Running a small business from home

JXW28

Do you need to let the council know if you are running a small business from home (which does not affect neighbours), how will this affect our council tax, how much extra could be added to the yearly bill if only 1 room used for the business?
If you have insurance for the business (which includes stock, electrical goods as well as liability) do you need to declare to home insurance?

Marcon

JXW28 said:

Do you need to let the council know if you are running a small business from home (which does not affect neighbours), how will this affect our council tax, how much extra could be added to the yearly bill if only 1 room used for the business?
If you have insurance for the business (which includes stock, electrical goods as well as liability) do you need to declare to home insurance?

What sort of business? See https://www.gov.uk/run-business-from-home

You certainly need to tell your home insurers. You also need to tell your mortgage company (and indeed check it is permitted) if you have a mortgage; and check your lease if your property is leasehold.

lincroft1710

Council Tax cannot be increased on account of running a business at home, However a room or building solely used for business purposes could attract business rates

Savvy_Sue

Marcon said:

JXW28 said:

Do you need to let the council know if you are running a small business from home (which does not affect neighbours), how will this affect our council tax, how much extra could be added to the yearly bill if only 1 room used for the business?
If you have insurance for the business (which includes stock, electrical goods as well as liability) do you need to declare to home insurance?

What sort of business? See https://www.gov.uk/run-business-from-home

You certainly need to tell your home insurers. You also need to tell your mortgage company (and indeed check it is permitted) if you have a mortgage; and check your lease if your property is leasehold.

And if you are renting, you need to check with your landlord. If it's a social landlord (council, housing association), permission should not be unreasonably withheld, BUT they are very keen that you do not cause 'nuisance' to your neighbours - anything involving noise, dirt, mess, multiple vehicles or multiple visitors is likely to be deemed a 'nuisance'. 

dekka88

is it okay to have potential customers visit my home office to decide if they want me to do some work for them and discuss plans

Undervalued

dekka88 said:

is it okay to have potential customers visit my home office to decide if they want me to do some work for them and discuss plans

Generally yes as long as there are not lots of comings and goings every day.

Sandtree

dekka88 said:

is it okay to have potential customers visit my home office to decide if they want me to do some work for them and discuss plans

It is however likely to cause more problems with your Home insurance... most will cover admin work with no stock or visitors but wont touch a home where business guests are there.

Probably the guiding principle should be that the more you deviate from what a normal home is used for the more chances you have of running into issues around business rates, planning permission, insurance etc. Many do this sort of thing and have reasonable neighbours who dont care and they dont think of the potential insurance issues etc however some do get caught and can land very expensive bills.... not that long ago had a case of a large house fire causing over £100k of damage but the claim was declined as the policyholder was running a beauty salon from a spare room, hadnt declared it when asked about business activities and the insurer wouldnt have provided cover had it been declared.