Enterprise Nation

Unsure as to whether you need planning permission to accommodate your business in your home? To find out, you just have to ask yourself four simple questions.

The official line
According to the UK Government's planning resource - ‘The Planning Portal’ – “you do not necessarily need planning permission to work from home. The key test is whether the overall character of the dwelling will change as a result of the business.”

You can do this test yourself by posing these questions: 

• will my home no longer be used mainly as a private residence?
• will my business result in a marked rise in traffic or people calling?
• will my business involve any activities unusual in a residential area?
• will my business disturb the neighbours at unreasonable hours or create other forms of nuisance such as noise or smells?

If the answer to any of these is "yes", then permission might be needed.

But if your house is pretty much going to remain a house, with your business quietly accommodated within it, then permission won’t be required.

If you’re unsure, contact your local council to seek their views

• Planning Portal