For nearly all of us, the biggest expense we will ever have is the cost of having a roof over our heads. But imagine the freedom it would give if you no longer had that financial burden hanging over you. If that’s something you fancy, then take a look at how to live rent free in the UK.
How to live rent-free in the UK
As I’m sure you know when you have your own home, there seems to be a never-ending list of bills you need to pay. And the biggest of all is housing costs. Rent and mortgages aren’t cheap. In fact, the average rent costs a rather staggering £959 per month. Now, that works out at over £11,000 per year. But take a moment to think what a difference to your life it would make if you didn’t have to pay it? No rent arrears and nobody chasing you for payments. Well, there are several options open to you so you can happily live rent-free.
Is living rent-free possible?
Yes, it is. And we’re not talking about buying a house and clearing the mortgage (although that’s a great way). There are certain jobs you can take or other methods you can use that means you no longer have to pay rent. Let’s take a look at some of the best available options.
Become an estate manager
Although we may be used to living in cramped conditions in cities and towns, there are actually sprawling estates all over the UK with acres and acres of land. Although they are beautiful pieces of land and often look untouched, they require a lot of care and attention. And that means lots of work.
If you keep an eye out, you’ll see some pretty tempting job offers out there. For example, you could have taken this job based in the Scottish Borders. And not only did you receive free accomodation, it also paid £35,000 per year. But this was not a job for just anybody. Applicants needed to have a good set of skills, being able to complete general maintenance of the properties and grounds, managing cleaners, shopping for supplies, arranging flowers, laundry and ironing, plus other errands that may need doing.
Become a live-in nanny or au pair
It’s true that most nannies or au pairs don’t earn huge amounts, although this does partly depend on the family you work for. As we all know, some employers are far more generous than others. But one big advantage to being a live-in nanny is the fact you don’t have to pay weekly rent. Plus, you might be asked to go on holiday with the family – all expenses paid!
As a nanny, your main role involves child minding and you’ll often be expected to work 8-12 hours per day, 5 days a week. You may also be required to babysit some evenings and even travel with the family when they go on holiday. Some nannies may also be expected to do duties such as washing and ironing children’s clothes and cooking their meals.
Most live-in nannies earn around £300-£500 per week.
Become a live-in carer
A live-in carer is a professional who provides full-time care and support to individuals who require assistance with their daily activities due to age, illness, disability, or other circumstances. They’ll live with the person they care for, typically in their home, and provide round-the-clock care, ensuring the individual’s safety, well-being, and comfort.
Depending on the level of care needed, carers can earn between £650 to £1,200 per week.
Rent out your spare rooms
Another way to stop paying rent is to purchase your own home. Ok, so you will have a mortgage to pay, but these monthly payments can often be cheaper compared to rent. And if you own your home, you have the option to rent out any spare rooms you may have. The more rooms you have, the more you can earn.
Depending on where you live, renting out two spare rooms could often mean your mortgage payments will be covered. So no rent!
The government will allow you to earn up to £7,500 per year from renting out a bedroom tax-free. After this, you will need to complete a tax return.
Of course, you will have to let your mortgage and home insurance company know that you have tenants in your home. And being a landlord comes with quite a few extra responsibilities.
And if you don’t fancy a long-term guest staying in your free room, why not check out some shorter-term options with companies like Airbnb?
Move-in with family
This is the obvious choice, but it depends on how well you get on with your family. If you ever read stories in the papers about how people have saved up so much money for their house deposit, 9 times out of 10 they’re still living with their parents or other family members.
If you decide living with a family member is an option, don’t expect to revert back to being a 10-year-old and have everything done for you. As nice as that sounds. Before you commit, make sure you sort out what is expected from both parties before you live together. For example, who will do what chores, who uses the bathroom at what time, and how late guests can stay.
And although you might not have rent to pay, think about contributing to other household bills. Gas, electricity, council tax and food all soon add up.
If times get desperate, you could look at couch surfing with friends. But this should only be for the short term as you don’t want to outstay your welcome.
Fruit picking
Although picking fruit doesn’t require much in the way of qualifications or concentration, standing out in the sun all day does mean you need to be physically fit.
As fruit picking isn’t for everyone, farms usually have to attract workers from outside the area. And to help with this, many offer accommodation for their workers. But bear in mind that using a farm’s lodgings will often mean a reduction in your wages.
In the UK, work is seasonal, so you will need to find an alternative place to stay during the colder months.
Pet sitting
Some pet owners aren’t keen on boarding their animals in kennels or catteries when they go away for their holidays or work. So instead of upsetting their precious pets, they have somebody come and stay.
But these pet owners won’t give you cash for your time but will let you stay in their home or apartment without having to pay any rent. This could be from just a few days up to several months. And it’s not only the UK this is available for, but could be more exotic places like New York and Abu Dhabi.
There are websites which will connect you with people looking for pet sitters. Take a look at my post about free holidays to find out more.
WWOOF
Although this sounds like a dog with a stutter, WWOOF actually stands for Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms. Founded back in 1971, being a member of WWOOF allows you to improve your knowledge of sustainable agriculture, gain practical skills, travel, and share in family, community, and culture.
You won’t be paid whilst working, but you’ll often be provided with accommodation. In some cases, you will also be provided with meals, but this depends on the farm that you stay at.
Live on a boat
If you fancy something a little different and with a bit more freedom, then why not take a look at living on a boat? If you get fed up with your neighbours, you can just move.
If you choose to live on a boat, you don’t need to pay rent but you will usually be charged mooring fees. A mooring is a place you can ‘park’ your boat. Depending on your location, these fees can be between £100 and £300 per month. But you’ll find this is considerably cheaper compared to rent.
Although I’m sure it’s tempting, you can’t just moor to any place you fancy. Plus, you will ideally need a place that can provide you with electricity and fresh water.
Live in a van
If the idea of freedom appeals to you, but living on water doesn’t, then why not consider buying a van? This could be something like a Volkswagen Camper or even a transit van that has been converted so you can live inside.
All you need to ensure is that your van is taxed, insured and fully MOT’d. And unlike most cars, you’ll find that the value of your van will depreciate a lot less.
Of course, you can’t just park wherever you like and need to make sure it’s safe and legal to do so. You can use apps like Park4Night, which show you places you can legally camp in the UK.
If you’re looking for somewhere more permanent, then farms and landowners are good to approach for a piece of land to use.
Which is the best way to live rent free?
This is really up to you. For ease, you can’t beat living with family and it helps to save money too. If you’re looking for minimal commitments and you’re happy to move around, then a van or a boat might appeal.
But for something truly unique and a good way to make money, becoming an estate manager wins it.