SFA and SSFA

After the temporary pausing of applications for the Business from Home (BfH) applications are reopen. https://www.pinnacleservicefamilies.co.uk/in-home-requests/

Please send completed forms to [email protected], or alternatively completed forms can be posted to Pinnacle Service Families, 2nd Floor, Aviation house, Windward Drive, Speke, Liverpool, L24 8QR.

I recommend reading the Annex A– List of Statutory Consents when applying. You may need separate insurance to run a business from your SFA. You’ll also need to check if you will need to pay business rates.

To run a business from your SFA, you may need permission from your local council – for example, if you’re going to get lots of customers or deliveries, you want to advertise outside your home or if you need a licence to run your business

The policy is currently under review, and I have been in talks and requested information from DIO and the MOD for an update. They have also put in place some official communication about the review that I will share with you when I have it. They have stated very firmly that they ’specifically want to ensure that they enable spousal employment’.

You can apply to run your business from an SFA/SSFA here if relevant – https://www.pinnacleservicefamilies.co.uk/in-home-requests/

Rented Accommodation and SSFA

You may need permission from your landlord or separate insurance to run a business from your rented home, this might also be needed if you are in SSFA. You’ll also need to check if you will need to pay business rates.

To run a business from your home, you may need permission from your local council – for example, if you’re going to get lots of customers or deliveries, you want to advertise outside your home or if you need a licence to run your business

Your Home

You may need permission or separate insurance to run a business from home. You’ll also need to check if you will need to pay business rates.

To run a business from your home, you may need permission from your:

  • mortgage provider
  • local planning authority – for example, if you’re planning on making major alterations to your home
  • local council – for example, if you’re going to get lots of customers or deliveries, you want to advertise outside your home or if you need a licence to run your business

Here is the government website – https://www.gov.uk/run-business-from-home

Business Rates for working from home – in SFA/SSFA/Rented Accommodation/Your Home

You do not usually have to pay business rates for home-based businesses if you:

  • use a small part of your home for your business, for example if you use a bedroom as an office
  • sell goods by post

You may need to pay business rates as well as Council Tax if:

  • your property is part business and part domestic, for example if you live above your shop
  • you sell goods or services to people who visit your property
  • you employ other people to work at your property
  • you’ve made changes to your home for your business, for example converted a garage to a hairdresser’s

Contact the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to find out if you should be paying business rates. In Scotland, contact your local assessor. In Northern Ireland, contact Land & Property Services.

Self-Employment/Working Abroad

Differs from country to country. Your POC for any queries should be the equivalent Families Federation, or your Chain Of Command. There is also this document online – https://www.pewg.co.uk/overseas

Further independent advice

You can also seek independent advice through your:

  • local service welfare organisations
  • Unit Welfare Officer
  • Community Support Officer or Unit Families Officer
  • Families Federations representatives
  • HIVE

Alternatively, there are civilian organisations such as Citizens Advice Bureau, service charities or housing advice centres who can help.

This is not an exhaustive list, this information will change, so it is intended purely as advice. You should do your own due diligence for your individual business – but hopefully this should answer a few queries and settle a few concerns. I’ll be back with any updates.