How can you operate car repairs from residential property?
Discussion
If you buy the type of property that enables you to do car repairs ie you can put a lift in the garage, has a bit of off road parking etc. So I’m not thinking of in the middle of a new build estate but eg a property that is a bit more rural, and has a suitable amount of space. Are you allowed / what needs to be done with local council to enable general car repairs to be done from the premises? Will it ever be allowed? Would be a one man band not a major garage.
Some property obviously lends itself more readily than others. I expect every neighbour would object by default but just wondering how it works.
Some property obviously lends itself more readily than others. I expect every neighbour would object by default but just wondering how it works.
Cash buyer or mortgage? If mortgage you'll likely find you are limited on who would lend and it might impact rate/product. Insurance. Waste disposal. Planning - change of use? Business rates? Commercial utility rates? Commercial broadband? Visitor seating area (insurance may not allow them to wait in repair area). Then you need to think about what people could complain about - parking/noise/waste/fumes.
Stuff to think about, all likely surmountable but might impact your business case. Other option...mobile mechanic? Seems to be growing market.
BTW...not in this field so all guesswork, but I am looking at properties for holiday businesses so some common themes, the worst one is access to lending, buying a commercial versus residential is much costlier.
Stuff to think about, all likely surmountable but might impact your business case. Other option...mobile mechanic? Seems to be growing market.
BTW...not in this field so all guesswork, but I am looking at properties for holiday businesses so some common themes, the worst one is access to lending, buying a commercial versus residential is much costlier.
CoolHands said:
If you buy the type of property that enables you to do car repairs ie you can put a lift in the garage, has a bit of off road parking etc. So I’m not thinking of in the middle of a new build estate but eg a property that is a bit more rural, and has a suitable amount of space. Are you allowed / what needs to be done with local council to enable general car repairs to be done from the premises? Will it ever be allowed? Would be a one man band not a major garage.
Some property obviously lends itself more readily than others. I expect every neighbour would object by default but just wondering how it works.
Asuming you mean as a business surely you will need to change the class? I can't see that being easy.Some property obviously lends itself more readily than others. I expect every neighbour would object by default but just wondering how it works.
Yes good point, would be normal residential mortgage so maybe that would put the kybosh on it from the get go!
Problem with mobile is the wanting a lift, although you can get small lifts that are pretty portable
Overall looks like a commercial premises is req then which is a shame if you want to operate at a very small scale.
Problem with mobile is the wanting a lift, although you can get small lifts that are pretty portable
Overall looks like a commercial premises is req then which is a shame if you want to operate at a very small scale.
Before you rule it out, work out how it will operate and how many cars at a time, how many staff, hours of operation etc etc then discuss with both your local council and mortgage lender and see what they say about it.
A friend operates a business from home (which is slightly irritating to neighbours) but is allowed by council rules based on the scope/size of what they are doing. One of my neighbours also operates a small hobby type car repair business from home. His neighbour is moving due to the endless noise (grinding metal, revving and so on).
A friend operates a business from home (which is slightly irritating to neighbours) but is allowed by council rules based on the scope/size of what they are doing. One of my neighbours also operates a small hobby type car repair business from home. His neighbour is moving due to the endless noise (grinding metal, revving and so on).
You need to distinguish between whether the car repairs will be a hobby working mainly on your own or friends vehicles or will it become a business with a large turnover looking for profit and commercial gain with a major intensification of use which could well impact others.
Plenty of case law on this which will determine planning issues and change of use etc.
Plenty of case law on this which will determine planning issues and change of use etc.
I live in a large rural country (in the south, if it makes any difference) and I know a number of people who operate a business from their home (and have done for years) and have absolutely zero issues. These places are either in villages, or out in fairly open countryside.
These include:
Vinyl/graphics shop where they wrap vehicles and apply graphics etc. They have a purpose single bay built workshop and small office in their garden.
A small vehicle repairs garage and MOT place. The lifts and MOT bay are inside a couple of old barns as the property used to be a smallholding of some sort.
An ice cream making factory... Yes really. 'Factory' is maybe stretching it a bit, but the facility is about the size of a large 3-4 car garage and is a purpose built breeze block type building.
Garden machinery sales and service - This guy repairs lawnmowers and does sales as well, and has a barn/breezeblock shed next to his house where he does all this.
Engineering/welding - This one is a friends business and he does engineering, metalwork, welding, and fixing farm machinery from his home. He has an outbuilding with roller shutter door for this.
From chatting to these people, the benefits of having your workshop at home are huge, especially financially. No commuting time wasted, easier to work late as required, easier to keen an eye on your business, better security, no landlord to deal with or rent to pay, and most of them don't pay any business rates due to the very small rateable value of their workshop.
The number one thing to be aware of is not disturbing neighbours. None the above businesses do. They are either a quiet business, or far enough away from the next house that any noise doesn't matter.
Loads of people seem to manage it without issue, even whilst having a mortgage, so I don't see any reason why the OP can't.
These include:
Vinyl/graphics shop where they wrap vehicles and apply graphics etc. They have a purpose single bay built workshop and small office in their garden.
A small vehicle repairs garage and MOT place. The lifts and MOT bay are inside a couple of old barns as the property used to be a smallholding of some sort.
An ice cream making factory... Yes really. 'Factory' is maybe stretching it a bit, but the facility is about the size of a large 3-4 car garage and is a purpose built breeze block type building.
Garden machinery sales and service - This guy repairs lawnmowers and does sales as well, and has a barn/breezeblock shed next to his house where he does all this.
Engineering/welding - This one is a friends business and he does engineering, metalwork, welding, and fixing farm machinery from his home. He has an outbuilding with roller shutter door for this.
From chatting to these people, the benefits of having your workshop at home are huge, especially financially. No commuting time wasted, easier to work late as required, easier to keen an eye on your business, better security, no landlord to deal with or rent to pay, and most of them don't pay any business rates due to the very small rateable value of their workshop.
The number one thing to be aware of is not disturbing neighbours. None the above businesses do. They are either a quiet business, or far enough away from the next house that any noise doesn't matter.
Loads of people seem to manage it without issue, even whilst having a mortgage, so I don't see any reason why the OP can't.
Mont Blanc said:
Garden machinery sales and service - This guy repairs lawnmowers and does sales as well, and has a barn/breezeblock shed next to his house where he does all this.
That one doesn't happen to be on the market does it? I'm looking for a rural property at the moment and shortlisted a place which has a combined workshop and showroom separate to the house for a lawnmower repair business.
Eric Mc said:
Local councils will have rules about such things. You will need to check what they are and whether you will be able to comply.
Depends on the local council but for most I would have no hope. I know a first hand situation, a council tenant turned their tax-payer accommodation into a car repair and sell one big shop, using multiple street parkings, causing noise and etc. No one was able to do anything for more than a decade.48k said:
Mont Blanc said:
Garden machinery sales and service - This guy repairs lawnmowers and does sales as well, and has a barn/breezeblock shed next to his house where he does all this.
That one doesn't happen to be on the market does it? I'm looking for a rural property at the moment and shortlisted a place which has a combined workshop and showroom separate to the house for a lawnmower repair business.I've found the perfect property for the OP, lift already fitted and no neighbours to complain.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150898514#/...
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150898514#/...
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