Is my house suitable for filming?

Most homes can work as film or photoshoot locations, but the best candidates have: good access to London or major studios, spacious rooms for crew and equipment, usable off‑street or easy parking, a reasonably quiet setting, and flexible owners who are happy to host filming or stills shoots. Smaller or more modest homes can still be popular if they clearly represent a period or style (for example, a 1970s time‑capsule or a very typical family home) and are well photographed.

Many owners assume that only mansions and show homes are used for filming, but much of the work actually happens in lived‑in houses that feel real on screen. If you have space for a crew to work, reasonable access and parking, and you’re open to a bit of disruption, your property may well be a good candidate.

• Close to production hubs. Properties in or near London, or close to studios such as Pinewood or Elstree, are often in higher demand because moving cast and crew is expensive.
• Other cities. Productions also shoot around cities such as Manchester and Bristol, so good access to those areas helps too.
• Further afield. Rural or coastal homes can still be used if they offer something distinctive, such as a striking landscape or village look that is hard to find nearer the main hubs.

Being outside these areas does not rule you out, but you should expect fewer enquiries unless your property is very special or fills a very specific brief.

Filming is a logistical exercise as much as a creative one, and crews need room to move equipment, set up lights and find places to sit, work and get changed.

Your home is more likely to work if:

• Main rooms are reasonably large. There should be space for camera, lights, several crew and cast without everyone being crammed against the walls.
• There are supporting rooms. Spare rooms or secondary spaces for hair and make‑up, wardrobe and green rooms are a big plus.
• Circulation is good. Clear hallways, landings and staircases make it easier to move equipment and shoot movement scenes.

Very small or heavily cluttered properties can be difficult to use simply because the crew cannot physically do their job inside them.

Production vehicles need somewhere to go, even on small shoots.

• Parking. A driveway, forecourt or nearby unrestricted on‑street parking makes life much easier and can be the deciding factor between two otherwise similar houses.
• Access routes. Narrow lanes, difficult turns or weight‑restricted bridges can increase costs and deter productions unless the look of the property is perfect for the brief.

For photoshoots, the scale is smaller, but there is still usually a van of kit, props or wardrobe that needs to park close by

The “right” look depends on the project, but there are some consistent patterns.

• Clear period character. Georgian, Victorian, mid‑century and 1970s or 1980s homes with many original features can be in high demand because they instantly place a story in time.
• Authentic family homes. Very typical family houses – the kind viewers instantly recognise as “how people live now” – are used constantly in drama and commercials.
• Foreign look‑alikes. Properties that could pass for a Miami villa, Mediterranean holiday home or other “foreign” setting, especially near London, are useful when budgets do not allow travel.

For photoshoots, style and “photogenic” qualities matter even more: either clearly aspirational interiors, or distinctive and atmospheric spaces such as faded grandeur or industrial backdrops.

Suitability is not just about the building; it is also about you and your household.

• Filming. Full film or TV shoots are more disruptive: early starts, late finishes, larger crews, more equipment and more wear and tear.
• Photoshoots. Stills and lifestyle shoots usually involve smaller teams, less equipment and shorter days, and can be a good option if you like the idea of earning from your property but do not want full‑scale filming.

If you know you are uncomfortable with heavy disruption or regular use, your property may still be suitable as a photoshoot location even if full filming is not a good fit.

Although some background noise can be stripped out in post-production, sound still matters for film and TV.

• Quieter locations are easier. Houses under flight paths, next to motorways, train lines or very busy roads can be harder to use because crews may have to stop and start constantly to avoid noise.
• Some noise is fine. Productions can cope with a normal level of background noise, but they prefer locations where they can record dialogue without constant interruption.

For stills work, noise matters less, so a noisier property may still be attractive as a photoshoot location

Even a perfect property does not work all the time – demand is driven by specific briefs.

• Enquiries are unpredictable. You might receive a call in the first week, or you might wait months; some locations are never used simply because no script requires them during that period.
• Most popular locations. These tend to offer something distinct, be in a convenient area (often in or near London), be well photographed, and have owners who can be flexible and responsive.

The safest mindset is to treat location work as a bonus rather than as guaranteed income.

If you can answer “yes” to most of the questions below, your home is likely to be worth registering:

• Am I within practical reach of London or another major production centre?
• Are my main rooms large enough for several people plus camera and lights?
• Do I have some off‑street parking or easy on‑street parking nearby?
• Is my property reasonably quiet, or at least not directly under a flight path or beside a very noisy road or railway?
• Does my home either clearly represent a period or style, or look like a believable, everyday family home?
• Am I comfortable with occasional disruption and extra wear and tear in exchange for fees?
• Am I willing to provide good, clear, realistic photographs of all usable rooms and outside areas?

If you are still unsure after that checklist, it is perfectly reasonable to submit – just be realistic that not every house will be accepted or see regular work.locations.

Step 1 – Check your photos
Read our short guide on How to photograph your property for film and TV so you can show your rooms, access and parking clearly.

Step 2 – Register your property

When you are ready, you can register your property as a location. We will review your details and photographs and let you know if your home is a good fit for our library.