Why can't we claim for a gardener?

[linda2girls]

I didn't have time at the weekend to mow the lawn (or last weekend), so at 7pm on Monday evening (virtually in the dark) I'm mowing the lawn and taking out thistles from the flower borders so the children can play out there on Tuesday without the wet grass covering their welly boots (it was that bad). As I'm mowing, I'm wondering why I can't put down a gardener as an expense, playgroups can. I'm not mowing the lawn for the benefit of me and my 11 year old girls (they're only interested in the trampline now) I'm only doing it for the mindees so why can't I claim?

Any accountants out there that can answer please.

Thanks,
Linda.

[hectors house]

I was under the impression that you could claim for gardener to mow the lawn used by the mindees just the same as you can pay for a cleaner to clean parts of house used for minding in - whether it is whole amount or a proportion I wouldn't like to say. Hope someone else who does claim or know if you can or can't answers soon.

I suppose the other option would be artifical grass but don't know if you can claim 100% for that or not as it is a permanent item and not removeable like mats or carpet!

[sarah707]

I understand you can claim a proportion / a reasonable amount for anything you wouldn't normally pay for if you weren't childminding :D

[linda2girls]

Thanks.

Linda.