I've never done it, but I'd have to think about several factors before deciding to rent a space:
- State and local laws. Sometimes, an unraked game in your home is fine, where an unraked game in a non-residence is illegal. We have such a law in Florida, and I'm willing to bet we're not the only state. Also, the $10 charge to pay the rent could also turn your otherwise legal game into an illegal one.
- The crowd. I play with people I know, and typically only introduce new players to the group one or two at a time, so I'm fine with hosting games in my home. If you plan to play with a less familiar crowd or maybe with people that you don't want around your family and your expensive stuff, an alternate location could be a good idea.
- The stakes. I'd be less inclined to host higher stakes games in my home, simply because I like to minimize the risk of robbery. Nobody cares about a .25/.50 game with a few hundred bucks in play, but bump that to 2/5 and $10k on the table, and now you're looking at a much juicier target.
