Accommodation

Overview

What properties are eligible? What are the budget limits? What notice period should you negotiate on a lease?

Learn the rules around accommodation and understand how registering dependants affects what you can claim.

Scheme rules

The accommodation costs budget is designed to meet costs incurred by MPs as a result of working from two permanent locations.

The rules covering claims for hotels only apply to the use of hotels as an alternative to rental accommodation.

Where hotels are being claimed under travel and subsistence (for example, when MPs stay overnight when on parliamentary business outside London or their constituency), the rules outlined in Travel & subsistence apply. [4.1]

Accommodation costs are not payable to MPs who:

  • are London Area MPs

  • occupy “grace and favour” accommodation in London by virtue of any particular office held [4.2]

The annual rental accommodation budget will be pro-rated where the tenancy starts after the beginning of the financial year or ends before the end of the financial year.

Spending more than the budget limit

MPs may enter into a rental agreement that takes you over the budget limit, but they will have to fund the extra cost themselves.

If IPSA is paying the rent directly to the landlord, it will only pay up to the amount affordable within the budget. [4.15]

Rental agreements

Any costs of drawing up rental agreements and any agency fees incurred on entering into or extending a contract can be claimed from the accommodation costs budget.

No additional funding is available for such costs. [4.16]

Valuation

IPSA reserves the right to seek a valuation to confirm the market rental rate for an accommodation which is funded by IPSA, in any circumstances where it considers it appropriate. [4.18]

MPs may only seek reimbursement for rent and/or associated costs relating to one property – either in the London Area or in the MP's constituency – unless IPSA agrees there are exceptional circumstances that justify public spending in both. [4.6]

The MP must be resident at the property for which they are seeking funding and may not sublet the property, or any part of it. [4.7]

IPSA will pay for rent and associated costs for a property only after it has been registered and accompanied by the required documentation, including the MP's rental agreement or proof of ownership of the property. [4.13]

As of 1 April 2025, IPSA will not pay the rent or associated costs relating to any new tenancy agreements where the MP knows, or ought to know, that the landlord is an MP. MPs who are in an ongoing tenancy agreement where the landlord is an MP and is also in receipt of accommodation funding as of 1 April 2025 will have a transitional period of up to one year, during which IPSA will continue to pay rent and associated costs in relation to the property.

Find about more aboutCompleting a property registration form .

Accommodation costs may only be claimed for one of the following at a time :

  • hotel accommodation

  • rental payments and “associated costs” as set out in para 4.4, or

  • for MPs who own their property, associated costs only as set out in para 4.4 [4.3]

Associated costs include:

  • utility bills (gas, electricity, other fuel and water)

  • Council Tax

  • ground rent and service charges

  • buildings insurance (if you own the property)

  • installation of a landline telephone line, line rental and usage charges

  • installation of a broadband connection and usage charges

  • purchase, installation and maintenance of “routine security measures” (that is, not those which are now funded by the House of Commons as recommended or further security measures) [4.4]

The following are not considered associated costs and IPSA will not pay any claims for them:

  • cleaning

  • gardening

  • the purchase or maintenance of furniture

  • home contents insurance, TV services, or TV licences [4.5]

If two or more MPs share rental accommodation, they must notify IPSA when they register the property.

The rental agreement must include the name of each MP sharing the accommodation. [4.22]

Each MP will be entitled to the full accommodation costs budget – and all costs claimed should be shared equally between those MPs. [4.23]

MPs are responsible for checking the terms and conditions of their contracts, including any service charges, penalty clauses and other clauses which may otherwise lead to unexpected costs.

You should check your liability for council tax on the premises before signing the contract. [4.19]

MPs must inform IPSA immediately when a rental agreement commences, ends, or is renewed, or if there are changes to the contract, such as the rental charge or the landlord’s payment details. [4.20]

For information on how to register a property, visit Completing a Property Registration Form. Or get help with Selecting & leasing a constituency office.

MPs should negotiate a clause in their rental agreement to allow you to give two months’ notice in the event of a change in circumstances, such as leaving Parliament or any other circumstances which mean you have to vacate the property.

You will only be able to claim for rent and associated costs during the winding-up period after leaving Parliament.

Any further costs beyond that period will not be funded by IPSA. [4.21]

An MP who intends to claim for rental costs may apply to IPSA for a loan to cover any deposit payable at the commencement of a tenancy.

This loan will not be deducted from the accommodation costs budget. [4.24]

This loan cannot exceed the lower of:

  • the deposit which is stated in the rental agreement

  • one-quarter of the relevant annual accommodation costs budget (for example, London area or the constituency) [4.25]

Applications for loans must be submitted by the MP and accompanied by a rental agreement for IPSA to approve.

