FTP or Root - Permission denied problem uploading web site

Good morning,

I just went through the process of setting up my linode, as per the 'getting started', 'securing your server' and 'hosting a web site' help files in the linode library. Previously I successfully did the next step that I am about to explain, but the second time around (after reinstalling everything), I have encountered a problem.

I have Debian distro, I followed the basic Apache, Mysql and PHP5 install. Just to get everything quickly up.

I set up my name-based virtual hosts, of which I have five.

I logged into filezilla and successfully connected to my home directory, and also the public directory, and into each name-based virtual host directory. All directories have 755 permissions.

The problem starts when I try to upload a file from my desktop to the server. It comes up with the following error, regardless of what file I upload or into which name-based virtual host or folder on the server I upload.

Error: /home/vanir/public/beenatural.me/public/nicole.pdf: open for write: permission denied

Error: File transfer failed

I am not sure if this is a chmod problem or a root access problem.

I would greatly appreciate any assistance or insight into this. I am sure it is a very simple fix.

Thank you in advance,

Jasmin