Rent room as a business office and limitations

[The_Hypnotist]

I've moved to my current rent room a while back (~1 y) and I'm thinking of using the rental house address as the address to a future limited company.

I wanted to understand the limitations of renting space, especially using the common areas for that purpose.

The house common areas are: kitchen, garden, hallway, stairs, bathroom.

From my understanding (reading things in the past about this), I cannot store anything personal on any common areas, and the landlord or other renters can possibly dispose of the items if they complain about the space.

If I store (temporary) some business stuff outside my door, in the hallway, can it forcefully be removed without my consent?

I plan on investing in some printed leaflet/booklets to promote my business, and I need to make sure that if someone complains about storing it right next to my door, I know what to tell them.

And if the landlord decides to change any rules regarding this, does he/she have to send everyone a notification?


Thanks for your time.

P.S. I know it's a nonsensical topic, but it's an important issue I need to be aware of.

 

[paulears]

It's all in the lease document or rental agreement. You are living in insecure property. It's insecure for you personally, and won't be worse if you are doing business. Business use is very likely in the agreement to be banned. Worst case you also become liable for business rates. Business use could bring strangers into the property, and this could be a security issue for the others, but worst of all - it sounds like the house is a multiple occupancy rules covered address and that's not good for a business to be at Flat5a Hoody Avenue. If you have places you cannot leave your things in your communal areas, then it suggests the premises are quite unsuitable for business really?

 

[The_Hypnotist]

Thanks for the input, Paul.

That's what I'm trying to find out in a sense, if it's a reasonable perspective to start a business by using a multiple occupancy house (and address), and I understand that using the home address as a business address is kind of mediocre.

I consulted my accountant and she told me that I can declare part of my room for business purposes and deduct it from taxes.

 

[Mr D]

Plenty of companies when starting out use a home address as business address. Its where you want the business mail going.

If you leave business stuff outside your door don't be surprised if it goes walkies. And being business stuff your home insurance won't cover.

 

[paulears]

Plenty of people, me included, work from home - and if your business doesn't need people to visit or lots of expensive sealable post, then it's probably viable. If you only have one room, I'm wondering how you'd quantify that to HMRC? Probably if you build things, store things and use computers it would work? Certainly you can claim for any equipment, internet and other business expenses which you'd have. What kind of business is it?

 

[Newchodge]

Have you considered the dangers of leaving stuff sitting in the hallway? It would almost certainly be a dangerous obstacle in the event of a fire. It will also be in the way of those who have the right to use the hallway unimpeded. Running a business from your room, if your landlord allows it, is not an issue. Leaving your business materials lying around in the way of others is not going to be conducive to a good relationship within the building.

 

[Maxwell83]

No one here can tell you what is in YOUR occupancy licence. Either it will be a breach of your terms to leave boxes in common areas, or it won't. You need to see what your licence says.

I have run HMO's and it was clearly stated in the licences that nothing is to be left in the fire exit routes - corridors being one of them. Its a fire risk as it slows down exit in the event of a fire and I would have not been doing my job properly if I allowed that.

But your licence may be totally different.