Looking for garage to rent

drifter17a

Hi chaps,

I have received my MOT license and looking to open a garage.

I am hoping to receive some advice on following:

Do I need another license type to open a premise? from my research I gathered I might need to apply for

•    Motor Vehicle Repair Business Licence (MVRB)

•    MOT testing authorisation

What is involved in setting up MOT station ?

Most importantly what kind of premise allow for mechanic workshop? I am having hardtime finding the info. From what I gathered B8 is for storage where most properties are advertised under. Mechanic might need B1 or B2 but also can do under generic use term. I appreciate some advice on this.

And finally where to look? I have search rightmove and realla.co.uk plus  movehut

Hope I have posted in right section

Dakta

Can't comment on licenses for MOT etc as that's not what I do but I did set up a garage (for engine performance tuning) which involved dropping a dynamometer in and found landlords really cagey about vehicle use.

I used a lot of sites to try and scope out places such as the 2 you listed, novaloca too, strangely enough gumtree as well as the big letting agencies like colliers, carter towler (the latter of which actually let me a unit and then turned out they didn't have the rights to let out - that was painful)

anyway what eventually got me sorted was nothing more than a drive around, i found a little industrial estate off the main road id never noticed before with a landlord who didn't really advertise who let me have it on informalish terms (I can pretty much do what I want as long as I don't wreck the place or compete with his own business) and it was very competitive (as in lowest) than i'd had elsewhere.

Not the greatest looking unit but functional so you can't beat going out for an afternoon and driving around some estates to see whats available in person 

drifter17a

nice, I am also looking in future to do remapping and put dyno in. How did you address the noise concern?

I am very keen and seems I am speaking to the right person. appreciate your help

Dakta

I got lucky as far as the noise goes - the landlord doesn't really care (he runs an MOT station himself so is himself a source of loaded engine and impact gun noise etc) - we are in a built up area but we're at a slightly lower level than the residents, also we back onto a railway so whilst it is built up, noise doesn't really transfer. I can have a car running at full tilt and you can barely hear it around the back of the unit

However, where I used to work before I went IT/solo did have some issues with the council and had to have some sound studies done, I can't remember as it's nearly ten years ago how it ended but I know a few people likewise who have had difficulties with neighbours, so need to do a bit of digging on that one as a dyno is a big investment to then get told what times you can use it if at all!

drifter17a

what part of country are you based in ? I am based in north london

Dakta

Up 'norf' me - Leeds though strangely enough we pick up a lot of our work from Cumbria!

drifter17a

nice

not sure why it is taboo in london to get a place with b2 license, literally non exist

bargainbetty

Have you considered approaching an existing garage set up and offering to partner with them for MOT services? That way you don't have as many operational costs and share overheads. You have to have certain set ups to do MOTs and lots of locations are considered unsuitable, which is why you might not find many available. 

Lomast

Hope you have deep pockets, a friend added an mot bay to his existing garage cost £50k+ and took 2 years to get approval

Marcon

Have you spoken to your local authority? They can (sometimes) be a mine of useful information.