Personal training at home

[JackN]

Hi, I'd like a bit of guidance please if possible.

I've recently bought a house with a garage which is connected to the front garden and I've transformed it into a fitness studio (for personal use). I'm a personal trainer who's qualified and has insurance and would like to start acquiring local clients.

I've asked Barclays, my mortgage provider if this is possible and they have no issue from their end but require a certificate of lawful use from the local planning department to ensure that the mortgage will stay as a residential mortgage.

I'd only be looking at training a few clients a week, maybe up to 10 hours a week because I work in London mostly.

Can you please point me in the direction on how I can get this certificate of lawful use? Is there a solicitor I can pay to do the whole process for me? It looks rather complicated. I have not made any changes to the actual building (garage) itself and instead bought all the equipment required for a personal training space.

Thankyou.

[PallasAthena]

Why not just ask the council planning department? Contact them informally for advice before submitting a formal application. If legal problems arise later you might need a solicitor but it shouldn't be necessary at this stage. In my experience planning officers usually offer helpful informal advice about whether it will be an issue and what you need to do.

Have you seen the gov.uk guidance? (It's known as a Lawful Development Certificate as you aren't yet using the premises for a business purpose but are planning to do so in the future.) Lawful development certificates - GOV.UK

There could also be council tax implications if they decide the garage should be rated as a separate business premises. That'll be a different department of the council, you'll need to contact the council tax department about that.

And you need to notify your household insurers. Although they are generally happy with home working they might impose conditions and possibly extra premium if clients are visiting your house regularly. Does the garage have a direct door connecting it to the house? If so insurers might want information about how secure that door is (what lock etc).

Is the fitness equipment in the garage insured as business property?

[atticus]

You may need to apply for planning permission.

[islandgirl]

You would try for a developmen cert first - look online at your local council and search other applications to show the kind of thing you need to write - it will be about impact on neighbours, parking etc. An officer will make the decision. If rejected you would need to put in a full planning application.

[JackN]

Thankyou so much all of you for your replies. Very much appreciated. I have contacted the local planning office and they have told me that they'll contact me. If I don't hear back this week I'll contact them again. A certificate of development is what I need. I do have a parking space available for potential clients and noise will be low because I have sound proofed the floor and most of the movements won't be that noisy anyway.

[JackN]

Ok I'm finding it very hard to get through to my local planning office. I've contacted a few solicitors whose fees are 2000 to 2500 which is a bit steep. Does anyone have advice on what I can do? Ideally I'd like to speak to a planning officer to see how likely it is that I would receive this certificate.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks.

[atticus]

Have you looked for planning consultants in your area?

[PallasAthena]

What is a solicitor going to do that you can't do for yourself for free? Do they claim they have a special phone number for the planning department that guarantees their call or email will be answerd?

I don't know what you mean by "finding it very hard to get through to my local planning office" but if they are simply not responding to your phone calls or emails then involving your local councillor may be a better first step than engaging a solicitor.

At this point you have no idea whether this will be a difficult and contested application for a LDC or if it will be a straightforward bit of admin. Until you have some idea of that from talking to planning officers I can't see why you would want to spend £2,000+ on a solicitor.

But it's up to you, it's your money!

[islandgirl]

As suggested go to the planning page and look at previous submissions for lawful devt certs - you will see what is involved and the issues. It is a fairly simple submission which you can do yourself but look at the things which it must contain by studying previous successful applications. If you do want to speak to planning then email them first - planning depts are often extremely busy and understaffed. If you get no reply then of course contact your councillor.