Registering as Sole Trader to Pay Non-Domestic Bill??

Zeb88

I've rented a workshop on a farm for the last ten years with a friend, the rates have been in my name and electricity bill in his. This is purely as part of a hobby and not used for business in any way, I have a full time PAYE job.

Now my friend is moving out so the electricity bill will go into my name, but SSE tell me they only see properties as domestic or business with no middle ground and therefore I need to register myself as a sole trader with Experian in order that I can pass a credit check and enter into a contract with them.

I've got the application form from Experian ('Register Your Non-Limited Business') and obviously it's asking for info like Nature of Trading Activity, Number of Employees etc.

The whole thing just doesn't seem right and I'm concerned because during the next 12 months I intend to a) set up an actual Ltd company and b) buy my first property so really don't want to do this before understanding the implications.

Surely there must be thousands of private individuals who also occupy non-domestic buildings? The person at SSE seemed to think it was all very normal but the person at Experian didn't seem to understand what it was all about.

Thanks

Zeb88

Bit surprised I'm getting a wall of silence both here and in the Ask an Expert section, but there you go

For the benefit of anyone reading this with the same issue, it's just that SSE are useless - EDF will happily base their checks on your personal credit file

Grumpy_chap

Zeb88 said:

I've rented a workshop on a farm for the last ten years with a friend, the rates have been in my name and electricity bill in his. This is purely as part of a hobby and not used for business in any way, I have a full time PAYE job.

Now my friend is moving out so the electricity bill will go into my name, but SSE tell me they only see properties as domestic or business with no middle ground and therefore I need to register myself as a sole trader with Experian in order that I can pass a credit check and enter into a contract with them.

I've got the application form from Experian ('Register Your Non-Limited Business') and obviously it's asking for info like Nature of Trading Activity, Number of Employees etc.

The whole thing just doesn't seem right and I'm concerned because during the next 12 months I intend to a) set up an actual Ltd company and b) buy my first property so really don't want to do this before understanding the implications.

Surely there must be thousands of private individuals who also occupy non-domestic buildings? The person at SSE seemed to think it was all very normal but the person at Experian didn't seem to understand what it was all about.

Thanks

I understand the SSE statement that a property (supply) has to be either residential or commercial and that is a binary either / or state.

What is a bit odd is the suggestion to register as a sole trader with one of the credit reference agencies.  As a sole trader, there is no difference between you (individual) and you (business) - all one legal entity.

I can't comment on the ability to register as a sole trader with the CRA's or what that really means in terms of anything that external parties can see.