It has cost me nothing as I am not making any alterations. I wrote to my council to asking for permission. They responded with the following:
I can confirm the above is approved, subject to the following conditions:
1.That you obtain planning permission and/or building regulation approval, where necessary, from the council’s Planning department.
2.That any licences required are obtained.
3.That any police/health checks/reports and/or required references are obtained, from relevant agencies, if required.
4.That any building or public liability insurances are obtained, if required.
5.That you comply with Health & Safety/Environmental Health Regulations as regards to your proposed business.
6.That, if necessary, you consult with your neighbours and advise them of the start date and likely timescale of the duration of any building work.
7.That, if necessary, you consult with your neighbours and advise them of the start date of your business.
8.The business does not interfere or cause a nuisance to your neighbours.
9.That, if applicable, any work is undertaken by a qualified builder in accordance with good building practice and only new materials are used.
10.That you make no alterations or improvements to your property without the required Landlords Consent, under Section 97 of the Housing Act 1985.
11.That you comply with Fire Safety Regulations and acquire the necessary fire certificates, where applicable.
12.That you comply with any Highways Legislation in relation to off street parking/vehicular access, where necessary.
13.That you inform this office immediately should there be any changes in circumstances, which you originally outline in your application.
14.That if you are in receipt of Housing Benefit, you must report your change of circumstances immediately to the Housing Benefit Department.
15.That you register your business with the council’s National Non Domestic Rates department.
16.That should any of the above conditions be broken, the council may require you, if applicable to remove any structure and/or reinstate any alterations carried out to your home.
17.That should any of the above conditions be broken, the council will be in a position to withdraw the consent.
18.That when you have read and agreed with the above conditions, you sign and return the attached form of agreement, within the next 14 days, prior to works commencing.
Please note: You must submit all certificates/licences/insurance documents as outlined in the above conditions.
If I do not receive your signed form of agreement within the next 14 days I will assume you no longer intend to carry out this request and no further action will be taken regarding this request.
I have been in touch with the relevant departments, I also contacted VOA and they said as I am not using a room or building just for business I do not have to pay non domestic business rates on it. If you intend to use it for business only make sure it is legal or they can shut you down. If however you can prove that it is used for other purposes then you should not have to pay it.
Say for example you were using a bedroom for hair or beauty, but can show that you use it as a study too by having a desk and computer in there, you will not have to pay. If however it is used only for business you would have to pay. I know someone who used her spare room for beauty, and put her lap top on her manicure desk when they came around and they agreed it could be used as a study.