rental expenses

[be5455ge]

My husband owns a mobile home and land that belonged to his grandmother. Our son lived there for several years in which his dog tore up the walls, carpet, etc. Someone that our son knows wanted to rent it.  It had been vacant for several years and a lot of repairs and replacements had to be done before it was rentable. Our son borrowed the money to pay for everything, which amounted to roughly 15,000. He did the work himself and is there a way that he can claim any expenses for this rental? 

[Vanessa A]

No.  Your son cannot claim any of the expenses associated with the mobile home since he does not have any ownership in the mobile home.  

Generally, if he would own the property and put the money into it, this would be added to the cost basis of the property and then depreciated if it is a rental property.  If it does not become a rental property, then the remodel is added to the cost basis. Since he does not have ownership in the property, this would not apply to him.