Running business from home, rented property

bigjon1968

Hi Guys, I'm in need of a bit of advice. I am being made redundant (finish work tomorrow!) and planning to start my own business from home. I spoke to my landlord about this about 2 months ago, as there is a clause in the tenancy agreement saying I can't run a business from home. He spoke to the letting agency (they don't manage the property for him, he purely asked for advice) and told me they had said he just needed to write me a note saying it was ok. So, all systems go, full steam ahead etc. Now this evening he has told me that he has spoken to the letting agency again and been told it should be done a bit more officially than that. Not exactly sure what that means until I call them in the morning, but to me it sounds like them trying to get an easy extra fee! Obviously this is something I can ill afford at the moment. I am a little annoyed (understatement) that this has suddenly sprung up at the last minute. What do you think?

olly300

The letting agent is probably trying to get a fee to change the tenancy agreement.

Normally if your business from home is clerical, you have registered the business address at another place i.e. accountant's, parent's house and you have no visitors to the premise I wouldn't advise you to tell the landlord.

Simply because this is the same as working for home.

The issue is when you have visitors or stock in the property as then you have all sorts of liability issues.

bigjon1968

olly300 wrote: »

The letting agent is probably trying to get a fee to change the tenancy agreement.

Normally if your business from home is clerical, you have registered the business address at another place i.e. accountant's, parent's house and you have no visitors to the premise I wouldn't advise you to tell the landlord.

Simply because this is the same as working for home.

The issue is when you have visitors or stock in the property as then you have all sorts of liability issues.

Yes the fee was my feeling as well Olly. the business will be internet based, purely admin at home and no stock or people coming and going from the house. Unfortunately, I can't un-tell the landlord! In any case, they live very close by and will know that I am at home all day.

DawnW

some properties have a clause in the deeds referring to running businesses. My property, which is currently rented out, has a clause stating that not more than a certain square footage of it (not metric because old house!) can be used for business purposes, so no factories I guess, but a home office probably ok - or that is how I read it. I think your LL is probably inexperienced and wants reassurance from LA (as if that is any reassurance :rotfl:).

I guess certain sorts of business might affect the Landlords insurance policy too, but I would rather deal with insurance company / consult deeds myself - you can be sure that the agents will be charging the LL a fee as well as the tenant :rolleyes:

olly300

bigjon1968 wrote: »

Yes the fee was my feeling as well Olly. the business will be internet based, purely admin at home and no stock or people coming and going from the house. Unfortunately, I can't un-tell the landlord! In any case, they live very close by and will know that I am at home all day.

So what if you are at home all day.

I use to work at home and have friends who work from home full/part-time. You don't need to work for yourself to do this.

The only problem with working from home is couriers etc finding you can take in parcels for other people.

bigjon1968

olly300 wrote: »

The only problem with working from home is couriers etc finding you can take in parcels for other people.

fortunately my nearest neighbour is over half a mile away (the afore-mentioned landlord) so that's one problem I don't get!

Gwhiz

bigjon1968 wrote: »

I can't un-tell the landlord!

But you can say that your plans have changed!

Shakethedisease

As long as you aren't stacking blow-up dolls Del-boy style and having trucks turning up at the door 6 times a day I don't see the problem ?

I work from home, internet based and it wouldn't have crossed my mind to go out of my way to let the landlord know. Forget about him for a bit..in actual fact it's more likely to be yourself that has to make things official, not with your landlord..but the the HMRC after 3 months trading.
I'd concentrate on that first and foremost before what worrying about what anyone else wants you to 'offically do. Your landlord is hardly going to be able to stop you using your laptop is he ? Or visiting the post office if needs be ?

If they try to charge you anything simply change tack and tell the landlord that sadly, you've decided against it,.. and will now spend your days browsing on MSE, downloading music and visting Youtube instead.

Best of luck with the new business !!!!

Fire_Fox

You may need to tell the council tax department, it will certainly need to be declared to any insurance companies.