live work, renting a space

liam_hodges

hello forum!

i'm currently starting my life as an adult and am struggling to find enough affordable space in the bustling city. i pay little for a studio far too small and loads for a flat thats average.

i have however seen a lot of spaces available that are advertised as storage/warehouse shops etc. these spaces would fulfil much of my needs, most have a toilet some even a shower so all i would have to do is put in a basic kitchen.

any ideas about how to go about this? legality? dealing with the landlords when doing this??

should i just say i'll be using it as a studio space or should i openly let them know i would be living there aswell?

any advice would be great...

many thanks

ging84

usually the biggest barrier to using commercial property as residential, is not regulation, it is the cost of the business rates, these are the equivalent of council tax for commercial properties, and are generally much higher if you are not running a business which qualifies for a decent amount of rate relieve.

moneyistooshorttomention

...and someone somewhere mightn't be able to resist the chance to be !!!!!y and tell the powers-that-be about it.

The thought crossed my mind as a possibility for people, but I have the suspicion that the business rates thing might be a problem that prevented it.

lincroft1710

Warehouse/storage units are completely unsuitable for living in, and would be breaching planning laws. Usually have poor or unsuitable insulation and heating.

dimbo61

Shed at the bottom of the garden
All the rage in London
You can get 20/30 people in a double garage.
Who needs a toilet/shower, hot water or space

happy_bunny_2

And apparently the aurhorities use thermal imaging at night looking for heat signatures from garages and sheds then go pay the landlords a visit...

dimbo61

That would be invading a landlord,s European Human Rights
It would cost the council hundred of thousands of pounds and take years to evict the tenants and demolish the buildings

Callie22

I don't know what city you're based in, but in London there are some organisations that rent out live/work spaces to artists - I think there are even some local authorities that do this. My partner and I were looking at something like this a couple of years ago but unfortunately it wasn't suitable for us, but it might be something you want to look at. I can't think of any names off the top of my head but if you google 'live work spaces London' then you should get some results.

happy_bunny_2

dimbo61 wrote: »

That would be invading a landlord,s European Human Rights
It would cost the council hundred of thousands of pounds and take years to evict the tenants and demolish the buildings

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-23028425