My friend Ann has booked  her ADI part 1 test . She has scheduled an important phone call a few minutes before the exam day . Will she be allowed to access her mobile phone during exam day?

You will not have access to your personal items in the test room. This includes things like:

Approved driving instructor (ADI) part 1 test

Booking your test

You can book your approved driving instructor (ADI) part 1 test when your application to start the ADI qualifying process has been accepted.

It’s the first of 3 tests you have to pass to qualify as an ADI. It’s a theory test.

There are 2 parts to the test:

multiple-choice questions

hazard perception - a video test about spotting hazards on the road

You book and take them as a single test. You must pass both parts to pass the test.

The ADI part 1 test works differently in Northern Ireland.

Change or check your test details

You can change the date of your test after you’ve booked it. This includes if you cannot or do not want to attend because of coronavirus (COVID-19).

You can check your appointment details if you’ve lost your booking confirmation.

Rebook your test

Rebook your ADI part 1 test if you failed your test and want to resit it. You have to choose a date at least 3 working days after your last test.

Revision and practice

You can use books and software to revise for the theory test.

Multiple-choice questions

The questions in the theory test are based on:

The Highway Code

Know your traffic signs

Driving - the essential skills

the official Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) theory test kit for approved driving instructors e-Learning

the Driving Instructor’s Handbook

Study these to learn the rules and skills you’ll be tested on.

You can buy them online or from most high street bookshops.

Hazard perception test

Buy the official DVSA theory test kit for approved driving instructors e-Learning to learn hazard perception skills and then test them.

What to take to your test

You must take your UK photocard driving licence to your test.

If you have a licence from Northern Ireland, bring the photocard and paper counterpart licence.

Your test will be cancelled and you will not get your money back if you do not take the right things with you.

Wearing a face covering at your test

You must wear a face covering at your test. If you do not wear one, you must have a good reason, for example:

you have a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

Wearing glasses does not count as a good reason.

You need to say why you cannot wear a face covering when you book your test. If you do not, and you come to your test without a face covering, your test will be cancelled.

If you’ve already booked your test and did not say that you cannot wear a face covering, contact DVSA.

When you must not go to your test

You must not go to your test if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

Change your theory test appointment for free if you need to self-isolate on the day of your test.

Lost your licence

You need to apply for a replacement driving licence if you lose yours. This could take up to 15 days to arrive.

Rearrange your test if you do not get it in time.

If you have a paper licence

Bring a valid passport as well as your paper licence.

If you do not have a passport, you need to get a photocard licence.

Personal belongings

You will not have access to your personal items in the test room. This includes things like:

bags

earphones

mobile phones

watches

You’ll usually have to store any personal items in a locker.

If your test centre does not have lockers, you must:

turn off your phone before you enter the test centre

put your belongings in a clear plastic box that will be given to you - this must be stored under your desk during the test

The test centre staff will check if you have anything with you that could be used to cheat. Your test will not go ahead if you do not let them check.

It’s illegal to cheat at the theory test. You can be sent to prison and banned from driving.

Multiple-choice questions

You have 1 hour and 30 minutes to answer 100 multiple-choice questions.

Before the test starts you’ll get:

instructions on how the test works

the chance to do some practice questions to get used to the screens

How the test works

There are 25 questions in each of these 4 categories:

road procedure

traffic signs and signals, car control, pedestrians and mechanical knowledge

driving test, disabilities, and the law

publications and instructional techniques

A question and several possible answers appear on a screen. You have to select the right answer.

Leaving a question

You can ‘flag’ questions that you want to come back to later.

Changing your answers

You can go back to any question to review and change your answer at any point.

When you’ve finished

You can finish the multiple-choice questions part when you’ve answered all of the questions. You do not have to use the full 1 hour and 30 minutes.

You can have a break of up to 3 minutes before the hazard perception test starts.

Hazard perception test

Before you start the hazard perception test, you’ll be shown a video about how it works.

You’ll then watch 14 video clips. The clips:

feature everyday road scenes

contain at least one ‘developing hazard’ - but one of the clips features 2 developing hazards

You get points for spotting the developing hazards as soon as they start to happen.

What a ‘developing hazard’ is

A developing hazard is something that would cause you to take action, like changing speed or direction.

How the scoring works

You can score up to 5 points for each developing hazard.

To get a high score, click the mouse as soon as you see the hazard starting to develop.

You do not lose points if you click and get it wrong. However, you will not score anything if you click continuously or in a pattern.

You only get one attempt at each clip. You cannot review or change your responses.

Pass mark and test result

You’ll get the result at the test centre after taking the test. You must pass both parts to pass the test.

To pass the multiple-choice part, you must get both:

an overall score of at least 85 out of 100

at least 20 out of 25 in each of the 4 categories of questions

You’ll fail if you get an overall score of 85 or higher, but do not score high enough in each of the 4 categories.

To pass the hazard perception part, you need to score at least 57 points out of 75.

If you pass

You’ll get a pass certificate letter if you pass the test. You’ll need this when you book and take your approved driving instructor (ADI) part 2 test.

Your pass certificate number lasts for 2 years. You must qualify as an ADI in that time, otherwise you’ll have to start the application process again.

If you fail

You’ll get a letter at the test centre. It’ll tell you which parts you did not score enough points on so you know what to practise.

You must book and take the full test again.

You have to wait at least 3 working days before taking your test again.

If you have reading difficulties

When you book your test you should say if you have a reading difficulty.

You can then ask for an English voiceover. This lets you hear the test instructions and questions through headphones.

You can hear the questions and possible answers as many times as you like.

Extra time to take the test

You can ask for more time to do the multiple-choice questions part of the test.

To do this, you must send proof to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) that you have a reading difficulty. The proof could be an email or letter from a:

teacher or other educational professional

doctor or medical professional

an occupational therapist

an online dyslexia screening product assured by the British Dyslexia Association

mobile phones

Booking your test

It’s the first of 3 tests you have to pass to qualify as an ADI. It’s a theory test.

There are 2 parts to the test:

multiple-choice questions

hazard perception - a video test about spotting hazards on the road

You book and take them as a single test. You must pass both parts to pass the test.

The ADI part 1 test works differently in Northern Ireland.

Change or check your test details

You can check your appointment details if you’ve lost your booking confirmation.

Rebook your test

Revision and practice

You can use books and software to revise for the theory test.

Multiple-choice questions

The questions in the theory test are based on:

The Highway Code

Know your traffic signs

Driving - the essential skills

the official Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) theory test kit for approved driving instructors e-Learning

the Driving Instructor’s Handbook

Study these to learn the rules and skills you’ll be tested on.

You can buy them online or from most high street bookshops.

Hazard perception test

What to take to your test

You must take your UK photocard driving licence to your test.

If you have a licence from Northern Ireland, bring the photocard and paper counterpart licence.

Your test will be cancelled and you will not get your money back if you do not take the right things with you.

