Structure for home and income property?

Our Experts Answer:

Hi Melanie, where you rent out a multi-unit property in which you also reside the rental income must be declared. There are two methods that you can choose from to determine your deductible expenses. Either keep a record of the expenses that relate to the part of the property that you're renting out and claim these against the rental income or alternatively keep a record of the total expenses for the property and apportion these according to the area of the rented out part. If you own the property together the net result will need to be split across your tax returns, be it a profit or a loss. An LTC is unlikely to be a suitable structure given the flat won't be on a seperate title. The predominant use of the property is private and domestic and as such the use of a business structure like an LTC is inappropriate. The LTC will also provide no additional deductible expenses and will only serve to complicate your filing requirements which are currently quite straight forward. Seems to me you are best to stay as you are.