New government measures outlined today will provide a platform for more home-based businesses to take-off, business minister Matthew Hancock has said.

The legislation will make it easier for people to create a business from a rented home, by giving assurances to landlords that allowing tenants to start businesses will not undermine their tenancy agreements.

New planning guidance will make it clear that starting a business does not normally require planning permission, while updated business rates guidance shows that in most cases home-based businesses do not qualify for the tax.

“We know that starting up any business can also be hugely stressful and that’s why today I am announcing that the government will change the law to make life easier for Britain’s home businesses,” said Matthew Hancock.

“We’ll give people the confidence they need to run a business from a rented home, making sure that the majority of home businesses are exempt from business rates and our aspiring entrepreneurs have the information they need to start up and grow.”

Separately, ministers have commissioned SME website Enterprise Nation to conduct research into the UK’s surging home-business sector. Results from the report will be published at a later date.