Reply to: Garden Office

[cykophysh39]

It's a goer

It looks like it is possible.

Spoke to the bean counter and all seems good. I think it is all go for the garden office.
The Henley office has this option, I am sure all the other guys will have pretty much the same.
http://www.henleyoffices.com/content...Solutions.html

[cykophysh39]

http://www.rookerybarns.com/index.as...d=21&prodcat=5

I was looking into one of these

[cykophysh39]

Ok I just got some sort of reply from the bean counter.

Apparently, there is no problem with putting it through as expenses, as long as you are able to take the shed down with you, when you move home!
I have just sent the bean counter an email asking to clarify if I can write it off as a depreciating asset, so I guess I'll have to wait till Monday for their reply

Thanks Mike,
The whole area I was uncertain of is whether the portion of my property that contains the Garden Office may be eligble for CGT. It just seems a bit strange to me that the company can go hire an office space, and this can be deducted as expenses. The company pays for all my accodation, travel expenses when the staff has to work away from it's offices.

I will call the accountant next week, and see if I can get a better picture.

Maybe I should ask the PCG, if it is worth lobbying for such a policy, on enviromental benefits?

no problem. please could you keep me posted on what verdict your accountant gives....as you have re-kindled my thoughts on going ahead with it. I am just wondering if I should just do it regardless and put the bill through and it will have to be dealt with

[TheFaQQer]

What about a company motor home?

I quite fancy having one - minimal accommodation expenses, office to work away in, no planning permission issues.

When I worked in Bristol some years back, there was a guy there who had one and just parked in the company car park all night. Ran a cable from the office to his electrical hookup, and used company toilets and showers as necessary.

More expensive than a shed (although £14k+ for a shed seems pricey to me!), but more fun, and you could take it to "meet potential clients " around Europe in the summer with the family.

[cykophysh39]

Thanks Mike,
The whole area I was uncertain of is whether the portion of my property that contains the Garden Office may be eligble for CGT. It just seems a bit strange to me that the company can go hire an office space, and this can be deducted as expenses. The company pays for all my accodation, travel expenses when the staff has to work away from it's offices.

I will call the accountant next week, and see if I can get a better picture.

Maybe I should ask the PCG, if it is worth lobbying for such a policy, on enviromental benefits?

I raised this subject of garden offices back in april or may.

my thoughts were to have a "temporary knockdown structure" (most important terminology , as it suggests thats its not permanent , and that it can be moved).....and therefore could be written off over a period of 4 years, and would not affect any capital gain on the house.

my accountant is NW, but they said that "they would have to do a bit more digging" to find out if it could be done....and it put me off

to be honest I thought this would be quite a common and easy one to do.....as my thoughts were to buy a 5k or 6k summer house and just run a power line to it - dead easy...and i could work from there.....I'd get the VAT back..around 1k...and the cost of it could be paid for as a tax deductible (worth 20% ?...again another 1k or so), and written off after 4 years.....

seems that the accountants dont like doing it

[ndoody]

Interesting idea, would be great to have a place like in the link you sent henley offices in a large back garden, though we dont have a large back garden heh.

Perhaps you could try emailing henley offices and see if they have had anyone do what your asking already? I'm betting they must have come across it before as a condition of sale, especially when your spending 23k.

[Spacecadet]

get yourself one of these:
http://www.witham-sv.com/infopage.php?ID=1376&Overide=1

[cykophysh39]

£14k on a shed ??
I'm assuming spending that kind of money on an extension or moving house is not an option for you ?

You're looking at a minimum £20 - £25K cost in just moving house.
Why move?
I have a garden big enough for a garden office.

Planning permission is not now required on Conservatories, and garden buildings etc, Unless you are going to toi structural changes to the water and electricity infrastructure. Law was relaxed a bit this year.

I am not going to be installing water services to the shed, and there will be no bother at all to run a cable from the house to power it.

[TheFaQQer]

I have been thinking of doing the same... You don't need planning permission most of the time so that is not an issue.

Also no planning permission, erecting the shed is far easier than building etc etc.

If it's a permanent structure, then you will need planning permission IIRC. Having an electricity supply, plumbing etc. would imply to me (and probably the planning inspector) that it's a permanent residence. If it's been built and no-one complains for 7 years, then they can't make you apply for planning permission retrospectively.

A building near me was made to take out their new air conditioning units from the side of their building, since they put them in and then applied for permission and all the neighbours protested. Make sure that you are right before getting it built without planning permission, as they could make you pull it down if you get it wrong.

[adart]

Ok... if you *genuinely* want to create a separate office and convince Hector that it is one I think you would need to consider doing the following

- change your property title / land registry lisiting accordingly
=> speak to a lawyer

- put a electricity / water supply in (presumeably you would want one anyway)
=> speak to an electrician / builder / local council

- register aforementioned shed with your local council for business rate
council tax


And if you go down that route you might need to undo it all again when you come to sell your property otherwise you may find it a turn off for buyers.

[ferret]

Still a bit green, aren't you?

Not as green as you my lad. Keep on topic or the ferret may bite.

[ferret]

£15k moving house just about covers stamp duty.

Shape of house and long garden lends itself to shed. Also no planning permission, erecting the shed is far easier than building etc etc.

So no, next.

[richard-af]

Surely someone has a sensible opinion on this

Still a bit green, aren't you?