4. Can I work from home or run a business from home?

Working from home

If you’re planning to carry out building work or changes to your property, you may need permission to do this. 

You may not necessarily need planning permission to work or run a business from home depending on the extent of the use, compared with the use as a dwellinghouse and whether the overall character of the dwelling has changed.

If the answer to any of the below is YES, then it is highly possible that you may require planning permission:

• Will your home no longer be used mainly as a private residence?
• As a result of the business will there be a marked change in traffic or visitors to the dwelling?
• Will any associated business activities be unusual in a residential area?
• Will your business operate in a manner or at unreasonable hours creating a noise nuisance or smells?

Business use

Business use of a residential dwelling is unlikely to need planning permission:

• When the business element of the totality of use is very limited, and
• Is not the primary use of the land and/or buildings
• Is considered so small as to be inconsequential

Unfortunately, we cannot confirm whether planning permission is required by email or telephone.

If you are unsure, you can apply to the council for a Certificate of Lawfulness (Proposed Development) to confirm whether planning permission is needed. If permission is required, you will need to submit a separate planning application. See FAQ 1

Airbnb

If you are renting a property out for short periods of time through Airbnb or a similar holiday rental company it is unlikely that planning permission will be required. However, if the property is only being used as a holiday rental then a change of use is likely to be required.

If you have an annex that you wish to use as an Airbnb, it is likely that the permission granted for the annex includes conditions stating it can only be used as 'ancillary' accommodation (i.e., for people associated with the main house, such as friends and family). Using it for holiday let purposes would not fall under this category.

Most holiday let companies have information to assist you on their website. If you would like us to confirm in writing as to whether you need planning permission you should now apply for a Certificate of Lawfulness (Proposed Development). Further guidance is available at question 1 of this document.