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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not think a hairdresser working from home is a problem

138 replies

woopdedoodle · 09/02/2021 08:37

I'm not name changing, because they already know who I am, and after yesterday so do my neighbours.

A few doors down from me a woman has opened a two seat salon in her garage. Obviously it's been closed most of the time since,she also hadn't asked planning permission. Now she has and there are two women running a campaign to shut her down.

They think she will get 5000 customers a year by car 10000 extra car journeys on our road. Before Christmas their argument was while they were home working they could see her home working .

I said I didn't see a problem, yesterday they came back and when they wouldnt leave or take no for an answer I shut the door.

I could hear them shouting outside my front door, so now all the neighbours have heard how rude I apparently am.

So AIBU to think it's not the end of the world to have a small local hairdresser, house prices are not going to plummet, and I should support the planning application.

I am not a customer BTW

OP posts:
Original poster
woopdedoodle · 09/02/2021 09:50

I do understand the parking worries, but she does have three spaces.

Thank you those who have confirmed my math.

OP posts:
Doublefaced · 09/02/2021 09:50

Two seats doesn’t suggest two hairdressers.
My hairdresser has a similar set up and works alone.
She often has someone in for a colour and whilst their coyr is cooking she’ll have someone in the other chair for a cut or start off another colour.

Original poster
woopdedoodle · 09/02/2021 09:53

To make it clear, the salon has been closed during all the lock downs.

I wouldn't want anyone to think those rules have been broken.

OP posts:
BigSandyBalls2015 · 09/02/2021 09:53

Blimey who could be arsed to care about this!! There's some sad people about. I have no idea how many deliveries a day my neighbours have … and I work from home at the front of the house.

Bedforme · 09/02/2021 09:55

Aggression is wrong and the maths out. They may harm any case that they actually do have about parking and future planning approval. I do think deliveries for a few minutes is different.

PeggyHill · 09/02/2021 09:56

I wouldn't really care either way to be honest. I think lockdown has started to really blow these neighborly issues out of proportion.

Greenmarmalade · 09/02/2021 09:56

I think you’re fantastic for standing your ground. It sounds great- good on her.

RickiTarr · 09/02/2021 09:57

@Doublefaced

Two seats doesn’t suggest two hairdressers. My hairdresser has a similar set up and works alone. She often has someone in for a colour and whilst their coyr is cooking she’ll have someone in the other chair for a cut or start off another colour.
What and she does that all the time?

Maybe I’ve underestimated how many people colour their hair because I never have.

It’s still a lot of customer interaction during Covid restrictions though, even if she doesn’t rent out the other chair. Plus it’s still change of use for PP.

TinyCake · 09/02/2021 09:57

I'd love to have a hairdresser nearby! As long as there's space to park.

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 09/02/2021 09:59

It’s still a lot of customer interaction during Covid restrictions though, even if she doesn’t rent out the other chair.

I think this is for after lockdown/hairdressing restrictions lifted? Definitely shouldn't be doing ahead until then.

Londontown12 · 09/02/2021 10:00

How ridiculous of your neighbours!
I have run a home salon from my house for the past 2 years !
Literally have 1 client at a time !
No way would u have 5000 in a year the most I would do in a day is maybe 4 clients that’s why hairdressers do it so they. An warm more money for doing less clients unlike working in a salon for minimum wage !
I’ve never ever had a complaint from my neighbours because they probably don’t even know I’m a stylist working from my home salon 💇‍♀️ it’s really horrible that they are sabotaging an industry that’s struggling so badly at the moment x

Poppins2016 · 09/02/2021 10:01

I wouldn't have an issue with this, especially as you mention that your hairdresser neighbour has 3 spaces available to use.

My old hairdresser had a similar set up, it was a mutually beneficial arrangement (no business rates on a shop for her, no paying for parking for me).

As a PP said, people do have a right to object, but they don't have a right to harass those who don't share their views.

thenightsky · 09/02/2021 10:03

My neighbour has just such a set up in her garage. She applied for permission properly and the garage was converted very professionally.

