No mater what I enter for income and expenses on Sch. E (rental), the expenses equal the income. I even erased the whole rental info. but that didn't help either. help

[Skinnerj]

We rented our basement at fair market value for 8 months and did not get a new renter and do not intend to get a new renter.

[MaryK4]

If you use the dwelling unit for both rental and personal purposes, you generally must divide your total expenses between the rental use and the personal use based on the number of days used for each purpose. You won't be able to deduct your rental expense in excess of the gross rental income limitation (your gross rental income less the rental portion of mortgage interest, real estate taxes, casualty losses, and rental expenses like realtors' fees and advertising costs). However, you may be able to carry forward some of these rental expenses to the next year, subject to the gross rental income limitation for that year. 

From Topic no. 415, Renting residential and vacation property