FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I use my Garden Room for business purposes?
Permitted development rules covering Garden Rooms allow for incidental use to the main house. Working on your own or with other members of the company would be considered 'incidental', however, using the Garden Room for regular client meetings or appointments may required you to notify your local council; for example, if you intend to use your Garden Room as a Barbershop or Nail Salon.
Do I need to pay Council Tax on a Garden Room?
Generally no, but it depends how the room is being used. If the garden room is being used a 'habitable space', i.e. if you intend for people to be able to regularly sleep in the room, then your council would need to be informed. This would also require your garden room to be compliant with building regulations and may increase your council tax rate.
Delter Garden Rooms are not intended as 'habitable spaces' (otherwise known as Dwellings) and as such cannot be used as permanent sleeping areas. They are however, ideal for use as offices, gym's, games rooms and occasional sleep-overs.
Do I need planning permission to build a Garden Room?
That depends on a few things, mainly the size of your garden room and what you intend to use it for.
Garden rooms can be constructed under Local Authority Permitted Development if they meet the following conditions:
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They are not in front of your home.
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Total area of all sheds, extensions, and outbuildings including your proposed Garden Room do not cover more than 50% of the total area of the land around your house.
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Your Garden Room is single story and less than 3 meters high, or less than 2.5 meters tall if constructed within 2 meters of a boundary.
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The Eaves are no more than 2.5m meters above ground level.
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It isn't a self contained living space (commonly known as a Granny Flat). i.e you cannot use your Garden Room as a regular sleeping space.
If your home is a listed building or you live in a National Park or Area of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB) you might not have permitted development rights. If you believe this is the case, we can contact your local authority to discuss the requirements on your behalf.
Delter Garden Rooms are 2.5m tall and therefore can be placed as near as you like to a boundary without requiring planning permission. We do however advise that you keep at least 0.5m between the walls and any boundary to allow for construction or maintenance of the Garden Room.
When ordering your Delter Garden Room, we will ask you to confirm the approximate area of your garden. We can then advise on the maximum garden office size.
Can I purchase a Garden Room as a Ltd. company asset?
That depends! A traditionally constructed garden room is a permanent addition to your home, and therefore could not be purchased as a business asset.
Due to the modular construction of a Delter Garden Room, it can be disassembled and relocated easily. The purchase of a Delter Garden Office has numerous Corporation Tax and VAT advantages for ltd. companies providing staff with a dedicated 'Work From Home' space, or sole traders operating from a domestic address.
*Delter always recommends discussing the purchase of a Delter Garden Room with your accountant before confirming any order.
How long does it take to build a Garden Room?
On average, most permanent garden rooms take between 7 to 10 days for a simple construction.
The unique way a Delter Garden Room is designed means that the bulk of the assembly is done at our workshop. This reduces the 'On-Site' assembly to only a couple of Hours. Because of this quick installation time, Delter Garden Rooms can be assembled in almost any weather conditions, and any time of the year.
How much does a Garden Room cost?
It depends on the specification but fully insulated, garden building with heating, lighting and double glazing can cost approximately £1800 per/m².
Delter Garden Rooms start from £9950 for the smallest size to £16650 for the largest, and include delivery and assembly.
We also offer structured payment and long term leasing options.
How much does a Garden Room cost to run?
Delter Garden Rooms are designed to modern residential standards, making then highly energy-efficient and suitable for comfortable year-round use. With an overall U-value of between 0.28W/m²K and 0.33W/m²K (depending on configuration), the fully insulated structure meets the stringent standards typically required for new-build homes. This low rating indicates excellent heat retention and minimal energy loss.
All doors and windows are A-rated, ensuring that the thermally "weakest" points of any building are as efficient as possible, reducing drafts and external noise.
Take a look at our 'Running Costs' page to get an idea of the typical energy consumption of the various Garden Room sizes throughout the year.
In short, your garden room will stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer with minimal heating or cooling costs. Any additional energy cost will be dependent on the equipment being used, such as TVs, laptops etc.
Can I relocate my Delter Garden Office?