IPSA will pay the loan to the MP, who will forward the deposit to the landlord.

IPSA may consider a deposit loan application that is accompanied by a draft rental agreement – in these circumstances, a fully signed agreement must be submitted to IPSA within one month of the start of the tenancy.

If this condition is not met, IPSA may recover the deposit loan and any rent already paid under the draft agreement from the MP. [4.26]

You can apply by Completing a Property Registration Form.

MPs may not hold more than one loan for a deposit on rental accommodation at any one time, except where IPSA agrees otherwise. [4.27]

The MP is responsible for securing the return of the deposit and for repaying the amount in full to IPSA, no later than one month after the date on which the tenancy comes to an end, or, where the MP leaves Parliament, the end of the winding-up period (whichever is earlier).

Any shortfall between the deposit paid and the amount returned shall be the sole responsibility of the MP. [4.28]

Loans for holding deposits

MPs may also apply for a loan for a holding deposit before the start of the tenancy.

Holding deposit loans must be repaid to IPSA within 30 days of signing the tenancy agreement or refund of the holding deposit, whichever is earlier.

IPSA may also agree to recover the amount via alternative means. [4.29]

Download the IPSA Repayment Form.

Removal costs for moving to new accommodation may be claimed from the contingency "not applied for" budget.

You do not need to submit a contingency application to claim.

Other costs associated with moving, including any legal costs, must be claimed from the accommodation costs budget. [4.17]

Hotel costs claimed from the accommodation costs budget are subject to a nightly cost limit. These limits are inclusive of VAT.

If the hotel’s nightly rate includes breakfast, the full amount will be reimbursed, provided that the relevant limit is not exceeded. [4.10]

MPs can claim hotel costs up to £230 per night in London and £165 per night elsewhere in the UK (including VAT).

MPs may claim for the cost of hotel accommodation for their dependants. The nightly cost limit for such claims applies to hotel accommodation for all dependants (rather than for each dependant). [4.11]

MPs may group together a number of nights during a single stay, where the cost varies on different nights, and claim the full amount if the average per night does not exceed the nightly limit. [4.12]

If you are not able to find a hotel within the cost limit, you may be able to claim the additional cost through contingency funding [10.11].

You will need to evidence that you made a reasonable effort to find a hotel within the limit, beyond the Travel Office and your usual accommodation provider, by submitting screenshots.

For more information, visit Travel & subsistence.

As of 1 April 2023, funding for MPs’ security measures has transferred to the House of Commons. Security assistance funding is no longer available from IPSA.

“Routine” security and safety costs may continue to be claimed from the accommodation and office costs budget. [10.5]

For more information about security measures, visit the Members' Security Support Service.

Using IPSA Online

  1. Note!

    To make a reimbursement claim, open IPSA Online.

    Before you begin you will need :

    • details of the costs you are claiming

    • your receipts

    Remember to use Add information if you need to add further comments to your claim. This can be found towards the bottom of the screen.

  2. Step1

    From the main menu select Your employment.

  3. Step2

    Select Expenses.

  4. Step3

    Select Reimbursement claim (MP).

    If you work in a MP’s office, you can claim your own expenses by selecting Reimbursement claim (Staff).

    All subsequent steps are the same.

  5. Step4

    In the On behalf of resource box, select who the claim should be paid to – this box only appears if you are the MP or Proxy.

  6. Step5

    In the Reference box, type a short description applicable to all lines on the claim form.

    The description should be something you can use to easily identify the claim at a later date (for example, when looking to access a draft claim).

    As such, try to avoid references that could be applied to more than one claim (for example, "Payment card reconciliation") and instead make each reference unique (for example, "Payment card reconciliation – October 2022").

  7. Step6

    Select an Expense category. You can start typing the expense and a list of possible expense categories is displayed.

    Alternatively, select the drop-down arrow to see the full list and then select the relevant category.

  8. Step7

    Select Add expense at the bottom of the screen.

  9. Step8

    Use the Calendar icon to select the date the expense was incurred.

  10. Step9

    Add a Description for the expense.

    Content included in this field will be published in line with our Publication Policy.

    If any comments are intended solely for IPSA, please use the Add information field described in Step 14.

  11. Step10

    Add the Amount of the expense that you are claiming for.

  12. Step11

    Select the Chevron icon at the end of the expense line.

    The chevrons open additional fields that are required for that particular expense.

