Register a company from a rented house

Collie_Collie

First a bit of background. I own and let a small house in the UK. Recently I changed the buildings insurance from a normal to a landlords insurance.
One of the questions they asked me was if the property was used for residential use only and I confirmed it was. That is also in the lease.

Now, after Googling, I see that my tenant appears to have had a company registered by Company's House from that address for a year! It was recently changed to another address.
My question really is, is having a company registered from there the same as running a company from there? I feel in my waters that it must be and so the tenant is breaking their lease - probably not paying enough council tax (?) and worst of all, possibly invalidating my insurance.
I see she also has registered domain names from that address presumably with the intention of selling them?
Thanks for any ideas about this.
CC

G_M

is having a company registered from there the same as running a company from there? I feel in my waters that it must be and so the tenant is breaking their lease - probably not paying enough council tax (?) and worst of all, possibly invalidating my insurance.

All true. Does the tenant have a fixed term contract and if so when does it end? Or is it preiodic.

Write to the tenant quoting the @no business' clause in the tenancy agreement and demand that the business is moved and run elsewhere. If you don't get agreement, give notice (easier if the tenancy is periodic).

It is generally hard to get a court to grant possession of a property during fixed term for breach of contract, however this is an example of a situation where they might (though I have no personal experience or precedent example).

taxsaver

No, it doesn't mean necessarily that the business is run from there. Indeed it is very commonplace for companies to have their registered offices at their accountants address where they are most certainly not being run from.

You don't mention what type of business it is, but even if it run from there I suspect it's very much of a 'clerical' nature and thus probably doing no harm to property nor insurance or likely to attract Non Domestic Rates.

I would suggest you have a chat with the tenant though and find out more; certainly before taking any draconian action.

Collie_Collie

Thanks,
It's an annually renewed assured short term lease. Actually I'm a bit of a pushover landlord so have put the house over to an agent to handle now. Discussing things with this tenant didn't seem to get me very far
I don't especially want to get the tenant out (they are finally up to date with the rent) just that they don't do anything underhand that affects my insurance.

The type of business is I think a health treatment business, therapies, massages, counselling, that sort of thing so couldn't entirely be run from the house. I've given the question over to the agents to discuss when they actually take over - that is pretty drastic for me! :cool:
But mostly I'm concerned that my insurance cover isn't in any way compromised so wanted to check myself too.
Thanks,

G_M

Well, you need to get to the bottom of what business activity is taking place and then ask your insurers. Yes, I know, don't want to alert them!
But better to find out now rather than when you need to make a claim.

Seanymph

All that it is if you find it in companies house is the 'registered address'. This can be anywhere, and is rarely where the business is conducted from.

If you look at, I don't know, Boots - they have one registered address - but they conduct their business at many locations.

It certainly warrants further investigation and maybe a discussion, but it doesn't automatically mean they are putting your liability into jeopardy.

sequence

Get someone to call them up as a customer and ask where to go for therapy or whatever ?

tbs624

If you as LL consent to the T using the property in a way that is contra to the terms of the AST you could inadvertently be paving the way for your T to claim *commercial* tenancy rights.

Collie_Collie

Excelent idea Sequence :T

Tbs624, Well they didn't say a word about it to me. It was only that I saw her job title on the automatic signature on an email that alerted me and got me Googling.
The agent that has taken over is going to make it clear that the house is for residential use only.

I'm so far very pleased I have finally got an agent involved. A weight off my mind I can tell you.

PasturesNew

And that's why people like to buy a house ..... so busy-bodies don't start creating a problem where there's no actual problem at all.

What business is it? Massage parlour? Creche? Or is she selling well worn shoes on ebay?

Collie_Collie

Well Pastures New, if you mean me as the busy body, I find my interest in knowing how the house is being used perfectly normal if it has possible consequencies for me.
They would hardly register a company at companies house for to sell old shoes on ebay.

Not all LLs are baddies; not all tenants are goodies.