Absolutely! The unique design of a Delter Garden Room means that it can be dismantled and reassembled in a new location. This makes a Delter Garden Office ideal for rental properties, or if you're possibly looking to relocate in the near future.
While it's possible to move the office on your own, we recommend contacting Delter first. We can arrange electrical disconnection, dismantling, safe transportation to a new location and certified re-assembly. By doing this, you can not only ensure your office is re-assembled correctly, but Delter will also Guarantee the assembly for the remainder of the warranty.
Is Finance Available on a Delter Garden Room
We offer three flexible ways to fund your garden room, depending on your budget and how you plan to use the space:
1. Milestone Stage Payments (Our Standard Model)
Most of our customers prefer our interest-free stage payment structure. This spreads the cost of your build across four key project milestones:
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25% Deposit: Initiates the build phase.
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25% Build Completion: Due once the building panels are complete, and before we dispatch to the build site.
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40% "Wind & Watertight": Due once the garden office is assembled.
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10% Final Sign-off: The final balance is only payable once you sign off on the build.
2. Hire Purchase (Spread the Cost)
Because Delter structures are modular and removable, they can often qualify for Hire Purchase (HP) or Asset Finance.
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How it works: This allows you to spread the cost over 2–5 years. Unlike a standard loan, the finance is secured against the building itself.
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Benefits: This is an excellent option for preserving your cash flow while enjoying the benefits of a premium garden room immediately.
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Please note: HP is subject to credit approval via our specialist finance partners.
* Concrete bases (if required) must be paid for separately as they are the only permanent addition to your property and cannot be covered by hire purchase agreements. Failure to keep up with payments may result in the Garden Room being repossessed and additional fees being charged.
3. Short-Term Hire (Flexible Solutions)
For projects where a permanent purchase isn't required, we offer Short-Term Hire on a case-by-case basis.
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Ideal for: Temporary home offices, seasonal studio space, or business pop-ups.
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Structure: This typically involves an upfront "Mobilisation Fee" to cover delivery, assembly, and electrical installation, followed by a fixed weekly hire fee.
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Flexibility: At the end of your term, we simply dismantle and remove the unit.
Not sure which is best for you?
Our team can provide a breakdown of costs for each option based on your specific site requirements and chosen model.
What maintenance is needed to keep my Garden Room looking good?
Delter Garden Rooms are designed to be "fit and forget". By selecting high-performance, industrial-grade materials, we’ve eliminated the time-consuming chores usually associated with outdoor buildings. Our goal is to provide a premium space that looks as good in ten years as it does on day one, with nothing more than an occasional quick clean.
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Rot-Resistant Marine Plywood: The core structure uses high-grade marine plywood, which is engineered with waterproof adhesive to withstand high-moisture environments. Unlike standard timber frames, it won't delaminate or decay if exposed to condensation, ensuring the building stays structurally sound for decades.
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UPVC Cladding: Unlike traditional timber that requires annual sanding, painting, or staining to prevent rot, UPVC is virtually maintenance-free. It is resistant to warping, UV fading, and moisture damage, requiring only an occasional wipe down with soapy water to keep it looking new.
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EPDM Rubber Roofing: This durable, single-ply membrane has a life expectancy of up to 50 years. It is incredibly resilient against UV rays, extreme temperatures, and leaks, meaning it won't crack or split like traditional felt.
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Infrared Heating: With no moving parts or complex pipework, these heaters eliminate the need for annual boiler servicing or the risk of leaks. They are a "fit and forget" solution that stays in top condition with just the occasional dusting.
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Low Energy LED Lighting: LED fixtures last significantly longer than traditional bulbs (often up to 50,000 hours) meaning you won't have to worry about frequent bulb changes for years to come.
Check out our 'maintenance guides' for information on how to look after your Garden Room
How long does it take to manufacture and delivery a Delter Garden Room?
The manufacture of the Garden Room panels takes approximately 5-10 working days depending on size and complexity of the design. Although Delter Garden Rooms can be assembled almost all year round, our customers usually prefer to get them installed in time for spring. During our busy periods (Late Winter to Early Spring) the manufacturing process can take between 4 and 6 weeks. Later in the year the build can take as little as 2 weeks.