Leasing a computer

Some leasing companies

TABLE

Pros and cons

Pros

• The latest equipment. Renting computer equipment allows you to easily upgrade to newer, faster technology during the contract period. Most contracts let you upgrade at any time, although Flexirent and RentSmart both suggest it's best to wait until you're at least two thirds of the way into your contract to get the best deal. Flexirent offers two types of upgrades - you can upgrade the CPU to boost your system's performance, or simply swap old gear for new, known as a 'trade up'. You usually won't be penalised for breaking your original lease but you may have to pay out the old contract or transfer the balance to your new lease.
  
• Lower initial cost outlay. Leasing allows you to pay a small amount initially but take the equipment home immediately. You can factor the monthly payments into household or business budgets to avoid paying a lump sum. This can free up money for other expenses such as mortgage repayments, saving for a holiday or business costs. You may even be able to afford a better performing system by making smaller monthly payments instead of one large, upfront payment. Some leasing companies will let you choose the length of your rental term. The longer the rental term, the lower the monthly cost so you may be able to choose a contract period to match your budget. However, Flexirent recommends choosing a rental period to match the 'use-by' date of the equipment you're after rather than your budget.
  
• Tax benefits. If you use leased computer equipment for work purposes, even at home, you're entitled to tax deductions on the rental costs. For example, if you use the computer solely for a home business you can claim 100 percent of the expenses. If you use the computer for work-related purposes 60 percent of the time, you can claim 60 percent of the costs. However, we recommend you speak to a tax advisor about what you're entitled to before you sign a contract. Paying for computer equipment upfront also entitles you to similar tax deductions - you may be able to claim a deduction on the decline in value of the computer based on the proportion of time you use it for work expenses. Again, talk to a tax expert for details.
  

Cons

• Lack of ownership. Leasing contracts don't imply the right to own the equipment after the end of the contract period. You may have the option of making an offer to purchase the equipment but, depending on the terms and conditions of your contract, the lessor may not choose to sell. The leasing company bases its decision on what it believes the product is worth in the secondhand marketplace, known as Fair Market Value.
  
• Misadventure. If something happens to the leased equipment, say the computer is stolen or it's infected with a computer virus, you must continue to pay out the term of the contract regardless of whether or not you're actually using the computer. Paying for insurance or a protection plan may be worthwhile. See What to watch out for, below.
  
• Cancellation charges. If you want to cancel your contract before the expiry date you may have to pay out the term or else be charged a cancellation fee.
  
• Cost. If you can't claim tax deductions, you'll pay more for the equipment through a leasing scheme.
  

What to look for

• Bundles
  Some computer leasing companies allow you to bundle several pieces of hardware and software into one rental agreement. Flexirent allows up to 25 percent of the leased amount to be used for software, installation, network cabling or training. However, it may be better to buy software outright so that you own the licence at the end of the contract.
  
• End of contract
  Make sure you know when your contract ends. Some leasing companies will continue to debit monthly payments until you cancel the contract.
  
• Insurance protection
  Most leasing companies require that you insure the leased equipment against loss and other insurable risks for its full replacement value during the term of the contract. Some companies offer their own insurance or protection plans at an additional cost (usually a small percentage of the total leased amount). You may be able to have the equipment covered under your existing home and contents insurance policy. Check with your provider. Remember to add any insurance or protection costs into your monthly budget.
  
• Warranty and support
  Computers are usually sold with a one-year manufacturer's warranty. Leased computers also include this standard warranty. Call your leasing company or retailer to have the system repaired or replaced under warranty. Some leasing companies recommend equipment be covered by an extended warranty. You may be able to factor this additional cost (usually a small percentage of the total leased amount) into the lease.
  
• Your files and documents
  File storage and backup is your responsibility. You will need to remove all your personal files and any software you've bought and installed yourself before returning a leased computer. Very few leasing companies can help you transfer data from an old leased computer to a new one. We recommend buying an external hard drive to use to store all your personal files and documents. Alternatively, you can burn all your files to DVD or CD or transfer them to a portable storage device such as a USB key.