Working from home

[Jacob]

Just researching the topic of working from home. It seems pretty clear that this does not require planning permission nor incur business rates as long as it involves basically no major building alterations and no environmental impact.
The obvious issue for a woodwork shop is thought to be noise, but in the event it often turns out to be not so noticeable - you may deafen yourself inside but be hardly heard from outside.
Other issues are footfall (employees or other visitors) traffic (deliveries in and out), waste disposal and so on.
Just wondered what issues others might have encountered on this? Neighbours objecting, planning permission or rates insisted upon, etc.??

 

[Phill05]

1st Check your deeds if there is any restriction to use for a business.
2nd Neighbours objecting.

 

[Inspector]

Here your house insurance is a factor. Run a business they don't know about and your insurance is null and void even if a claim is totally unrelated. If they get wind of you having a business they will be all over you trying to get details to raise the rate if they will even insure you at all.

Pete

 

[Spectric]

You might have to check with the mortgage company and might need insurance, but the biggest issue will be your neighbours. Would you want to live with people running businesses around you.

 

[Jacob]

You might have to check with the mortgage company and might need insurance, but the biggest issue will be your neighbours. Would you want to live with people running businesses around you.

Yes. But in fact people are running business quietly and unnoticed, all over the place.

Coupla links here

Do I need to pay business rates working from home? - Small Business UK

Business rates

 

[nickds1]

If you are required to work from home by your employer, you may be entitled to tax relief...

https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/working-at-home

 

[Lorenzl]

My wife had a beauty business and was told if the room was duel purpose ( not solely for business ) you don't need to business rates. She put an ironing board and clothes dryer in the room when the council inspector visited.

 

[akirk]

dual use of space is primarily to stop capital gains tax on sale of a property... make sure that if there is a computer in a room there is also a bed for guests etc.
there are always tax benefits / money you can claim such as a % of heating etc. regardless of whether you are being told by an employer or run your own business... usually based on pro rata use of space... Even if you have a covenant on your property you may still be able to run a business - e.g. the person who held the benefit may not exist any more / your business might be one that didn't exist when the covenant was created / it might now be considered an unfair clause and be removeable... working from home e.g. checking emails for an employer elsewhere is very unlikely to have conflict with any covenant...

 

[Joshjosh]

I've worked from home for around 2 1/2 years now, running a small kitchens and furniture business.

I bought the house with this in mind, choosing a house with a long garden that backs onto waste land.

I think the most important factor is neighbours, I've tried to keep them in the loop and ask for input when erecting the outbuildings. I also make sure to keep them sweet with the odd no cost handy jobs.

I work on a "what they don't know won't hurt them" policy with the council. If the neighbours are happy with would the council have any reason to be snooping around.

For me working from home not only reduces my overheads, it also gives me great flexibility with working hours

 

[Just4Fun]

A friend in the UK set up a home business. He made sure the neighbours know all about it. After about a month the council came calling because a neighbour had complained my friend's (radio) equipment interfered with the neighbour's TV. My friend showed that none of his equipment was wired up. He had secretly planned to have the kit installed but inoperable for a few months because someone was bound to complain. He saved himself from considerable hassle by doing that.

 

[Jacob]

......

I work on a "what they don't know won't hurt them" policy with the council. If the neighbours are happy with would the council have any reason to be snooping around.

I think most councils would agree, unless they feel they really must protect somebody from unreasonable behaviour etc

For me working from home not only reduces my overheads, it also gives me great flexibility with working hours

Yes rent and rates are killers for small businesses, especially startups.

 

[powertools]

My wife had a beauty business and was told if the room was duel purpose ( not solely for business ) you don't need to business rates. She put an ironing board and clothes dryer in the room when the council inspector visited.

I would love it if Jacob was going into the beauty business.

 

[sploo]

I would love it if Jacob was going into the beauty business.

Definitely using linseed oil based makeup

(Sorry Jacob, couldn't resist)

 

[Jacob]

Definitely using linseed oil based makeup

(Sorry Jacob, couldn't resist)

I use nothing else! Thinking of opening a linseed oil massage parlour.

 

[baldkev]

Jeez jacob, i dont think many people will want you caressing their curves

 

[ian33a]

House insurance is an issue that many people overlook. It's one thing if you have an office at home because your employer has asked you to work from there and you are using their equipment. It's quite another if you run your own business and have business equipment and stock owned by the company. Normal residential insurance seldom covers this. You really should declare what your home is being used for and pay an appropriate insurance policy.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Plus one for the comments on insurance. Insurance companies will use any excuse/reason not to pay out - an electrician doing some work for told me that one of his customers was refused a payout for serious damage done by a major water leak in the roof ....................................... because his electrical test certificate was out of date.

 

[Keith 66]

Lots of people work from home, Im retired but have a decent workshop, retired neighbour nearby gets up lunchtime & starts about 3pm mucks about making noise until quite late. Another guy has an Office fitting business, regular skips, transit vans, office in summerhouse.
Another across the road runs a swimming pool company, permanent skips, lorry deliveries every day pallet loads of chlorine on his driveway etc. All seem to get away with it, probably because the council have no manpower to enforce anything & too many people are at it.

 

[Jacob]

Lots of people work from home, Im retired but have a decent workshop, retired neighbour nearby gets up lunchtime & starts about 3pm mucks about making noise until quite late. Another guy has an Office fitting business, regular skips, transit vans, office in summerhouse.
Another across the road runs a swimming pool company, permanent skips, lorry deliveries every day pallet loads of chlorine on his driveway etc. All seem to get away with it, probably because the council have no manpower to enforce anything & too many people are at it.

You can complain to the council if it's really a nuisance. They don't go looking for problems and need tipping off.

 

[pe2dave]

Here your house insurance is a factor. Run a business they don't know about and your insurance is null and void even if a claim is totally unrelated. If they get wind of you having a business they will be all over you trying to get details to raise the rate if they will even insure you at all.

Pete

Working for yourself ('running a business' ) vs working for Fred Bloggs, but at home?
Is there an (insurance view) difference?