Can I carry on Childminding in a Town House??

[mykidzrmyworld]

I know this seems a strange question but we are moving and we are considering buying a town house but was wondering would the inspectors allow this as such a strange lay out. The kitchen is on ground floor with living room on 1st floor.
Any advise would be helpful

can't see why not if yoiu had appropriate safety measures in place

Yes I think you can, but if there is a third floor, then that usually can't be used for childminding, unless it has a separate fire escape, and even then that escape route may be deemed unsuitable for young children. Fire Escape plan will be important, as you will be minding on the 1st floor.

ok thanks for that both!The third floor are just bedrooms so need to use them as I also have a bedroom on floor to living room.

There is a tribunal case that mentions a three-story townhouse. May be worth reading. Section 8 of the Decision mentions that Ofsted recommend that any childminder living in a residence over two storeys should be inspected by a fire safety inspector. The fire safety inspector in this particular case decided that 3rd floor could not be used for childminding, due to means of escape. Having a water type fire extinguisher on ground floor, plus a self-closing door for kitchen are also mentioned. Also hard-wired smoke alarms get a mention.

This does not mean that a fire safety inspector may make the same decisions when they visit your property, though of course they may, so be prepared that you may need to account for some extra costs.

Is the house brand new? If so, then hard-wired smoke alarms I think are now standard install under building regs. Also the access route to 3rd floor may be such that childminding would be permitted - though from the sounds of it, you are not intending to use those bedrooms for childminding purposes anyway.

A friend of mine uses the top floor of her house exclusively for childminding , she has her play room, messy play area and tv/computer area up there, although mindees do sleep on 1st floor and she feeds them on ground floor. When the fire inspector came round she asked him about getting some kind of ladder type fire escape and he said not to bother cos he would not recommend it to be used by children and they worked out a fire escape plan together and that was fine with ofsted. She has been childminding whilst at this house for approx 6 years.

A friend of mine uses the top floor of her house exclusively for childminding , she has her play room, messy play area and tv/computer area up there, although mindees do sleep on 1st floor and she feeds them on ground floor. When the fire inspector came round she asked him about getting some kind of ladder type fire escape and he said not to bother cos he would not recommend it to be used by children and they worked out a fire escape plan together and that was fine with ofsted. She has been childminding whilst at this house for approx 6 years.

oh great thanks both!
Yes it is brand new build so should be up to scratch i.e / firedoors / hard wired smoke alarms etc.
Just have to buy the hse now