Wearing a face covering at your test

You must wear a face covering at your test. If you do not wear one, you must have a good reason, for example:

you have a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

Wearing glasses does not count as a good reason.

If you’ve already booked your test and did not say that you cannot wear a face covering, contact DVSA.

When you must not go to your test

You must not go to your test if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

Change your theory test appointment for free if you need to self-isolate on the day of your test.

Lost your licence

You need to apply for a replacement driving licence if you lose yours. This could take up to 15 days to arrive.

Rearrange your test if you do not get it in time.

If you have a paper licence

Bring a valid passport as well as your paper licence.

If you do not have a passport, you need to get a photocard licence.

Personal belongings

You will not have access to your personal items in the test room. This includes things like:

bags

earphones

mobile phones

watches

You’ll usually have to store any personal items in a locker.

If your test centre does not have lockers, you must:

turn off your phone before you enter the test centre

put your belongings in a clear plastic box that will be given to you - this must be stored under your desk during the test

It’s illegal to cheat at the theory test. You can be sent to prison and banned from driving.

Multiple-choice questions

You have 1 hour and 30 minutes to answer 100 multiple-choice questions.

Before the test starts you’ll get:

instructions on how the test works

the chance to do some practice questions to get used to the screens

How the test works

There are 25 questions in each of these 4 categories:

road procedure

traffic signs and signals, car control, pedestrians and mechanical knowledge

driving test, disabilities, and the law

publications and instructional techniques

A question and several possible answers appear on a screen. You have to select the right answer.

Leaving a question

You can ‘flag’ questions that you want to come back to later.

Changing your answers

You can go back to any question to review and change your answer at any point.

When you’ve finished

You can have a break of up to 3 minutes before the hazard perception test starts.

Hazard perception test

Before you start the hazard perception test, you’ll be shown a video about how it works.

You’ll then watch 14 video clips. The clips:

feature everyday road scenes

contain at least one ‘developing hazard’ - but one of the clips features 2 developing hazards

You get points for spotting the developing hazards as soon as they start to happen.

What a ‘developing hazard’ is

A developing hazard is something that would cause you to take action, like changing speed or direction.

How the scoring works

You can score up to 5 points for each developing hazard.

To get a high score, click the mouse as soon as you see the hazard starting to develop.

You only get one attempt at each clip. You cannot review or change your responses.

Pass mark and test result

You’ll get the result at the test centre after taking the test. You must pass both parts to pass the test.

To pass the multiple-choice part, you must get both:

an overall score of at least 85 out of 100

at least 20 out of 25 in each of the 4 categories of questions

You’ll fail if you get an overall score of 85 or higher, but do not score high enough in each of the 4 categories.

To pass the hazard perception part, you need to score at least 57 points out of 75.

If you pass

If you fail

You’ll get a letter at the test centre. It’ll tell you which parts you did not score enough points on so you know what to practise.

You must book and take the full test again.

You have to wait at least 3 working days before taking your test again.

If you have reading difficulties

When you book your test you should say if you have a reading difficulty.

You can then ask for an English voiceover. This lets you hear the test instructions and questions through headphones.

You can hear the questions and possible answers as many times as you like.

Extra time to take the test

You can ask for more time to do the multiple-choice questions part of the test.

teacher or other educational professional

doctor or medical professional

an occupational therapist

an online dyslexia screening product assured by the British Dyslexia Association

You’ll usually have to store any personal items in a locker.

Booking your test

It’s the first of 3 tests you have to pass to qualify as an ADI. It’s a theory test.

There are 2 parts to the test:

multiple-choice questions

hazard perception - a video test about spotting hazards on the road

You book and take them as a single test. You must pass both parts to pass the test.

The ADI part 1 test works differently in Northern Ireland.

Change or check your test details

You can check your appointment details if you’ve lost your booking confirmation.

Rebook your test

Revision and practice

You can use books and software to revise for the theory test.

Multiple-choice questions

The questions in the theory test are based on:

The Highway Code

Know your traffic signs

Driving - the essential skills

the official Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) theory test kit for approved driving instructors e-Learning

the Driving Instructor’s Handbook

Study these to learn the rules and skills you’ll be tested on.

You can buy them online or from most high street bookshops.

Hazard perception test

What to take to your test

You must take your UK photocard driving licence to your test.

If you have a licence from Northern Ireland, bring the photocard and paper counterpart licence.

Your test will be cancelled and you will not get your money back if you do not take the right things with you.

Wearing a face covering at your test

You must wear a face covering at your test. If you do not wear one, you must have a good reason, for example:

you have a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

Wearing glasses does not count as a good reason.

If you’ve already booked your test and did not say that you cannot wear a face covering, contact DVSA.

When you must not go to your test

You must not go to your test if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

Change your theory test appointment for free if you need to self-isolate on the day of your test.

Lost your licence

You need to apply for a replacement driving licence if you lose yours. This could take up to 15 days to arrive.

Rearrange your test if you do not get it in time.

If you have a paper licence

Bring a valid passport as well as your paper licence.

If you do not have a passport, you need to get a photocard licence.

Personal belongings

You will not have access to your personal items in the test room. This includes things like:

bags

earphones

mobile phones

watches

You’ll usually have to store any personal items in a locker.

If your test centre does not have lockers, you must:

turn off your phone before you enter the test centre

put your belongings in a clear plastic box that will be given to you - this must be stored under your desk during the test

It’s illegal to cheat at the theory test. You can be sent to prison and banned from driving.

Multiple-choice questions

You have 1 hour and 30 minutes to answer 100 multiple-choice questions.

Before the test starts you’ll get:

instructions on how the test works

the chance to do some practice questions to get used to the screens

How the test works

There are 25 questions in each of these 4 categories:

road procedure

traffic signs and signals, car control, pedestrians and mechanical knowledge

driving test, disabilities, and the law

publications and instructional techniques

A question and several possible answers appear on a screen. You have to select the right answer.

Leaving a question

You can ‘flag’ questions that you want to come back to later.

Changing your answers

You can go back to any question to review and change your answer at any point.

When you’ve finished

You can have a break of up to 3 minutes before the hazard perception test starts.

Hazard perception test

Before you start the hazard perception test, you’ll be shown a video about how it works.

You’ll then watch 14 video clips. The clips:

feature everyday road scenes

contain at least one ‘developing hazard’ - but one of the clips features 2 developing hazards

You get points for spotting the developing hazards as soon as they start to happen.

What a ‘developing hazard’ is

A developing hazard is something that would cause you to take action, like changing speed or direction.

How the scoring works

You can score up to 5 points for each developing hazard.

To get a high score, click the mouse as soon as you see the hazard starting to develop.

You only get one attempt at each clip. You cannot review or change your responses.

Pass mark and test result

You’ll get the result at the test centre after taking the test. You must pass both parts to pass the test.

