selling items outside my house

treecol

We're about to purchase a house & as we are caring for my Dad living with us, wanted to still have a bit of an income. So although we haven't seen the deeds yet we wondered if you can sell things like cut flowers & the odd car outside. What do we need to look for in the deeds that may prevent us? Is it considered using the house as business premises or would a certain percentage of business count for that? Obviously I'll get our solicitor to look at things, but wonder if you guys know of any laws etc regarding this. Many thanks.

InsideInsurance

Having an onsite business where customers visit you is going to potentially cause issues with the council, mortgage provider and insurance (plus possibly the neighbours)

Speak to the planning office at your local council and they will be able to advise regarding if you will need to submit a planing application to switch the use to cover commercial aspects and likewise about if you will have to pay business rates as well as council tax

Your mortgage provider will also advise if they are happy for you to have a homeowner mortgage or if they will insist on you getting a commercial mortgage instead.

Insurance is probably the least of the worries but you'd probably end up being best speaking to a local broker other than swintons to get advice on how to insure it.


Obviously these are all belts and braces and doing things by the book. There is without doubt some who do everything without declaring anything but then there are also neighbours who are more than willing to grass you up

Buzby

However, having a 'Garage Sale' for the purpose of disposing of your own excess property would not be classed as a business of any sort, especially if you only did it once or twice a year.

Ideally people would NOT enter your property, with you having the property on your driveway where they could haggle and chase a bargain. Alternatively, there may not be enough passing trade to make it work, so an organised Car Boot Sale might be a better way forward.