Readers’ forum: On the move

My client and his wife both work from home. He is a music composer and she runs a puppet theatre. They have justifiably (in my opinion) deducted various elements of household expenses over the years. Now they are moving and have asked whether any of the removal expenses are deductible. It is clear that the removal firm will be shifting considerable quantities of business assets particularly in respect of the puppet theatre but also musical instruments and computers. It seems likely that the job will cost more because of these items – in the client’s estimation it will represent 50% of what is being moved. My questions are therefore as follows.

• Would it be possible to claim some of the cost as a business expense?
• Would it make any difference if the movers itemised the costs on their bill or provided separate bills? ...