To pass the multiple-choice part, you must get both:

an overall score of at least 85 out of 100

at least 20 out of 25 in each of the 4 categories of questions

You’ll fail if you get an overall score of 85 or higher, but do not score high enough in each of the 4 categories.

To pass the hazard perception part, you need to score at least 57 points out of 75.

If you pass

If you fail

You’ll get a letter at the test centre. It’ll tell you which parts you did not score enough points on so you know what to practise.

You must book and take the full test again.

You have to wait at least 3 working days before taking your test again.

If you have reading difficulties

When you book your test you should say if you have a reading difficulty.

You can then ask for an English voiceover. This lets you hear the test instructions and questions through headphones.

You can hear the questions and possible answers as many times as you like.

Extra time to take the test

You can ask for more time to do the multiple-choice questions part of the test.

teacher or other educational professional

doctor or medical professional

an occupational therapist

an online dyslexia screening product assured by the British Dyslexia Association

If your test centre does not have lockers, you must:

Booking your test

It’s the first of 3 tests you have to pass to qualify as an ADI. It’s a theory test.

There are 2 parts to the test:

multiple-choice questions

hazard perception - a video test about spotting hazards on the road

You book and take them as a single test. You must pass both parts to pass the test.

The ADI part 1 test works differently in Northern Ireland.

Change or check your test details

You can check your appointment details if you’ve lost your booking confirmation.

Rebook your test

Revision and practice

You can use books and software to revise for the theory test.

Multiple-choice questions

The questions in the theory test are based on:

The Highway Code

Know your traffic signs

Driving - the essential skills

the official Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) theory test kit for approved driving instructors e-Learning

the Driving Instructor’s Handbook

Study these to learn the rules and skills you’ll be tested on.

You can buy them online or from most high street bookshops.

Hazard perception test

What to take to your test

You must take your UK photocard driving licence to your test.

If you have a licence from Northern Ireland, bring the photocard and paper counterpart licence.

Your test will be cancelled and you will not get your money back if you do not take the right things with you.

Wearing a face covering at your test

You must wear a face covering at your test. If you do not wear one, you must have a good reason, for example:

you have a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

Wearing glasses does not count as a good reason.

If you’ve already booked your test and did not say that you cannot wear a face covering, contact DVSA.

When you must not go to your test

You must not go to your test if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

Change your theory test appointment for free if you need to self-isolate on the day of your test.

Lost your licence

You need to apply for a replacement driving licence if you lose yours. This could take up to 15 days to arrive.

Rearrange your test if you do not get it in time.

If you have a paper licence

Bring a valid passport as well as your paper licence.

If you do not have a passport, you need to get a photocard licence.

Personal belongings

You will not have access to your personal items in the test room. This includes things like:

bags

earphones

mobile phones

watches

You’ll usually have to store any personal items in a locker.

If your test centre does not have lockers, you must:

turn off your phone before you enter the test centre

put your belongings in a clear plastic box that will be given to you - this must be stored under your desk during the test

It’s illegal to cheat at the theory test. You can be sent to prison and banned from driving.

Multiple-choice questions

You have 1 hour and 30 minutes to answer 100 multiple-choice questions.

Before the test starts you’ll get:

instructions on how the test works

the chance to do some practice questions to get used to the screens

How the test works

There are 25 questions in each of these 4 categories:

road procedure

traffic signs and signals, car control, pedestrians and mechanical knowledge

driving test, disabilities, and the law

publications and instructional techniques

A question and several possible answers appear on a screen. You have to select the right answer.

Leaving a question

You can ‘flag’ questions that you want to come back to later.

Changing your answers

You can go back to any question to review and change your answer at any point.

When you’ve finished

You can have a break of up to 3 minutes before the hazard perception test starts.

Hazard perception test

Before you start the hazard perception test, you’ll be shown a video about how it works.

You’ll then watch 14 video clips. The clips:

feature everyday road scenes

contain at least one ‘developing hazard’ - but one of the clips features 2 developing hazards

You get points for spotting the developing hazards as soon as they start to happen.

What a ‘developing hazard’ is

A developing hazard is something that would cause you to take action, like changing speed or direction.

How the scoring works

You can score up to 5 points for each developing hazard.

To get a high score, click the mouse as soon as you see the hazard starting to develop.

You only get one attempt at each clip. You cannot review or change your responses.

Pass mark and test result

You’ll get the result at the test centre after taking the test. You must pass both parts to pass the test.

To pass the multiple-choice part, you must get both:

an overall score of at least 85 out of 100

at least 20 out of 25 in each of the 4 categories of questions

You’ll fail if you get an overall score of 85 or higher, but do not score high enough in each of the 4 categories.

To pass the hazard perception part, you need to score at least 57 points out of 75.

If you pass

If you fail

You’ll get a letter at the test centre. It’ll tell you which parts you did not score enough points on so you know what to practise.

You must book and take the full test again.

You have to wait at least 3 working days before taking your test again.

If you have reading difficulties

When you book your test you should say if you have a reading difficulty.

You can then ask for an English voiceover. This lets you hear the test instructions and questions through headphones.

You can hear the questions and possible answers as many times as you like.

Extra time to take the test

You can ask for more time to do the multiple-choice questions part of the test.

teacher or other educational professional

doctor or medical professional

an occupational therapist

an online dyslexia screening product assured by the British Dyslexia Association

turn off your phone before you enter the test centre

Booking your test

It’s the first of 3 tests you have to pass to qualify as an ADI. It’s a theory test.

There are 2 parts to the test:

multiple-choice questions

hazard perception - a video test about spotting hazards on the road

You book and take them as a single test. You must pass both parts to pass the test.

The ADI part 1 test works differently in Northern Ireland.

Change or check your test details

You can check your appointment details if you’ve lost your booking confirmation.

Rebook your test

Revision and practice

You can use books and software to revise for the theory test.

Multiple-choice questions

The questions in the theory test are based on:

The Highway Code

Know your traffic signs

Driving - the essential skills

the official Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) theory test kit for approved driving instructors e-Learning

the Driving Instructor’s Handbook

Study these to learn the rules and skills you’ll be tested on.

You can buy them online or from most high street bookshops.

Hazard perception test

What to take to your test

You must take your UK photocard driving licence to your test.

If you have a licence from Northern Ireland, bring the photocard and paper counterpart licence.

Your test will be cancelled and you will not get your money back if you do not take the right things with you.

Wearing a face covering at your test

You must wear a face covering at your test. If you do not wear one, you must have a good reason, for example:

you have a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

Wearing glasses does not count as a good reason.

If you’ve already booked your test and did not say that you cannot wear a face covering, contact DVSA.

When you must not go to your test

You must not go to your test if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

Change your theory test appointment for free if you need to self-isolate on the day of your test.

Lost your licence

You need to apply for a replacement driving licence if you lose yours. This could take up to 15 days to arrive.

Rearrange your test if you do not get it in time.

If you have a paper licence

Bring a valid passport as well as your paper licence.

If you do not have a passport, you need to get a photocard licence.

