Can You Run A Business From A Council House

If you’re thinking about setting up a home office, then it should be both functional and cosy. As a renter, do you want to run a business from your rental home or a council house? Our step-by-step guide tells you everything you need to know about how you can run a business from a council home.

Can You Run A Business From A Council House?

You must write to a tenancy officer in order to run a business from your home. You should talk about the business you want to start. If the business is likely to be a nuisance to or bother your neighbours, or damage your home, you won’t be able to start it. The type of business you run could affect how much you pay in Council Tax and, of course, how much money you get in benefits. Then, you may also need Planning Permission to do this.

It’s possible that we’ll let you use your house for business if you treat your neighbours well, don’t put up signs, and let us know what you’re up to. In each case, we will look at the facts. We will not look favourably on any use that damages property, offends the eye, or means that people come and go at all hours. 

How to Apply for it 

There must be a written request to start a business from a council home. The request should be sent to the Housing Operations Manager in Swadlincote. It should have: 

• plans for business use 
• Planned changes or changes to the property 
• Any sheds or outbuildings that you have planned to build. 
• Any ads or signs that you plan to put on your house or in your garden 
• You will use any commercial vehicles that you own or rent. 
• the hours, the level of any noise, and how much you think it will bother your neighbours 

You can be sure that when we get your letter, your Housing Officer will do a full investigation into it. If you haven’t already, you might have to get permission from the city. 

Permission For Planning

Unless you get written permission from the Housing Operations Manager and the Head of Planning, if necessary, you should not start running a business from your Council home until you get permission from both of these people, if necessary. This will not be held back unnecessarily.

You don’t have to get permission from the city to work from home. The most important thing to look for is whether the overall look and feel of the house will change because of the business. Is any of the following true? If so, you will probably need permission to do what you want.

• Will your house no longer be used mostly as a private home?
• Do you think that your business will see a big rise in traffic or people calling in?
• Will your business do anything that isn’t normal in a residential area?
• Will your business be noisy or smelly at times when your neighbours don’t want it to be?

For any business, you do from your house Is it still mostly your home, or have you turned your house into business space?

Can my tenant run a business from a private rental property?

A tenant can run a business from a home, but it’s important to know that as a landlord, you have the right to say no. It’s legal for tenants to run businesses from a rental property with your written permission. There are some rules, but it’s still legal for them to do so. 

When can I refuse permission to operate in the private rental property?

Mortgage change

A tenant can’t run a business in your house, even if it changes your mortgage. This means that the house must be mostly used for living. 

Tear and wear

If the tenant’s business causes a lot of damage to the house, you can say no. Businesses that are run online should not have to worry about things like writing, translating, and web design. However, if the business is not online and there is a lot of wear and tear, like a hairdresser who may use chemicals or a childminder who takes care of kids, this could damage the home. 

A nuisance to the neighbours

If the business is noisy because of machinery or music, you have the power to stop the tenant from running the business. There may also be parking issues if the tenant has clients come to the property. This could bother the neighbours. 

What your tenants should consider when running the business

#1. Planning permission

People who live in your house should get permission from the city council because they might make a difference in the traffic or the living conditions of their neighbours. 

#2. Insurance 

If your tenants are running a home business, they should think about getting the right kind of business insurance. 

#3. Business Rates 

Business rates may be charged on the part of your home you use for work, but your tenants may still have to pay council tax on the rest of it if: 

• If you live above your shop, your home is part business and part home. 
• They offer goods and services to people who come to your home. 
• The tenants hire other people to work at your home. 
• Your home was changed by the renters for your business.

Landlords also have to check if the building’s policy prohibits any kind of business from being run out of there. The same goes for making sure that your mortgage isn’t being broken, or that the building isn’t being used for business. 

#4. Agree on the finer points with your landlord

If there’s something about your business that your landlord doesn’t like, it might be that he or she gives you permission but asks for something in return. They might let you run the business as long as:

• Because you don’t want to have a lot of people on the street, you hold meetings somewhere else. 
• You only use certain equipment and materials in a certain place, like in the garage or shed.
• You only work at certain times of the day.
• Also you pay to fix any damage or wear and tear caused by running the business.

#5, Decide how any additional bills will be paid

Importantly, you’ll need to think about how much your bills will go up because you’ll be running the business from home. It doesn’t just take being at home all day to raise your energy bills. Certain business operations can also make them go up a lot. Also If you pay the bills on your own, you don’t need to talk about this with your landlord. In other words, if you pay your rent and your bills come with it, you and your landlord will have to figure out how to pay them.

#6. Find out if you’ll have to pay business rates.

For the most part, people who run businesses from their homes won’t have to pay business rates on top of their council tax. If:

• You use a lot of the property for your business.
• The people who come to your property to buy or get the things or services you sell come to the place.
• You’ve made changes to the house so that it can better fit your business.
• If you run a shop and rent the flat above it, your home is both residential and commercial.
• Your business hires other people who also work at the property, and they work for your company.

#7. Get home-based business insurance

As with any business, big or small, you’ll need business insurance to run a start-up from home. In general, the following policies are thought to be the most important:

Product liability insurance 

This is a good thing to have if you have a lot of contact with your customers, like when they visit you at home. If you sell products, this might be important for you to have.

Professional indemnity insurance

This type of insurance is important if you work with people who need special knowledge or skills.

Building and contents insurance

If you have a lot of stock or expensive equipment at home, it might be a good idea to have this kind of insurance.

Therefore you should always keep in mind that when it comes to buildings and contents insurance, your landlord may already have it on the house. So be sure to ask them what is covered by the policy.

Can You Run A Business From A Council House? FAQ