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Running a business from home

When running your business from home you will save the time and expense of identifying suitable business premises and negotiating the terms, however you will still be subject to certain legal requirements. This section will guide you through the permissions, approvals, consents and licences you will need to run your business from home. This includes any insurance, tax, A tax paid on any area of a building or piece of land which is used for business purposes. Local councils send a bill for any business rates owed in February or March of each year. It is effectively council tax for businesses. and health and safety considerations. It will also help you to understand what to do if your neighbours complain.

occupying-business-premises

Setting up a home business

  1. 1.How do I prepare to set up a home business?

Permissions and insurance

  1. 2.Do I need planning permission to run a business from home?
  2. 3.Do I need planning permission if my business is just me, working out of my home?
  3. 4.Do I need planning permission for my home business if I make structural changes to my home?
  4. 5.Do I need planning permission to turn my garage or spare room into an office?
  5. 6.Do I need planning permission to change the use of my home to include business use?
  6. 7.Can I ask my local authority if I will need planning permission for a home business?
  7. 8.Can I apply for planning permission retrospectively?
  8. 9.Do I need Building Regulations approval to run a business from home?
  9. 10.Do I need Building Regulations approval to make changes to my home for my business?
  10. 11.Do I need Building Regulations approval to change the use of my home to include my business?
  11. 12.Do I need permission to put signage about my business outside my home?
  12. 13.Do I need a special licence for my home business?
  13. 14.Do I need permission from my mortgage provider before starting a home business?
  14. 15.If I rent, do I need permission from my landlord to run a business from home?
  15. 16.Will working from home affect my existing home insurance?
  16. 17.Do I need any special insurance to run a business from home?
  17. 18.If I employ staff at my home business, do I need insurance to protect them?

Home business health and safety

  1. 19.Do I have to comply with health and safety requirements if I run a business from home?
  2. 20.Do I need a health and safety policy for my home business?
  3. 21.Do I have to carry out risk assessments for my home business?
  4. 22.Do I have to think about health and safety in parts of my home that I do not use for my business?
  5. 23.Do I have to carry out workstation assessments for my home business?
  6. 24.What fire safety steps must I take at my home business?
  7. 25.Do I have to provide first-aid equipment at my home business?

Tax and business rates

  1. 26.In summary, are there any tax implications of running a business from home?
  2. 27.In summary, if I have a home business and then sell my home, do I have to pay capital gains tax?
  3. 28.Will I have to pay business rates on my home?

Complaints from neighbours

  1. 29.Could my neighbour complain to the local authority about me running a business from home?
  2. 30.What can my local authority do if a neighbour complains about my home business?
  3. 31.What happens if I get an abatement notice from the council and do nothing?
  4. 32.What should I do if I receive a notice from my local authority about a nuisance caused by my business?
  5. 33.Could my neighbour sue me if my home business affects them?
  6. 34.What should I do if a neighbour complains to me about my home business?
  7. 35.What should I do if I receive a letter before action about a nuisance caused by my home business?

General risk assessment for an office

This risk assessment for an office will help you comply with your legal health and safety obligations. It provides examples of common hazards present in an office, and gives you ideas of actions you could take to minimise the risks they pose. Because every office is different, it also includes space to add your own findings for dangers particular to your business. If you have an office, it is vital you carry out regular risk assessments to stay within the law and protect the people who work there. Don’t forget to also download and complete our fire safety risk assessment !
£25 + VAT

Annual action plan (health and safety)

This annual action plan (health and safety) helps you plan your health and safety actions for the year. It sets out the most common health and safety checks you are likely to need to complete (on a daily, weekly, monthly, six monthly, annually, and five yearly basis) and allows you to efficiently record your comments. You can also add your own actions specific to your business. In addition to this annual action plan (health and safety) you must complete regular risk assessments. You can find these templates at General risk assessment for a shop or other business open to customers , General risk assessment for an office , General risk assessment for remote workers , and Fire safety risk assessment .
£25 + VAT
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