Personal belongings

You will not have access to your personal items in the test room. This includes things like:

bags

earphones

mobile phones

watches

You’ll usually have to store any personal items in a locker.

If your test centre does not have lockers, you must:

turn off your phone before you enter the test centre

put your belongings in a clear plastic box that will be given to you - this must be stored under your desk during the test

It’s illegal to cheat at the theory test. You can be sent to prison and banned from driving.

Multiple-choice questions

You have 1 hour and 30 minutes to answer 100 multiple-choice questions.

Before the test starts you’ll get:

instructions on how the test works

the chance to do some practice questions to get used to the screens

How the test works

There are 25 questions in each of these 4 categories:

road procedure

traffic signs and signals, car control, pedestrians and mechanical knowledge

driving test, disabilities, and the law

publications and instructional techniques

A question and several possible answers appear on a screen. You have to select the right answer.

Leaving a question

You can ‘flag’ questions that you want to come back to later.

Changing your answers

You can go back to any question to review and change your answer at any point.

When you’ve finished

You can have a break of up to 3 minutes before the hazard perception test starts.

Hazard perception test

Before you start the hazard perception test, you’ll be shown a video about how it works.

You’ll then watch 14 video clips. The clips:

feature everyday road scenes

contain at least one ‘developing hazard’ - but one of the clips features 2 developing hazards

You get points for spotting the developing hazards as soon as they start to happen.

What a ‘developing hazard’ is

A developing hazard is something that would cause you to take action, like changing speed or direction.

How the scoring works

You can score up to 5 points for each developing hazard.

To get a high score, click the mouse as soon as you see the hazard starting to develop.

You do not lose points if you click and get it wrong. However, you will not score anything if you click continuously or in a pattern.

You only get one attempt at each clip. You cannot review or change your responses.

Pass mark and test result

You’ll get the result at the test centre after taking the test. You must pass both parts to pass the test.

To pass the multiple-choice part, you must get both:

an overall score of at least 85 out of 100

at least 20 out of 25 in each of the 4 categories of questions

You’ll fail if you get an overall score of 85 or higher, but do not score high enough in each of the 4 categories.

To pass the hazard perception part, you need to score at least 57 points out of 75.

If you pass

If you fail

You’ll get a letter at the test centre. It’ll tell you which parts you did not score enough points on so you know what to practise.

You must book and take the full test again.

You have to wait at least 3 working days before taking your test again.

If you have reading difficulties

When you book your test you should say if you have a reading difficulty.

You can then ask for an English voiceover. This lets you hear the test instructions and questions through headphones.

You can hear the questions and possible answers as many times as you like.

Extra time to take the test

You can ask for more time to do the multiple-choice questions part of the test.

teacher or other educational professional

doctor or medical professional

an occupational therapist

an online dyslexia screening product assured by the British Dyslexia Association

put your belongings in a clear plastic box that will be given to you - this must be stored under your desk during the test

Booking your test

It’s the first of 3 tests you have to pass to qualify as an ADI. It’s a theory test.

There are 2 parts to the test:

multiple-choice questions

hazard perception - a video test about spotting hazards on the road

You book and take them as a single test. You must pass both parts to pass the test.

The ADI part 1 test works differently in Northern Ireland.

Change or check your test details

You can check your appointment details if you’ve lost your booking confirmation.

Rebook your test

Revision and practice

You can use books and software to revise for the theory test.

Multiple-choice questions

The questions in the theory test are based on:

The Highway Code

Know your traffic signs

Driving - the essential skills

the official Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) theory test kit for approved driving instructors e-Learning

the Driving Instructor’s Handbook

Study these to learn the rules and skills you’ll be tested on.

You can buy them online or from most high street bookshops.

Hazard perception test

What to take to your test

You must take your UK photocard driving licence to your test.

If you have a licence from Northern Ireland, bring the photocard and paper counterpart licence.

Your test will be cancelled and you will not get your money back if you do not take the right things with you.

Wearing a face covering at your test

You must wear a face covering at your test. If you do not wear one, you must have a good reason, for example:

you have a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

Wearing glasses does not count as a good reason.

If you’ve already booked your test and did not say that you cannot wear a face covering, contact DVSA.

When you must not go to your test

You must not go to your test if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

Change your theory test appointment for free if you need to self-isolate on the day of your test.

Lost your licence

You need to apply for a replacement driving licence if you lose yours. This could take up to 15 days to arrive.

Rearrange your test if you do not get it in time.

If you have a paper licence

Bring a valid passport as well as your paper licence.

If you do not have a passport, you need to get a photocard licence.

Personal belongings

You will not have access to your personal items in the test room. This includes things like:

bags

earphones

mobile phones

watches

You’ll usually have to store any personal items in a locker.

If your test centre does not have lockers, you must:

turn off your phone before you enter the test centre

put your belongings in a clear plastic box that will be given to you - this must be stored under your desk during the test

It’s illegal to cheat at the theory test. You can be sent to prison and banned from driving.

Multiple-choice questions

You have 1 hour and 30 minutes to answer 100 multiple-choice questions.

Before the test starts you’ll get:

instructions on how the test works

the chance to do some practice questions to get used to the screens

How the test works

There are 25 questions in each of these 4 categories:

road procedure

traffic signs and signals, car control, pedestrians and mechanical knowledge

driving test, disabilities, and the law

publications and instructional techniques

A question and several possible answers appear on a screen. You have to select the right answer.

Leaving a question

You can ‘flag’ questions that you want to come back to later.

Changing your answers

You can go back to any question to review and change your answer at any point.

When you’ve finished

You can have a break of up to 3 minutes before the hazard perception test starts.

Hazard perception test

Before you start the hazard perception test, you’ll be shown a video about how it works.

You’ll then watch 14 video clips. The clips:

feature everyday road scenes

contain at least one ‘developing hazard’ - but one of the clips features 2 developing hazards

You get points for spotting the developing hazards as soon as they start to happen.

What a ‘developing hazard’ is

A developing hazard is something that would cause you to take action, like changing speed or direction.

How the scoring works

You can score up to 5 points for each developing hazard.

To get a high score, click the mouse as soon as you see the hazard starting to develop.

You do not lose points if you click and get it wrong. However, you will not score anything if you click continuously or in a pattern.

You only get one attempt at each clip. You cannot review or change your responses.

Pass mark and test result

You’ll get the result at the test centre after taking the test. You must pass both parts to pass the test.

To pass the multiple-choice part, you must get both:

an overall score of at least 85 out of 100

at least 20 out of 25 in each of the 4 categories of questions

You’ll fail if you get an overall score of 85 or higher, but do not score high enough in each of the 4 categories.

To pass the hazard perception part, you need to score at least 57 points out of 75.

If you pass

If you fail

You’ll get a letter at the test centre. It’ll tell you which parts you did not score enough points on so you know what to practise.

You must book and take the full test again.

