working from home?

[Drains]

johnakay, Whatever you end up doing, so long as you're self employed and earning under 8 grand or so, apply for Tax Credits. The revenue will take hundreds off you in tax, then give thousands back in credits (depends on your circumstances of course). Very handy for the low-income self-employed

 

[rtbcomp]

johnakay, Whatever you end up doing, so long as you're self employed and earning under 8 grand or so, apply for Tax Credits. The revenue will take hundreds off you in tax, then give thousands back in credits (depends on your circumstances of course). Very handy for the low-income self-employed

Hear! Hear!

Don't you have to have been on Job Seekers' Allowance for 6 months previous to claiming Tax Credits though?

 

[rtbcomp]

Had a man from the planning department round today.

Apparently someone complained about grinding noise.

My premises are business premises in a residential area and as I'd been running the business for more than 10 years the guy said there was nothing he could do about it from a planning point of view.

He was very pleasant, and even explained that I didn't need planning permission for a door I was going to fit if I did it in a certain way.

 

[dannyweld]

you would be crazy if you said anything to anybody about a workshop in your garage, you can register your business etc from your home address, tell them if they ask and ask again that you work from your van etc, but just dont say anything about a workshop, be considerite to your neighbours and just get on with it.

 

[Chipper]

Maybe councils are different to each other or we were lucky, but I ran a ltd co from home for 10 yrs and 2 co's for some of that, there was no biz rates or extra tax when selling up. This was studio/office, no workshop.

We claimed for heat and light and council tax, we had to do it as a fraction of biz floor space vs the whole house floor space. That was a limited co, not sure if it's the same for a sole trader.
Also mileage for everything biz related, even trips to bank or post office, it all adds up (had to record date, destination and distance).

Re tax credits, we got them when the other half was not working and it was a help, but later when she worked again part-time they asked for everything they'd ever paid back... so it can be a 2-edged sword.

 

[Welderpaul]

Apparently someone complained about grinding noise.

We get moaned at on the odd occasion for making noise, and we are in an industrial estate Our overhead crane rattles the office next door.

There's a sheet metal workers opposite: we often compete who can make the most noise

What do you say? Oh, sorry mate, we'll be quiet for you then.

 

[English Steve]

As DannyWeld said, my business is registered at my home address but as far as everyone else is concerned I am strictly mobile doing on-site work
Be sensible about when you do the noisy stuff, and make sure you do a few favours for the neighbours who know. My business started as a hobby, so I already had most of the equipment installed in my garage. There are always a few bits of unfinished hanging basket or candelabra kicking about the place, so if anyone asks questions - I still do my hobby metalwork.

Unfortunately there will always be one who will want to be difficult ...

 

[johnakay]

I make very little noise most of the work is bending and welding and polishing.
always keep the doors shut when grinding and polishing.
I even ask neighbours if they can hear me. nope not heard a thing!
anyway guys thanks. john

 

[rtbcomp]

One point. Any premises that are the registered office of a limited company must have a plaque saying so. You need planning permission to afix such a plaque to the wall of a building. (Nobody ever bothers, but a jobsworth could pick up on that).

The registered office doesn't have to be same premises the business is operated from, for example if you have an accountant you can designate his premises as your registered office.

A friend of mine was a watch repairer and put a discreet notice in his front window, the Council made him take it down.

 

[snowcat]

another thing worth nothing, rates and planing do not work together, you can pay rates and it doesn't make you legal, or you can have permitted planing or full planing, and rates can suddenly back date, A good Friend of mine runs an industrial yard, recently both planing and rates have been sniffing around, certain units were under rated and have attempted to back date 2 years, A few others had no change of use, including the councils In car safety center, so essentially they have just evicted themselfs.....

Councils will always go for the easy option a complaint or 2 rarely provokes an enforcement, however a complaint from many usually in righting, or from someone influential will force a completely different tact..



Someone else I know as had complaints about a clay shoot, on first inspection the council were obliging and said little they can do, however it now appears someone is regularly complaining, and although the wheals are grinding slow, its a possibility enforcement could loom......