decision, as many of these roles require long-term commitment and relocations.
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Disclaimer: Content on this page is for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research before making a financially related decision.