You have to wait at least 3 working days before taking your test again.

If you have reading difficulties

When you book your test you should say if you have a reading difficulty.

You can then ask for an English voiceover. This lets you hear the test instructions and questions through headphones.

You can hear the questions and possible answers as many times as you like.

Extra time to take the test

You can ask for more time to do the multiple-choice questions part of the test.

teacher or other educational professional

doctor or medical professional

an occupational therapist

an online dyslexia screening product assured by the British Dyslexia Association


I have done repairs to my property and it has cost me a lot of money .I want to increase the monthly rent by a small margin. My tenant has a periodic tenancy for the property. How can I increase the rent?

For a periodic tenancy, you can:

Renting out your property

Landlord responsibilities

You’re a landlord if you rent out your property. As a landlord you must:

keep your rented properties safe and free from health hazards

make sure all gas and electrical equipment is safely installed and maintained

provide an Energy Performance Certificate for the property

protect your tenant’s deposit in a government-approved scheme

check your tenant has the right to rent your property if it’s in England

give your tenant a copy of the How to rent checklist when they start renting from you (you can email it to them)

There are different rules if you rent out property in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and your responsibilities

Your responsibilities as a landlord have not changed because of coronavirus. However, you should follow the government’s coronavirus advice.

Read the coronavirus and renting guidance for tenants and landlords.

Fire safety

It’s your responsibility to:

fit and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms

follow fire safety regulations for property in a purpose-built block of flats or for houses and property adapted into flats

Health and safety inspections

The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) is used by your council to make sure that properties in its area are safe for the people who live there.
This involves inspecting your property for possible hazards, such as uneven stairs.

If you own a property and rent it out, the council may decide to do an HHSRS inspection because:

your tenants have asked for an inspection

the council has done a survey of local properties and thinks your property might be hazardous

HHSRS hazard ratings

Inspectors look at 29 health and safety areas and score each hazard they find as category 1 or 2, according to its seriousness.

You must take action on enforcement notices from your council. You also have the right to appeal enforcement notices.

The council can do any of the following if they find a serious hazard:

issue an improvement notice

fix the hazard themselves and bill you for the cost

stop you or anyone else from using part or all of the property

Financial responsibilities

You have to pay:

Income Tax on your rental income, minus your day-to-day running expenses

Class 2 National Insurance if the work you do renting out property counts as running a business

If you only occasionally rent out your property or part of your home (for example through short-term rental apps), check if you need to tell HMRC about this income.

If you have a mortgage on the property you want to rent out, you must get permission from your mortgage lender.

Regulated tenancies

There are special rules for changing rents and terms for regulated tenancies (usually private tenancies starting before 15 January 1989).

Making repairs

You must keep your property in good condition, and any gas or electrical systems must meet specified safety standards.

When doing repairs in your property, make sure you keep you and your tenants safe from coronavirus (COVID-19).

There is more information about doing repairs and maintenance in section 3 of the coronavirus and renting guidance for tenants and landlords.

There are different rules around making repairs if you rent out property in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

When you can enter the property

You have a legal right to enter your property to inspect it or carry out repairs. You must give your tenants at least 24 hours’ notice, although immediate access may be possible in emergencies. Your tenants have the right to stay in the property during the repairs.

You’re normally responsible for repairs to:

the structure of your property

basins, sinks, baths and other sanitary fittings

heating and hot water systems

anything you damage through attempting repairs

If your property is seriously damaged by a fire, flood or other similar incident, you do not have to rebuild or renovate it. However, if you do, you cannot charge your tenants for any repairs made.

Common areas

If you own a block of flats, you’re usually responsible for repairing common areas, like staircases. Councils can ask landlords to fix problems in common areas, or to repair a tenant’s flat that’s been damaged by another tenant.

What happens if repairs are not done properly

If you refuse to carry out repairs, tenants can:

start a claim in the small claims court for repairs under £5,000

in some circumstances, carry out the repairs themselves and deduct the cost from their rent

If you do not make repairs to remove hazards, your tenants can ask the council to inspect the property under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) and to take any action that is necessary.

If the council finds serious hazards, it must take enforcement action to make sure the hazard is removed.

If the property is temporarily unfit to live in

You can ask tenants to move out during major repairs. Before this happens, you should agree in writing:

how long the works will last

the tenants’ right to return

details of any alternative accommodation

You cannot repossess a property to do repairs. However, if you’re planning substantial works, or want to redevelop the property, you can apply to the courts for an order for your tenants to leave. The courts are more likely to grant this if you provide alternative accommodation.

Repairs and charging rent

If the repairs are very disruptive, your tenants may be able to claim a reduction on their rent known as a ‘rent abatement’. This will depend on how much of the property is unusable.

You may have the right to increase the rent after carrying out repairs and improvements, depending on the tenancy agreement.

Rent increases

The tenancy agreement should include how and when you’ll review the rent.

There are special rules for increasing regulated tenancy rents.

When you can increase rent

For a periodic tenancy (rolling on a week-by-week or month-by-month basis) you can usually only increase the rent once a year.

For a fixed-term tenancy (running for a set period) you can only increase the rent if your tenancy agreement permits this. Otherwise, you can only raise the rent when the fixed term ends.

How you can increase the rent

If a fixed-term tenancy agreement says how the rent can be increased, you must stick to this.

For a periodic tenancy, you can:

agree a rent increase with your tenants and produce a written record of the agreement that you both sign

use a ‘Landlord’s notice proposing a new rent’ form, giving your tenant at least a month’s notice

There are different rules around increasing rent if you rent out property in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

The rent increase must be fair and realistic - that is, in line with reasonable rents on the open market.

If your tenants do not agree

If your tenants think the rent increase is unfair, they can ask the First Tier Property Tribunal to decide the right amount.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and rent

Tenant responsibilities have not changed because of coronavirus. Your tenant should continue to pay rent if they can.

If your tenant is unable to pay their rent, you can agree a different way to pay. For example, you can agree to accept a lower rent payment for a set amount of time and they pay off the rent arrears later.

Read the coronavirus and renting guidance for tenants and landlords.

You and your tenant can get advice from Shelter, Citizens Advice and the Money Advice Service.

Settling disputes

You can often sort out disputes with your tenants without going to court:

Speak to your tenants about your concerns.

If this does not work, write a formal letter setting out the problem.

Use a mediation service, which is usually cheaper and quicker than going to court.

As a last resort, you can take your tenants to court.

There are different rules for settling disputes if you rent out property in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Going to court

If you take legal action, the case may go to a small claims court. Small claims cases are those worth less than £10,000 (or £1,000 if the case is about repairs to a property).

The courts provide a free mediation service for small claims cases, which can take place over the phone.

If you want to get your property back because your tenants owe you rent money, you can make a possession claim online.

You must follow specific rules if you want to evict tenants.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and possession claims

The court process for possession claims is different because of coronavirus.

