Living in a garage

[philkool]

Is it within the law to have a family of 2 adults 1 child living in a normal size car garage ?

[sherrardk]

I thought you'd made a mistake in your other thread - are there really people living in a garage?

[lardhelmet]

Do they need to move the cop car out of the way in order to get in it?

[4getmenot]

how many people do you want to report? Or are you living in there?

[craft1948]

There was somebody living in a garage on Homes From Hell last night.

[Buenchico]

If the family were using the garage as a self-contained residence (rather than, say, sharing the kitchen and toilet facilities in an attached house), the garage would need planning permission for 'change of use'.

However if the garage was simply being used as an annex for the house, it's likely that planning permission would not be required.

Otherwise it's probably legal.

Chris

[philkool]

thank you chris. i think they only sleep in the garage

[bushbaby_de]

Eddie, sorry but you're wrong. Unless there is a planning condition, the garage can be used as part of the main house without further permission. If there is a condition restricting the use to vehicle storage only, or if they have converted it to a separate unit, then planning permission would be required. If the garage has not been converted and they are just living in it, they may well be assessed as having no proper home if they were applying for Council Housing. A bit more background might help us reach a useful answer for you.