Running a business from a rented house

[Ric.ror]

The house across the road to my sister is rented out
The tenants seem to be running some kind of car repair business from the house
It all seems very dodgy and they are not too considerate towards the other neighbours
Is there someone who we can speak to about this

[jackthehat]

The Planning Department of your Local Authority may be the place to start.

[dotty.]

If it is a private rental and not LA or HA, then the terms of the tennancy agreement may be strict or lax, depending on the terms of the agreement. If you know the name of the letting agent then contact them at the first instance

[boxtops]

whatever the rental arrangements, it'll still be the case that business rates should apply if this is in fact a commercial concern. Speak to the council.

[saxy_jag]

Aside from business rates and things like planning permission (or even operators' licences, if they're running a wrecker or whatever), he may contravening the terms of his tenancy. Whilst my landlord is happy for me to work from home on a self-employed basis (I do a little photographic work from time to time), I wouldn't be allowed to set up a professional, purpose-built studio at the house.

As the others have said, the local authority should be your first port of call, especially if they're upsetting the neighbours. Also, if they're causing obstructions, then report them to the police. When the people across the road from us left an untaxed vehicle half across my drive for a fortnight, I reported it as an abandoned vehicle. It was moved within 24 hours!

[Twenty20]

The 'running a business from home' idea might be a bit of a red herring unless it is obviously a business and not just some people doing some work on cars in their spare time.

Many, many people do some form of 'business' from home (buying and selling on ebay, for example) but you'd be hard pushed to get the council interested.

"Is there someone who we can speak to about this " Maybe to the tenants across the road? Just a thought.

[Ric.ror]

They are using a special truck that goes down at the back to allow cars to be loaded on and chains -sorry I don't know the correct term for it
Now that to me does not seem like someone just doing a few repairs from home

[boxtops]

You must have a way of reporting concerns anonymously to the council, if you are worried about retribution. Have a look at your council's website.

[bushbaby_de]

Eddie, you are wrong, running a business from home is unlawful if planning permission has not been granted for it. Even if it is not a business but a hobby, if it has the characteristics of a business in terms of the impact on neighbours it can still be held to be unlawful.

Call your local planning enforcement team and they will investigate for you. You won't be able to do it anonymously as they may rely on your evidence but they will not disclose your details to your neighbours unless it goes to court and you agree to be a witness.