You must tell the court if your tenant and their dependants have been affected by coronavirus. For example, if they lost income because of coronavirus, which meant they were not able to pay your rent.

Free advice for disputes

You can get free advice about disputes or housing problems from Citizens Advice or Shelter.

In Wales, you can contact Shelter Cymru.

You might be able to get free and confidential legal advice from Civil Legal Advice (CLA) as part of legal aid, if you’re in England and Wales.

A solicitor can also help you, but they might charge a fee.

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO)

If you let your property to several tenants who are not members of the same family, it may be a ‘House in Multiple Occupation’ (HMO).

The rules about HMOs are different in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Your property is an HMO if both of the following apply:

at least 3 tenants live there, forming more than one household

toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities are shared

A household consists of either a single person or members of the same family who live together. It includes people who are married or living together and people in same-sex relationships.

If someone in an HMO becomes ill with coronavirus (COVID-19), you do not have to find alternative accommodation for the other tenants. You also cannot make someone leave their home because they have coronavirus. Read the coronavirus and renting guidance for tenants and landlords.

Licences

An HMO must have a licence if it is occupied by 5 or more people. A council can also include other types of HMOs for licensing.

Find out if you need an HMO licence from your council.

Risk assessment

The council has to carry out a Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) risk assessment on your HMO within 5 years of receiving a licence application. If the inspector finds any unacceptable risks during the assessment, you must carry out work to eliminate them.

Reporting changes

You must tell the council if:

you plan to make changes to an HMO

your tenants make changes

your tenants’ circumstances change (for example they have a child)

Paying tax and National Insurance

When you rent out property you may have to pay tax.

Running a property business

You have to pay Class 2 National Insurance if your profits are £6,515 a year or more and what you do counts as running a business, for example if all the following apply:

being a landlord is your main job

you rent out more than one property

you’re buying new properties to rent out

If your profits are under £6,515, you can make voluntary Class 2 National Insurance payments, for example to make sure you get the full State Pension.

You do not pay National Insurance if you’re not running a business - even if you do work like arranging repairs, advertising for tenants and arranging tenancy agreements.

Property you personally own

The first £1,000 of your income from property rental is tax-free. This is your ‘property allowance’.

Contact HMRC if your income from property rental is between £1,000 and £2,500 a year.

You must report it on a Self Assessment tax return if it’s:

£2,500 to £9,999 after allowable expenses

£10,000 or more before allowable expenses

Register for Self Assessment

If you do not usually send a tax return, you need to register by 5 October following the tax year you had rental income.

Register now

Declaring unpaid tax

You can declare unpaid tax by telling HMRC about rental income from previous years. If you have to pay a penalty it’ll be lower than if HMRC find out about the income themselves.

You’ll be given a disclosure reference number. You then have 3 months to work out what you owe and pay it.

Do not include the £1,000 tax-free property allowance for any tax years before 2017 to 2018.

Property owned by a company

Count the rental income the same way as any other business income.

Costs you can claim to reduce tax

There are different tax rules for:

residential properties

furnished holiday lettings

commercial properties

Residential properties

You or your company must pay tax on the profit you make from renting out the property, after deductions for ‘allowable expenses’.

Allowable expenses are things you need to spend money on in the day-to-day running of the property, like:

letting agents’ fees

legal fees for lets of a year or less, or for renewing a lease for less than 50 years

accountants’ fees

buildings and contents insurance

interest on property loans

maintenance and repairs to the property (but not improvements)

utility bills, like gas, water and electricity

rent, ground rent, service charges

Council Tax

services you pay for, like cleaning or gardening

other direct costs of letting the property, like phone calls, stationery and advertising

Allowable expenses do not include ‘capital expenditure’ - like buying a property or renovating it beyond repairs for wear and tear.

You may be able to claim tax relief on money spent on replacing a ‘domestic item’. This is called ‘replacement of domestic items relief’.

Domestic items include:

beds

sofas

curtains

carpets

fridges

crockery and cutlery

You must have only bought the domestic item for use by tenants in a residential property and the item you replaced must no longer be used in that property.

The replacement of domestic items relief is available from:

the 2016 to 2017 tax year for individuals and partnerships

1 April 2016 for companies

Furnished residential lettings

You may be able to claim ‘wear and tear allowance’:

for the 2015 to 2016 tax year for individuals and partnerships

on or before 31 March 2016 for companies

Furnished holiday lettings

For furnished holiday homes, you may be able to claim:

plant and machinery capital allowances on furniture, furnishings and so on in the let property, as well as on equipment used outside the property (like vans and tools)

Capital Gains Tax reliefs - Business Asset Rollover Relief, Entrepreneurs’ Relief, relief for gifts of business assets and relief for loans to traders

You can only claim these if all the following apply:

the property is offered to let for at least 210 days a year

it’s let for more than 105 days a year

no single let is more than 31 days

you charge the going rate for similar properties in the area (‘market value’)

If you own the property personally, your profits count as earnings for pension purposes.

You can download helpsheets to help you with your tax return:

capital allowances

furnished holiday lettings

Commercial properties

You can claim plant and machinery capital allowances on some items if you rent out a commercial property - like a shop, garage or lock-up.

Working out your profit

You work out the net profit or loss for all your property lettings (except furnished holiday lettings) as if it’s a single business. To do this, you:

add together all your rental income

add together all your allowable expenses

take the expenses away from the income

Work out the profit or loss from furnished holiday lettings separately from any other rental business to make sure you only claim these tax advantages for eligible properties.

Making a loss

Deduct any losses from your profit and enter the figure on your Self Assessment form.

You can offset your loss against:

future profits by carrying it forward to a later year

profits from other properties (if you have them)

You can only offset losses against future profits in the same business.

Changing a regulated tenancy (fair rent)

There are special rules for changing rents and terms for regulated tenancies (sometimes called ‘fair rents’) which usually started before 15 January 1989.

There are different rules for increasing rents in regulated tenancies in Scotland and rent-controlled tenancies in Northern Ireland.

When you can increase rent

You can only increase the rent up to the maximum set by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) - check the register of rents to find out what it is.

You can ask VOA to review the rent every 2 years, or earlier if something has affected the value, so that it remains fair. Your rent might increase or decrease.

Download and fill in a fair rent form to get your rent reviewed. Send the completed form to the VOA Network Support Office by post.

Email the VOA Network Support Office if you have any questions about increasing your rent.

If the fair rent increases

You must serve a notice of increase of rent on your tenant. You can charge the new rent from the date it’s registered.

Fill in a ‘notice of increase’ form (available from legal stationers) and send it to your tenant.

You can backdate your notice of rent increase for up to 4 weeks.

Cancel a registered rent

Download and fill in an application form to cancel a registered rent and send it to the address on the form, for example if the tenancy stops being regulated, or you and the tenant agree to cancel it.

