Get permission to run business from residential?

BillyBoy13

A family friend has a house that he was renting out to a family to live in for the past few years. They moved out and now hes at a loose end and offered me the house and said I could run my business from it.

Its in an ideal spot and would be perfect for my needs.

What legal/paperwork will need to be done? And roughly what kind of costs would we be looking at?

Paulw

You mean aside from planning permission from the local authority to change from a residential to commercial unit??

BillyBoy13

Paulw wrote: »

You mean aside from planning permission from the local authority to change from a residential to commercial unit??

I mean everything. Neither myself or the owner are sure whats involved. I just need someone to tell me what I need to do.




(Just to clarify: if I want the house I have do all the leg work. The owner will sign all the dotted lines that needs signing, but hes not going to be running around chasing up people and trying to get it all sorted out.)

GerardKeating

BillyBoy13 wrote: »

A family friend has a house that he was renting out to a family to live in for the past few years. They moved out and now hes at a loose end and offered me the house and said I could run my business from it.

Its in an ideal spot and would be perfect for my needs.

What legal/paperwork will need to be done? And roughly what kind of costs would we be looking at?

What kind of Business, and would you also be living there as well

Scortho

Paulw wrote: »

You mean aside from planning permission from the local authority to change from a residential to commercial unit??

Would you need change of permission for a home business?

ChRoMe

BillyBoy13 wrote: »

A family friend has a house that he was renting out to a family to live in for the past few years. They moved out and now hes at a loose end and offered me the house and said I could run my business from it.

Its in an ideal spot and would be perfect for my needs.

What legal/paperwork will need to be done? And roughly what kind of costs would we be looking at?

A retail business or are you just talking about a home office?

BillyBoy13

ChRoMe wrote: »

A retail business or are you just talking about a home office?

Im actually selling a service- its not retail.

All I'd be doing is using one room to take potential customers in and discuss their needs/options. And then after that Id go to their business/site and do whatever needs doing as per discussion.

I'd also use the bedrooms for storage etc

However saying all this, since it is a house, and since I am pretty flexible in terms not having a mortage/family etc if it would make things easier I probably could move in.

desbrook

BillyBoy13 wrote: »

Im actually selling a service- its not retail.

All I'd be doing is using one room to take potential customers in and discuss their needs/options. And then after that Id go to their business/site and do whatever needs doing as per discussion.

I'd also use the bedrooms for storage etc

However saying all this, since it is a house, and since I am pretty flexible in terms not having a mortage/family etc if it would make things easier I a probably could move in.

The reality is that it's the nuisance value of your business that determines whether you'll fall foul of the planning authorities. You won't be making noise and won't be having loads of cars parking everywhere by the sound of things. I'd work away and apply for retention if it makes you feel happier.
You will also need to pay rates - this is separate to the planning.

BillyBoy13

desbrook wrote: »

You won't be making noise and won't be having loads of cars parking everywhere by the sound of things.

No definitely not. To be honest I reckon I could run the business there and nobody would be any the wiser. Id expect to have maybe 3-4 customers per day (and that would be a busy day) and literally it would be take them into the office for a half hour chat over a cup of tea. There will be no noise, no unsightly vans parked outside etc...

desbrook wrote: »

I'd work away and apply for retention if it makes you feel happier.

Retention? Hmm can you explain this please? Im after doing a quick google and it seems to be a concept about keeping your clients renewing their leases year after year?

desbrook wrote: »

You will also need to pay rates - this is separate to the planning.

Yeh this is one thing I did know to expect. Im going to go to the town hall in the morning and see what the rates will be like. Fingers crossed its reasonable

chillywilly

The property owner will need to inform his insurance company of commercial use and to ensure there is liability cover for customers while they are in the house.

Mrs OBumble

You will need to tell your business' insurance company about your new location, and observe any requirements they have for providing public liability cover in this place.

Retention = asking for planning permission after the fact. So you start using the house for your business, and only ask for planning if someone from the council cops on and tells you that you need planning.

BillyBoy13

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Retention = asking for planning permission after the fact. So you start using the house for your business, and only ask for planning if someone from the council cops on and tells you that you need planning.

I'd imagine such a thing would be frowned upon. Or is it does it make much odds to the council either way?

Maybe it might be an idea to start out the business first and then give it a month or two and then apply for permission. It would be kinda harder for them to refuse me once we are in full swing.

Peregrinus

BillyBoy13 wrote: »

I'd imagine such a thing would be frowned upon. Or is it does it make much odds to the council either way?

Maybe it might be an idea to start out the business first and then give it a month or two and then apply for permission. It would be kinda harder for them to refuse me once we are in full swing.

Yes. Applying for retention of an existing use of the property is common enough, and I think the council will understand that when you're running a business you need premises now, and moving in and then applying for retention of the use may be the only practicable option open to you. I don't think it will tell against you.

Mrs OBumble

Look up your council's online planning applications - you might be surprised at just how many people apply for retention rather than for things they should have got planning for first!

Pawwed Rig

The owner needs to take a more active interest in this as he will be affected. I can think of a couple of tax issues off the top of my head such as the different treatment of commercial and residential renting. Also rates attach to the property afaik so the owner should be aware that if you or a subsequent tenant leaves in arrears then he is liable. Sounds like alot of hassle for something that could be done in a local coffee shop?