Mortgage and seasonal glamping

matthomps

Is it necessary to seek permission from Santander, the lender of my residential mortgage, before starting a seasonal glamping business on a part of my garden where tents will be placed, given that the property is not being rented out to anyone and we live there full-time?

CSI_Yorkshire

What do your mortgage T&Cs say about using the premises for commercial activities?

silvercar

What are the consequences if you don't seek consent, the lender finds out and instructs you to stop? 

I would think notifying your insurer would be top of the list.

matthomps

In short, the UK permits holiday-only lettings with specific conditions: the property can be rented for holidays only, with each stay not exceeding 4 weeks, and without granting any rights for residential occupancy. However, in my situation, I am not renting out the entire property; instead, I am providing access to a tent in the garden for glamping/camping. Hence, I have a question regarding if it is necessary to seek permission from the lender.

lincroft1710

Different lenders have different rules. As a previous poster suggested, look at your mortgage T & Cs

CSI_Yorkshire

matthomps said:

In short, the UK permits holiday-only lettings with specific conditions: the property can be rented for holidays only, with each stay not exceeding 4 weeks, and without granting any rights for residential occupancy. However, in my situation, I am not renting out the entire property; instead, I am providing access to a tent in the garden for glamping/camping. Hence, I have a question regarding if it is necessary to seek permission from the lender.

What does the UK regulations on granting rights to holiday lettings have to do with anything?

As I said before, read the contract you have signed with your lender.

MultiFuelBurner

I guess your main concern is if your neighbours can see/be effected by such a thing and they report this to the local authority?

That and adequate insurance when holiday goers trip over something in your garden and break something.

user1977

I can't find Santander's mortgage conditions easily online, but invariably lenders will require you to seek consent before operating a business from the property, which is what you'd be doing.

matthomps

...

What does the UK regulations on granting rights to holiday lettings have to do with anything?

As I said before, read the contract you have signed with your lender.

Thank you for your comment. I haven't received the mortgage offer yet. Therefore, I haven't seen the contract, which is why I asked the question. I might be interested in glamping/camping on the property, but I don't want to raise this matter now while they are still assessing my application.

CSI_Yorkshire

So you'll need to check when it arrives if they say anything about allowing (or requiring permission) for operating a business from the premises.

A few allow automatically, most don't mind if it's a microbusiness (as long as you have appropriate insurance) but you have to ask, a few don't like it at all.

Jonboy_1984

As you seemingly haven’t bought yet, have you seen the deeds? 

Depending on the properties origins( e.g if part of an estate, ex-council house or built with planning conditions, a neighbour sold off some surplus land etc etc)  these often have restrictions against running a business or trade from the premises (sometimes certain types, sometimes generic catch-all clauses).