  13. Step12

    Use the Spacebar on your keyboard to see a list of all the relevant budgets, addresses, stations, airports etc. Alternatively, you can start typing the specific value you want to select

    Depending on the type of expense being reimbursed, you may see a different set of options for completion.

    The example displayed in the accompanying screenshot is a claim for reimbursement for air travel.

  14. Step13

    Repeat steps six to 12 until all expenses have been added.

    An expense claim should not be more than 20 lines long.

  15. Step14

    On all mileage claims, you will need to include details of each stop (including postcode) on your journey.

    Select Add information towards the bottom of the screen.

    Type your comments in the pop-up box.

    Please make sure to reference which line on the claim each comment refers to.

    Please do not include these details in the description field of the claim line.

  16. Step15

    You must now add receipts to each claim line and then submit the claim.

    To do this, visit the right-hand menu, under the heading Expense overviewand select Receipts.

  1. Note!

    To register a dependant, open IPSA Online.

    You will need to provide supporting documentation for your dependant.

    For information about the supporting documentation you need to provide, visit Evidence requirements for dependant registrations.

  2. Step1

    Select the Main menu tab.

  3. Step2

    Select the Forms tab on the left-hand side.

  4. Step3

    Select the Dependants Form from the menu.

  5. Step4

    Fill in the Form description field.

  6. Step5

    Select Add within the Dependant Information table.

    You can use one form to register multiple dependants.

  7. Step6

    Select the Dependant type field and press the space bar.

    Select the dependant type from the list.

  8. Step7

    Confirm whether the dependant registration has been discussed with an Account Manager.

    This is only required for the Expected dependent type.

  9. Step8

    Fill in the First name and Last name.

    Each field can hold 21 characters.

  10. Step9

    Confirm whether you want an uplift to be applied to your Accommodation Budget as a result of registering a dependant using the Apply budget uplift? section of the form.

    You can only apply for a budget uplift, up to a maximum of three, for:

    • a dependant Under 18

    • a dependant aged 18-21, or

    • another cared-for family member

  11. Step10

    In the Date of birth field, select the calendar icon and select the dependant's date of birth if they are under 21.

  12. Step11

    Before attaching documentation please select Save as draft.

  13. Step12

    Select the Paperclip icon in the top right corner of the form to add supporting evidence and all completed Dependant Declaration Forms.

  14. Step13

    Find and carefully read the relevant declaration for the dependant you wish to register. When you have read and understood the declaration(s), tick the declaration confirmation box on the correct declaration. If you are registering more than one dependant, please tick all the relevant declarations.

  15. Step14

    Select Submit form.

Guidance

The Scheme does not cover reimbursement of cleaning costs at an MP's accommodation. However, IPSA will pay for professional cleaning costs incurred as a requirement of the lease, if these circumstances apply:

  • the professional cleaning costs are incurred as a specific condition of the lease

  • the cleaning costs are incurred due to the MP leaving the property and terminating the lease

  • the MP incurred the cost on or after 1 April 2019

  • there is a sufficient amount in an MP’s accommodation budget to cover the cost

Supporting evidence showing the condition in the lease and an invoice for the cleaning must be submitted with the claim.

IPSA’s regulatory principles of integrity, value for money and accountability can allow MPs to better assess whether their arrangements meet IPSA’s expectations.

MPs’ decisions regarding accommodation funding must not be aimed at gaining financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, friends, political associates or other connected individuals.

MPs must be able to show they have considered perceived or real conflicts of interest, and that they have not been influenced in their decisions about using IPSA funding by any interests or relationships.

MPs must have regard to these expectations before accessing funding from the accommodation budget:

  • MPs are expected to be maintaining (i.e. financially responsible for) a private home in order to receive funding for parliamentary accommodation.

  • Accommodation funding is intended to be used for MPs’ parliamentary accommodation only and not to cover costs of an existing private/family home.

  • MPs who own their own property in London or their constituency are expected to use their property as their private home rather than seeking IPSA funding for other accommodation in that location. If this is not feasible, the MP must be prepared to explain why, for instance where the property is rented out to long-term tenants.

  • MPs should ensure they make decisions about their accommodation objectively and should not use IPSA funding to rent from landlords to whom they are politically, personally or financially connected. As of 1 April 2025, IPSA will not pay rent or associated costs relating to any new tenancy agreements where the MP knows, or ought to know, that the landlord is an MP. MPs who are in an ongoing tenancy agreement where the landlord is an MP and is also in receipt of accommodation funding as of 1 April 2025 will have a transitional period of up to one year, during which IPSA will continue to pay rent and associated costs in relation to the property.

Contact IPSA

To get additional support, contact us.