We are a small cul-de-sac with parking for 2 cars each, 3 if we squeeze them in like tetris. Her husband goes to work at 8am and her customers use his space in the week. They park out on the main road on Saturday mornings. There is, on average, 1 car an hour between 9am and 4pm, with the odd evening customer. She does 2 or 3 on a Saturday morning.

We like having her as a neighbour. She's always available to take in parcels and keep an eye on houses if any of us go away. I also offer her my parking spot for customers if we are away on holiday.

herecomesthsun · 09/02/2021 10:05

right now - no.

if covid isn't an issue - probably ok, as long as there isn't a major parkiing issue.

GloGirl · 09/02/2021 10:06

@TheYearOfSmallThings

I would not want my neighbours opening a hair salon next door to me. It is a residential street, and if she is successful there will be people coming and going all day. I also wouldn't buy a house next door to such a business.

The women campaigning against her are being unnecessarily aggressive about it, but I definitely wouldn't be supporting the idea.

Agreed, I wouldn't support a two seat salon either.
VinylDetective · 09/02/2021 10:07

My nail technician works from home and I doubt any of her neighbours would even realise if they weren’t told. She has one client at a time and the impact is no different to a succession of friends visiting her

merrymouse · 09/02/2021 10:11

If it's 2 seats, presumably that's 2 stylists, at 8 customers per stylist per day, 6 days pw, that is around 5000 customers. Even if it's not planned for 2 stylists now, it soon could be.

She must be an amazing hairdresser. What a great local resource! Grin

AnitaB888 · 09/02/2021 10:11

If the owner of the proposed salon hasn't applied for planning permission then the council could well shut her down as soon as they get wind of it.
Then she would have to apply for retrospective planning permission which can take months.
In addition to that she may not have liability insurance because of the unofficial change of use from residential to business. That would be more of a concern to me.

merrymouse · 09/02/2021 10:12

Having said that, I think it's fine for people to object, but they should also accept that other people have a right to stay silent or support the application.

AntiHop · 09/02/2021 10:21

The plan to set up a business without the proper permissions would annoy me. It really irks me when people think the rules don't apply to them.

TrialOfStyle · 09/02/2021 10:30

I wonder if this is in part some snobby attitude against hairdressers. I wonder if the same objections would be made if a neighbour was running a private consultancy or law firm out of their home.

Chanandlerbong01 · 09/02/2021 10:36

I wish my neighbour had a salon in the garage! It would save me driving to one. Two chairs to me equals one stylist, one to sit with dye on whilst the other has it put on, then rinse and cut the first while the other sits and waits

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 09/02/2021 10:40

It is not only a change of use planning permission issue but depending on how it is set up then she should be paying business rates!

I used to work in Council Tax and Business Rates, someone converting their garage and running a business from it is liable for Business Rates and my goodness does it come as a shock to them. A lot of them think that by running it from home it will be cheaper, but of course they need insurance etc that covers the business.

A nail technician is possibly different, they don't need hair washing back sinks etc. This is all about how it is set up/access doors/room usage.

My hairdresser is mobile, she comes here (usually, pre-covid) every 6 weeks. Regular as clockwork. A hairdresser will have repeat business, this isn't new customers all the time. This is why when someone runs a business from home planning look into increased traffic etc. What would stop her having more chairs, turning it into a beauty salon with nail treatments and body treatments? There is a reason these things are regulated and why a lot of new build estates have a covenant in them stating no businesses.

Viviennemary · 09/02/2021 10:43

It's cheeky and not allowed. Report her to your local council.

AStudyinPink · 09/02/2021 10:44

I wonder if this is in part some snobby attitude against hairdressers. I wonder if the same objections would be made if a neighbour was running a private consultancy or law firm out of their home.

Well, maybe. But I think that is materially different. Lots of that work can be done over the phone or Zoom. Less physical waste. Fewer deliveries. Etc.

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