Some info/guidance on running salon from home, council issues

[SimranD]

Hi all

I am a level 3 qualified therapist, specialist in mainly skin (dermaplane/microneedling/Electrolysis) but also do waxing and gel nails.

I am in the process of setting up and using my spare bedroom for business purposes. I contacted the council and they said I would need to submit an application for a special treatment licence which would be £780!! (which I was expecting tbh)! They also mentioned I would need planning permission which I was miffed about as the room already exists I wouldnt be doing anyhting to it.

I checked on the gov.uk website and it says for a business at home I would only need planning if i was making major improvement/structural works so I am not sure if they(Havering council) are just trying to squeeze me for more cash!

Does anyone have any similar experience with the council, or anyone living in Havering encounter issues when opening up from home. I really want to set up the right legal way because I dont want any problems in the future.

Grateful for any help!

Simran x

 

[AcidPerm]

Write to them outlining your proposals and ask them to confirm in writing what you need to obtain in order to set up your home salon.
By writing to them, you ensure that your query is passed to someone knowledgeable and authorised to advise you. They won’t want to put anything incorrect into writing. If there are issues later on, you have the letter to use as evidence that you followed their advice.

Sometimes, when you call them, a junior member of staff will take the call and provide general information but if they give you incorrect advice, you won’t be able to prove it later on. Could you have misunderstood what they said?

Local councils are entitled to draft specific bylaws and these are in addition to Statutory laws. For instance, many small boroughs around the country don’t require salons to purchase a special treatment license, it’s mainly in the bigger towns and cities where they have more staff available to enforce these rules.

Get it in writing, is always my advice in these sorts of matters.

 

[SimranD]

Write to them outlining your proposals and ask them to confirm in writing what you need to obtain in order to set up your home salon.
By writing to them, you ensure that your query is passed to someone knowledgeable and authorised to advise you. They won’t want to put anything incorrect into writing. If there are issues later on, you have the letter to use as evidence that you followed their advice.

Sometimes, when you call them, a junior member of staff will take the call and provide general information but if they give you incorrect advice, you won’t be able to prove it later on. Could you have misunderstood what they said?

Local councils are entitled to draft specific bylaws and these are in addition to Statutory laws. For instance, many small boroughs around the country don’t require salons to purchase a special treatment license, it’s mainly in the bigger towns and cities where they have more staff available to enforce these rules.

Get it in writing, is always my advice in these sorts of matters.

Thank you this is really helpful!

 

[RED STAR]

The planning permission is to see if there are any objections from the neighbouring properties
If your neighbors object, that could be an issue.
As mentioned - always get permission put in writing.
I few years ago, I got the ok over the phone, then my neighbor decided she wasn’t happy with it!!!!!
After lots of bad feeling, I decided to move.
Working from my home caused my neighbours no issues.... I believe she was just jealous she had no skills herself!

 

[SimranD]

The planning permission is to see if there are any objections from the neighbouring properties
If your neighbors object, that could be an issue.
As mentioned - always get permission put in writing.
I few years ago, I got the ok over the phone, then my neighbor decided she wasn’t happy with it!!!!!
After lots of bad feeling, I decided to move.
Working from my home caused my neighbours no issues.... I believe she was just jealous she had no skills herself!

Thanks, I have been emailing them so I have an account of everything. I am hopeful on the neighbour front because both my neighbours have their own businesses and one has his office built at the back of the house. I just need to get over the initial hump and hopefully it will be plain sailing! Thanks for your help

 

[user 111574]

There are different levels of planning permission:

• Full planning permission - which would cover any building work you want to do, extensions, conversions etc
• Change of use planning permission - this is what most therapists have to do (i.e. you already have a room but want to use it for business, not domestic)

There are some different names out there now for the different levels of permission so it depends on your area as everywhere seems to do it differently, which doesn't help!

Whichever level you have to submit, it is not an easy process. Once you have submitted all the forms and details to their satisfaction, they will write a letter to each of your neighbours to notify them. They can then go online and click to say if they support or object to your proposal.

You will probably get a visit from the Planning officer to check out the details (and no they don't make an appointment, they like just turning up!).

The key part will be to prove that you adequate parking for both your domestic and business use. So for example a minimum of 3 spaces (one for your car, one for first client & one for next arriving client.
There will also be a comment from the highways department on your application regarding suitable & safe access from the road for your clients and if it will affect your neighbours.

It takes a minimum of 3 months to process an application generally and be prepared for stress!

 

[House Beauty]

Hi all

I am a level 3 qualified therapist, specialist in mainly skin (dermaplane/microneedling/Electrolysis) but also do waxing and gel nails.

I am in the process of setting up and using my spare bedroom for business purposes. I contacted the council and they said I would need to submit an application for a special treatment licence which would be £780!! (which I was expecting tbh)! They also mentioned I would need planning permission which I was miffed about as the room already exists I wouldnt be doing anyhting to it.

I checked on the gov.uk website and it says for a business at home I would only need planning if i was making major improvement/structural works so I am not sure if they(Havering council) are just trying to squeeze me for more cash!

Does anyone have any similar experience with the council, or anyone living in Havering encounter issues when opening up from home. I really want to set up the right legal way because I dont want any problems in the future.

Grateful for any help!

Simran x

They messed me about with this for business rates - just let them come and have a look. They we’re really disappointed that I hadn’t fashioned a temporary wall and had dodgy dealings haha. I figure it’s more for those rogue landlords like on tv with 12 flats in a 2 bed. They waited 4hrs for me (booked an appt but showed up early and I was like sorry mate I have a wedding dress fitting). He was in his car outside my house the entire time apparently my neighbour said. Walked in rubbing his hands together like yes’s here we go and his face dropped. He was here a total of about 10 seconds and only asked one question and as the room is used for other things and I’ve not built a wall I don’t qualify to pay anything.

 

[Freelancetrainer]

I contacted my council who replied by email saying I didn’t need any licence at all. My mortgage company were fine too as I wasn’t using the majority of the house for business but just one small room.

 

[LianneM06]

Is it because of the special treatment license? You'd need clinical waste disposal etc? Maybe that's why you'd need the planning permission. Good luck with it all

 

[Freelancetrainer]

Is it because of the special treatment license? You'd need clinical waste disposal etc? Maybe that's why you'd need the planning permission. Good luck with it all

I thought the same. It will be because of the type of treatments you are doing that you would need a licence but I can’t see why you’d need planning permission if there’s no change being made to the room.