It may take up to 6 weeks to cancel a registered rent.

agree a rent increase with your tenants and produce a written record of the agreement that you both sign

Renting out your property

Landlord responsibilities

You’re a landlord if you rent out your property. As a landlord you must:

keep your rented properties safe and free from health hazards

make sure all gas and electrical equipment is safely installed and maintained

provide an Energy Performance Certificate for the property

protect your tenant’s deposit in a government-approved scheme

check your tenant has the right to rent your property if it’s in England

give your tenant a copy of the How to rent checklist when they start renting from you (you can email it to them)

There are different rules if you rent out property in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and your responsibilities

Read the coronavirus and renting guidance for tenants and landlords.

Fire safety

It’s your responsibility to:

fit and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms

follow fire safety regulations for property in a purpose-built block of flats or for houses and property adapted into flats

Health and safety inspections

If you own a property and rent it out, the council may decide to do an HHSRS inspection because:

your tenants have asked for an inspection

the council has done a survey of local properties and thinks your property might be hazardous

HHSRS hazard ratings

Inspectors look at 29 health and safety areas and score each hazard they find as category 1 or 2, according to its seriousness.

You must take action on enforcement notices from your council. You also have the right to appeal enforcement notices.

The council can do any of the following if they find a serious hazard:

issue an improvement notice

fix the hazard themselves and bill you for the cost

stop you or anyone else from using part or all of the property

Financial responsibilities

You have to pay:

Income Tax on your rental income, minus your day-to-day running expenses

Class 2 National Insurance if the work you do renting out property counts as running a business

If you have a mortgage on the property you want to rent out, you must get permission from your mortgage lender.

Regulated tenancies

There are special rules for changing rents and terms for regulated tenancies (usually private tenancies starting before 15 January 1989).

Making repairs

You must keep your property in good condition, and any gas or electrical systems must meet specified safety standards.

When doing repairs in your property, make sure you keep you and your tenants safe from coronavirus (COVID-19).

There are different rules around making repairs if you rent out property in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

When you can enter the property

You’re normally responsible for repairs to:

the structure of your property

basins, sinks, baths and other sanitary fittings

heating and hot water systems

anything you damage through attempting repairs

Common areas

What happens if repairs are not done properly

If you refuse to carry out repairs, tenants can:

start a claim in the small claims court for repairs under £5,000

in some circumstances, carry out the repairs themselves and deduct the cost from their rent

If the council finds serious hazards, it must take enforcement action to make sure the hazard is removed.

If the property is temporarily unfit to live in

You can ask tenants to move out during major repairs. Before this happens, you should agree in writing:

how long the works will last

the tenants’ right to return

details of any alternative accommodation

Repairs and charging rent

You may have the right to increase the rent after carrying out repairs and improvements, depending on the tenancy agreement.

Rent increases

The tenancy agreement should include how and when you’ll review the rent.

There are special rules for increasing regulated tenancy rents.

When you can increase rent

For a periodic tenancy (rolling on a week-by-week or month-by-month basis) you can usually only increase the rent once a year.

How you can increase the rent

If a fixed-term tenancy agreement says how the rent can be increased, you must stick to this.

For a periodic tenancy, you can:

agree a rent increase with your tenants and produce a written record of the agreement that you both sign

use a ‘Landlord’s notice proposing a new rent’ form, giving your tenant at least a month’s notice

There are different rules around increasing rent if you rent out property in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

The rent increase must be fair and realistic - that is, in line with reasonable rents on the open market.

If your tenants do not agree

If your tenants think the rent increase is unfair, they can ask the First Tier Property Tribunal to decide the right amount.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and rent

Tenant responsibilities have not changed because of coronavirus. Your tenant should continue to pay rent if they can.

Read the coronavirus and renting guidance for tenants and landlords.

You and your tenant can get advice from Shelter, Citizens Advice and the Money Advice Service.

Settling disputes

You can often sort out disputes with your tenants without going to court:

Speak to your tenants about your concerns.

If this does not work, write a formal letter setting out the problem.

Use a mediation service, which is usually cheaper and quicker than going to court.

As a last resort, you can take your tenants to court.

There are different rules for settling disputes if you rent out property in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Going to court

The courts provide a free mediation service for small claims cases, which can take place over the phone.

If you want to get your property back because your tenants owe you rent money, you can make a possession claim online.

You must follow specific rules if you want to evict tenants.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and possession claims

The court process for possession claims is different because of coronavirus.

Free advice for disputes

You can get free advice about disputes or housing problems from Citizens Advice or Shelter.

In Wales, you can contact Shelter Cymru.

A solicitor can also help you, but they might charge a fee.

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO)

If you let your property to several tenants who are not members of the same family, it may be a ‘House in Multiple Occupation’ (HMO).

The rules about HMOs are different in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Your property is an HMO if both of the following apply:

at least 3 tenants live there, forming more than one household

toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities are shared

Licences

An HMO must have a licence if it is occupied by 5 or more people. A council can also include other types of HMOs for licensing.

Find out if you need an HMO licence from your council.

Risk assessment

Reporting changes

You must tell the council if:

you plan to make changes to an HMO

your tenants make changes

your tenants’ circumstances change (for example they have a child)

Paying tax and National Insurance

When you rent out property you may have to pay tax.

Running a property business

being a landlord is your main job

you rent out more than one property

you’re buying new properties to rent out

Property you personally own

The first £1,000 of your income from property rental is tax-free. This is your ‘property allowance’.

Contact HMRC if your income from property rental is between £1,000 and £2,500 a year.

You must report it on a Self Assessment tax return if it’s:

£2,500 to £9,999 after allowable expenses

£10,000 or more before allowable expenses

Register for Self Assessment

If you do not usually send a tax return, you need to register by 5 October following the tax year you had rental income.

Register now

Declaring unpaid tax

You’ll be given a disclosure reference number. You then have 3 months to work out what you owe and pay it.

Do not include the £1,000 tax-free property allowance for any tax years before 2017 to 2018.

Property owned by a company

Count the rental income the same way as any other business income.

Costs you can claim to reduce tax

There are different tax rules for:

residential properties

furnished holiday lettings

commercial properties

Residential properties

You or your company must pay tax on the profit you make from renting out the property, after deductions for ‘allowable expenses’.

Allowable expenses are things you need to spend money on in the day-to-day running of the property, like:

letting agents’ fees

legal fees for lets of a year or less, or for renewing a lease for less than 50 years

accountants’ fees

buildings and contents insurance

interest on property loans

maintenance and repairs to the property (but not improvements)

utility bills, like gas, water and electricity

rent, ground rent, service charges

Council Tax

services you pay for, like cleaning or gardening

other direct costs of letting the property, like phone calls, stationery and advertising

Allowable expenses do not include ‘capital expenditure’ - like buying a property or renovating it beyond repairs for wear and tear.

You may be able to claim tax relief on money spent on replacing a ‘domestic item’. This is called ‘replacement of domestic items relief’.

