Work From Home?

[Darrgate]

Hello Everyone,
I will be starting my business in a couple of months. Nothing to big just a photography business starting as a sole trader. I have set up a studio in my flat and was wondering if I am able to bring clients in for photo shoots?

I will have public liability insurance in place but was wondering if running a home based studio is legal or not? My flat is in a block of three flats and each flat own 1/3rd of the free hold so effectively there is no lease and I own my own freehold.

What do I need to do to be able to work from home? I would prefer a proper studio but I am starting up and the expense is not an option until I am established.

Any help and advise is very welcome

 

[cjd]

It's going to depend on the level of business you're doing - ie the number of customers turning up at you flat. You're neighbours might object and complain to the council. See

https://www.gov.uk/run-business-from-home

You might also have something in your contract for your flat that prevents it - so best read it.

 

[Darrgate]

Thank you very much for the link. I will look into this. This has bugged me for ages and I had not idea I could find the information on the GOV.UK site. Great help.

 

[iamchrisgreen]

One thing you could look at would be to hire a studio or become part of some co-working space. Near to me they have a science park which has a bunch of photo studios that startups can rent.

They also gave funding to creative startups, so you may want to explore that as well.

 

[asmith1972]

After working for 20 years in a office. I have just spent the last year working from home and wish I had done it years ago. You kind of work longer hours but you don't mind because you don't need to rush out in the morning or get back really late. You just get so much time back that you can spend it either doing more work or doing something else. Generally you do a bit of both.

 

[asbesting]

i think, better to try a cheap office. home is for a relax and a personal recovery. i work home - design, management, sound. my flat is the half-studio. it's not good. work is around. always.

 

[Paprika]

Check your home insurance policy too. Most are fine with work from home but they can get a bit less keen if you have customers visiting.

 

[DarrenLawes]

As other's have mentioned speak to other studio's that you could work out of - If you are good at negotiating you may not have to part with any cash up front to work from there. Just try to find a win win. Maybe you could do some work in trade off.

Working from a make shift studio might not give the right image to customers.

Personally I work better from a separate location that isn't home! Although with 2 young kids I need to be here so it's a bit of a trade off but I don't have clients coming to me.

 

[WFChris]

As Paprika has pointed out, check your home insurance as you will more than likely be invalidating the policy. Many insurers do not mind a bit of paperwork at home but when visitors are involved they start to impose conditions.

If you speak to a broker you might find you can switch to a 'Homeworker' policy which will also enable you to add the Public Liability (and business contents) to the same policy and possibly save you money.

 

[MikePNV]

HI

I don't see why not,my opinion is that you can work from home without any problems.The most important thing is the photographer not the location of the studio

 

[VOCLA]

You should tell any mortgage lender and home insurance provider. They will likely not take issue unless you are having lots of people visit the property.
Working at home saves on heating/elec, business rates etc but it can completely remove any barrier between life and work. I worked from home for a couple of years and found myself working 8am till 10pm and almost every day of the week. It's OK for a start-up but ideally you should look to move on as soon as possible. Your business insurance can also be higher if the business is based at home.

 

[EllaAccountant]

As above you need to notify/,make aware your mortgage lender, insurance provider, double check with the council & insure you have the correct liability+ content insurance.

Good luck

 

[Banksbroo]

I know of a few photographers operating from home (although not flats) and they are very professional.

Ditto on home insurance, mortgage etc

Check with your local council about planning permission regarding part-change of use of dwelling. Some can be very helpful, others less so. It may save a lot of unnecessary hassel at a later date.

As a courtesy I would also speak to immediate neighbors. Tell them your plans, number of expected visitors, times of day etc. It will keep relations good and reduce complaints to council if they aren't happy.

Also consider availability of car parking for visitors. Nothing causes strife amoungst neighbors like the loss of their parking space.

 

[Red Wood]

sometimes working from home rocks, other times, like now when my girlfriend is off for 2 weeks as she is a teachers isn’t so cool.... kettle boiling when your making calls, tv on... arghhh

 

[TheFoxTrail]

Working from home can have it's perks but it also makes it very hard to switch off! I had to check the contract of my flat and also ask the landlord's permission.

I'd advise looking for a studio in the meantime but working from home should help you get started!

 

[BrightIdeas]

Most photographers that I know (and I know quite a few through work) do not have a studio anyway. If they need one, they hire it. So, I don't think it'll be a problem.

 

[Soph13]

Working from home vs shared office as always has +ves and -ves

I would say thought that in a creative industry having like-minded people around you in a shared office helps to promote creativity and share best practice.

 

[fairdealworld]

Some people really thrive on working at home, some find it a mixed experience, some hate it. Making a decision about what works for you is rather different from more practical things such as being sure you are okay from the insurance point of view and that you don't annoy the neighbours. You'll only learn if working from home is the right thing for you by trying it, so why not try it?

Personally I'd suggest that you work out how not to annoy the neighbours rather than telling them about your plans i.e. avoid suggesting to them in advance that there might be something to be annoyed about! Some people respond strongly to suggestion so avoid suggesting anything to them.

At the same time be strong minded about your decision. You know some very large extended families may create more coming and going in a day (and more noise and fuss in some cases) than might be created by a photographer working from home. If you know you are not creating problems then be polite but firm about the issue.

A simple personal safety point. Never, ever, see someone alone in your own home if there is even the slightest suspicion that they might be under 18 years of age. Don't be afraid to use the sort of message used by shops along the lines of "If you are lucky enough to look under 25 years of age please be prepared to show proof of age". Keep such requirements light and amusing but keep to them all the same.

 

[TODonnell]

As you're just starting out, the key thing is how much you're going to annoy the neighbours. If you annoy them, they may complain to the council and there you go. But I don't see a problem; photography isn't a rowdy business! (I hope)

When you have 50 people coming a day, you can probably afford to hire a studio somewhere!

 

[paulears]

Great advice - but if you invest your money in something that later comes back and bites you, then that advice could be expensive!

For what it's worth, I have my business insurance and my home insurance totally separate, and my business works from converted outbuildings and a converted garage.

I'm not convinced by the under 18 proof issue. Many music teachers work from home, and they don't do any vetting of their student/clients in terms of age - what they do have if they work with vulnerable people and young people is a current DBS check. We do audio and video for performing arts, so young people are normal. Please don't be paranoid about this kind of thing. Photographers have similar working 'problems' to us and it's not a big deal. The people who have no idea get really worried about it, often have no or faulty information, and make big assumptions.

For the idea here, I reckon seeking the neighbours views is excellent advice, because if they object before you do it, their objections when you are working will be stronger. If you seek any official advice, they will canvas these people anyway - so get in early. Being a responsible neighbour always goes down well with the authorities.

My home insurance were only interested in the numbers of business people, and were happy with the result.

Of course you can wing it - but reputation can be lost so quickly. I'd guess photography is not going to cause any grief - do a risk assessment and see what you conclude. My business makes noise, but decent studio construction means that even late at night, my neighbours can't hear anything outside. We chose this property because of the scope for running my business from here - one of my neighbours has converted hers into a hairdressing studio - again, no issues at all - and the side benefit is TNT, UPS and Fedex will leave her deliveries with me and vice versa when we're out - which works very well.