How to notify your home insurer and mortgage provider or landlord

Before you welcome your first student, you must contact your home insurance provider and either your mortgage lender or landlord. This is not just a formality; running a business from home can affect your insurance policy and may be restricted by your mortgage or tenancy agreement. Getting their approval in writing protects you from potential issues like voided insurance claims or breaching your lease.

Contacting Your Home Insurer

Your standard home insurance policy likely covers personal liability for social visitors, but it probably doesn't cover business-related activities or visitors. When you have paying clients in your home, the risk profile changes, and you need to ensure you have the right cover in place.

Call your insurer and explain that you will be running a small, home-based tutoring business. Be ready to tell them:

• The nature of the business (e.g., one-to-one tutoring).
• How many students will visit your home each week.
• That you won't be holding any business stock at home.

They may need to add a note to your policy or slightly increase your premium to cover the new risk. Whatever the outcome, ask for confirmation in writing or by email for your records.

Contacting Your Mortgage Provider or Landlord

Similarly, you need to check that your mortgage or tenancy agreement doesn't prohibit you from running a business from the property.

• If you own your home: Most mortgage lenders are fine with low-impact businesses like tutoring that don't involve lots of visitors or structural changes. A quick, formal notification is usually all that's needed to ensure you're not in breach of your mortgage terms.
• If you rent your home: This is critical. Your tenancy agreement may have a clause specifically forbidding business use. Contact your landlord or letting agent, explain the low-key nature of your tutoring, and ask for their formal written permission before you start.

Top Tip: Getting these permissions sorted out from the start provides peace of mind and a solid, professional foundation for your business. Always keep a record of the emails or letters you receive for your files.