Here’s how to optimally set up your home office in a garden shed

Since the Corona pandemic at the latest, working from home has become the “standard” in many companies. At first it was a bit unusual for the employees, but now a good and above all pleasant way of working has been established here, which many people no longer want to lose. Those who have been working from home with this working model for a long time can certainly confirm this. However, not everyone has a separate room at home in which they can carry out their office work in complete tranquility; it is often necessary to use the living room, bedroom or even the kitchen table. It is obvious that with a normally busy family life, quiet, concentrated work is not possible: the dog wants to go for a walk, the cat wants to cuddle, the children want to play – there are enough distractions. What could be simpler for those who have their own garden: how about a garden shed as a home office?

Working in the home office of the garden house

Anyone who already owns a garden shed or a garden shed with extension and can convert it into an office, or who buys a new garden shed specifically for this purpose, will quickly be struck by the advantages that an office garden shed brings with it – this does not only apply to employees; Freelancers and self-employed workers also benefit:

• short “journey” (no traffic jams, no traffic chaos, no long journeys, no wear and tear on the car, no fuel costs)
• no rental costs
• significant tax advantages
• undisturbed work (close to family and still quiet for office work)
• Garden office equipment and furniture according to your individual taste
• With a professionally furnished and equipped home office it is of course possible to always receive business partners there (not so well and “professionally” possible in a private home).
• The dress code can be much more casual if you work alone: ​​none of your colleagues “peep in”.
• Small craft appointments and similar at home are perfectly possible if you work within walking distance.

Tax savings through a garden office

Of course, there are costs involved in purchasing and setting up a garden office, but these can easily be deducted from your taxes as long as certain requirements are met to qualify the area as a «studio away from home» or office.

Anyone who wants to claim a studio within their own four walls must «submit» to strict requirements so that this is also recognized for tax purposes. There are other questions about, among other things, the “focus of your career” or whether there actually isn’t room for you or a desk at the company. If you use a garden shed as an office, the spending limit of 1,250 euros per year no longer applies. All costs incurred can also be claimed as advertising expenses or business expenses. If your garden shed does not rest on a solid concrete foundation and can therefore be dismantled and rebuilt without leaving any residue, it even counts as «movable property». This means that the purchase price itself can also be deducted from taxes. If you are self-employed you will also receive a sales tax refund.

To deduct your new country office from taxes, pay attention to the following criteria:

• The garden shed should not be too small: 10 to 20 square meters is a good size that will last, more will be needed if necessary.
• The office garden shed must be freestanding and should really only be set up and used as an office. In theory it is fine if a small part is used privately: 10% is allowed. But in this case the delineation during the audit is really difficult and should not give rise to any conflict of interest. Under no circumstances is it permitted to use part of the building as a tool shed, for example.
• So that you can work well and relaxed in your office even in winter, make sure that the wall thickness of the house is adequate: the wall thickness should be at least 40 / 44 mm, but 70 mm would be better – windows and doors with insulating glass should also be integrated and a heater installed so that you can survive the cold winter months. An optimal addition is additional thermal insulation of the roof, walls and floor. You can deduct these costs from your taxes accordingly.
• Of course, you can also declare the furnishings of the new office, such as a desk, chair, table lamp, ceiling lamp, photocopier/printer, shelves, folders, computer/notebook, telephone, mobile phone, specialized literature, company sign, meeting table with chairs, document shredder, etc. as business expenses.

What should you pay attention to when choosing the size of the garden shed for the office?

In general, it depends entirely on your personal taste which type of garden shed you want for your future office concept: classic or modern or – with lots of natural light – a modern garden shed with many floor-to-ceiling windows. Before purchasing, ask yourself the following questions to determine your size:

• How much space do you need to work?
• Does it have to be a single workstation or do we need more workstations and therefore more space?
• How much space do you need for office furniture, shelves and other storage spaces?
• Should an office kitchen be included? How much space do you need for this?

The location of the home office on your property is also important. Since the garden shed, as an office space, is clearly a living room, it must be positioned at a distance of 3 meters from the neighbor’s property line. Only if it is an unheated garden shed and without a living room, in the case of direct border development an exception would be possible – but there would also be an exceptional option: that is, if your neighbor agrees in writing to the border development. It is best to find out more about the exact specifications from the building authority in your region. There you will also find out whether there are specific requirements regarding the location of a planned garden shed.

Planning permission needed for an office garden shed?

By making an appointment with your local building authority, you will find out if your planned project requires a building permit. Unfortunately, there is no German-wide regulation; it actually depends from region to region. Regional requirements are key, but also the intended location of the house and the expected dimensions. It is therefore essential to inform yourself better BEFORE making a purchase so that you can adapt your choice of garden shed accordingly and avoid a rude awakening later.

Power lines and connections needed for your garden office

When planning, take into account which power lines and connections are absolutely necessary for your new office, so that you can work well and stably in the future:

• If an office kitchen and/or toilet area is to be integrated, a water connection and waste water pipe are absolutely necessary. It is advisable to take these connections into account when designing your home. Of course, there is also the possibility of doing this at a later time, but in this case it will be more expensive and demanding than the previous planning.
• An electrical line must be available for computers, copiers/printers, lighting, electric heaters, coffee makers, microwave ovens and the like.
• Is there the possibility of connecting to the central heating of the house?
• Very important: an internet connection! Is it possible to connect to the home Wi-Fi network, possibly with a repeater or directly with a LAN cable?.