Domestic items include:

beds

sofas

curtains

carpets

fridges

crockery and cutlery

The replacement of domestic items relief is available from:

the 2016 to 2017 tax year for individuals and partnerships

1 April 2016 for companies

Furnished residential lettings

You may be able to claim ‘wear and tear allowance’:

for the 2015 to 2016 tax year for individuals and partnerships

on or before 31 March 2016 for companies

Furnished holiday lettings

For furnished holiday homes, you may be able to claim:

You can only claim these if all the following apply:

the property is offered to let for at least 210 days a year

it’s let for more than 105 days a year

no single let is more than 31 days

you charge the going rate for similar properties in the area (‘market value’)

If you own the property personally, your profits count as earnings for pension purposes.

You can download helpsheets to help you with your tax return:

capital allowances

furnished holiday lettings

Commercial properties

Working out your profit

add together all your rental income

add together all your allowable expenses

take the expenses away from the income

Making a loss

Deduct any losses from your profit and enter the figure on your Self Assessment form.

You can offset your loss against:

future profits by carrying it forward to a later year

profits from other properties (if you have them)

You can only offset losses against future profits in the same business.

Changing a regulated tenancy (fair rent)

There are different rules for increasing rents in regulated tenancies in Scotland and rent-controlled tenancies in Northern Ireland.

When you can increase rent

Download and fill in a fair rent form to get your rent reviewed. Send the completed form to the VOA Network Support Office by post.

Email the VOA Network Support Office if you have any questions about increasing your rent.

If the fair rent increases

You must serve a notice of increase of rent on your tenant. You can charge the new rent from the date it’s registered.

Fill in a ‘notice of increase’ form (available from legal stationers) and send it to your tenant.

You can backdate your notice of rent increase for up to 4 weeks.

Cancel a registered rent

It may take up to 6 weeks to cancel a registered rent.


i am a nurse that works in the maternity ward at a city hospital. we delivered a child from a single mother who unfortunately lost her life after the delivery. can a person who is not a parent register a birth ?

If the parents cannot register the birth (for example, for medical reasons), certain other people can do it:

Register a birth

Overview

You may not be able to register a birth at the moment because of coronavirus (COVID-19). You’ll be able to register at a later date.

Find out if you can register a birth now by:

contacting the local register office

asking at the hospital where the baby was born before the mother leaves

There are different rules for registering a birth in Scotland, registering a birth in Northern Ireland and registering a birth abroad.

Information you need when registering a birth

When registering the birth, you should know:

place and date of the birth

name, surname and sex of the baby

parents’ names, surnames and address

places and dates of parents’ birth

date of parents’ marriage or civil partnership

parents’ jobs

mother’s maiden surname

What you should take

If you can register the birth, you should take at least one form of identification when you go to the register office. You can use:

passport

birth certificate

deed poll

driving licence

proof of address (for example, a utility bill)

Council Tax bill

marriage or civil partnership certificate

You should also take your child’s personal child health record or ‘red book’ as some registrars may ask to see it.

If you’re going to the register office on your own, you may need proof of paternity from the other parent before you give their details.

Organisations you need to contact

Having a child might affect your tax, your benefits and services from your local council.

The Tell Us Once service can report a birth to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and your local council in one go. The registrar will let you know if this service is available in your area.

When you go to a Tell Us Once appointment, you’ll be asked about:

the people who’ll be named on the birth register

any partners that live with them

For each person, you’ll need to know:

their address and phone number

their date of birth

their National Insurance number

details of any benefits they get or have applied for

If the Tell Us Once service is not available in your area, you’ll need to contact Jobcentre Plus and your local council about your benefits and services.

After the birth is registered

Once you’ve registered the birth, you may be able to claim:

Child Benefit

Child Tax Credit

Who can register a birth

Opposite-sex couples

Married or civil-partner parents

Either parent can register the birth on their own. They can include both parents’ details if they were married or in a civil partnership when the baby was born or conceived.

Unmarried parents

The details of both parents can be included on the birth certificate if one of the following happens:

they sign the birth register together

one parent completes a statutory declaration of parentage form and the other takes the signed form to register the birth

one parent goes to register the birth with a document from the court (for example, a court order) giving the father parental responsibility

The mother can choose to register the birth without the child’s father if they’re not married or in a civil partnership. The father’s details will not be included on the birth certificate.

It might be possible to add the father’s details at a later date by completing an application for the re-registration of a child’s birth.

Same-sex female couples

Female couples can include both their names on their child’s birth certificate when registering the birth.

Married or civil-partner parents

Either parent can register the birth on their own if all of the following are true:

the mother has a child by donor insemination or fertility treatment

she was married or in a civil partnership at the time of the treatment

Unmarried, non-civil-partner parents

When a mother is not married or in a civil partnership, her partner can be seen as the child’s second parent if both women:

are treated together in the UK by a licensed clinic

have made a ‘parenthood agreement’

However, for both parents’ details to be recorded on the birth certificate, they must do one of the following:

register the birth jointly

complete a ‘Statutory declaration of acknowledgement of parentage’ form and one parent takes the signed form when she registers the birth

get a document from the court (for example, a court order) giving the second female parent parental responsibility and one parent shows the document when she registers the birth

Same-sex male couples

Male couples must get a parental order from the court before they can be registered as parents.

Other people who can register a birth

someone who was present at the birth

someone who is responsible for the child

a member of the administrative staff at the hospital where the child was born

Birth certificates

You may not get a certificate straight away because of coronavirus (COVID-19). The register office will tell you when you can get a certificate.

There are 2 types of birth certificate:

the short version, which contains only the baby’s details

the full version, which also contains the parents’ details

Once you have registered the birth, you’ll be able to buy a short or full certificate for your baby. Both kinds cost £11.

Register a birth

Overview

Find out if you can register a birth now by:

contacting the local register office

Information you need when registering a birth

When registering the birth, you should know:

place and date of the birth

name, surname and sex of the baby

parents’ names, surnames and address

places and dates of parents’ birth

date of parents’ marriage or civil partnership

parents’ jobs

mother’s maiden surname

What you should take

passport

birth certificate

deed poll

driving licence

proof of address (for example, a utility bill)

Council Tax bill

marriage or civil partnership certificate

Organisations you need to contact

the people who’ll be named on the birth register

any partners that live with them

For each person, you’ll need to know:

their address and phone number

their date of birth

their National Insurance number

details of any benefits they get or have applied for

After the birth is registered

Child Benefit

Child Tax Credit

Who can register a birth

Opposite-sex couples

Married or civil-partner parents

Unmarried parents

they sign the birth register together

Same-sex female couples

Married or civil-partner parents

Unmarried, non-civil-partner parents

are treated together in the UK by a licensed clinic

have made a ‘parenthood agreement’

register the birth jointly

Same-sex male couples

Other people who can register a birth

someone who was present at the birth

someone who is responsible for the child

Birth certificates

There are 2 types of birth certificate:

the short version, which contains only the baby’s details