Sleeping in a warehouse

[asm3k]

Bit of an odd/silly question...

I noticed warehouses seem to be cheaper than homes and the one I looked at comes with all the basic things, small kitchen, bathroom and it is actually very nice so I was wondering are there rules on actually staying over night occasionally in a warehouse...? I presume there are rules on this but I do recall hearing of people staying overnight in their offices while starting their business.

 

[silvermusic]

No doubt there's all-sorts of planing rules and regulations. However, if you don't make a big thing of it and shout about it, as a temporary thing I suppose it's possible. Even better if you can keep your car out of sight too. I knew someone years ago who was going through a long drawn out divorce that use to spend a good few over-nights in his office. right opposite a pub, fish and chip shop and a mini-supermarket 2 minutes walk away. He did put on about 3 stone in weight in the coarse of a year though.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Living in a warehouse!!!!!!!!
You people are crazy

 

[KM-Tiger]

Living in a warehouse!!!!!!!!
You people are crazy

Not really.

The recent change in planning rules to allow easy conversion from offices to flats could be extended to allow warehouses to houses.

 

[Philip Hoyle]

One point that is worth making is if the warehouse catches fire. If a house catches fire in the middle of the night, the fire brigade will assume that there's a fair risk of people being in it, so will enter the house to search it. If a warehouse catches fire in the middle of the night and there's no sign of anyone being in it, they won't enter to search it and will just spray water on it from the outside until it's under control and safe for them to enter. So if you're in the warehouse and set it on fire, you'll probably not be found until it's too late.

 

[RealEcon]

Id be interested to know more about this as well.

My father lived like this after my parents divorce back in the day, saved him a ton of money and allowed me to work on personal projects anytime as his tools and equipment were right at hand. I bet theres more people living this way than most business professionals realize.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Not really.

The recent change in planning rules to allow easy conversion from offices to flats could be extended to allow warehouses to houses.

If you want to live in a warehouse like a big old dosser then go ahead !!!

Your just going to end up like Bubbles from Trailer Park Boys .Living on your own in a shed ,repairing broken shopping trolleys and wear stupid looking glasses

 

[Chris Ashdown]

I doubt there is any law against it, and. Nothing to stop you making a nice room, kitchen, bathroom etc in a part of it out of view of the public or workers.

Alternativly you could bring in a caravan and live in that

Only problems may be rates and insurance

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Some people make a living at it! http://www.liveinguardians.com/about-us/

I stayed with a friend in his new factory for three nights a few years ago.He had some expensive new kit installed and no security or alarms.Not sure I'd want to do it long term.

 

[Excel Expert]

One point that is worth making is if the warehouse catches fire. If a house catches fire in the middle of the night, the fire brigade will assume that there's a fair risk of people being in it, so will enter the house to search it. If a warehouse catches fire in the middle of the night and there's no sign of anyone being in it, they won't enter to search it and will just spray water on it from the outside until it's under control and safe for them to enter. So if you're in the warehouse and set it on fire, you'll probably not be found until it's too late.

I wouldnt have thought the fire service made those sort of assumptions. People working through the night in warehouses is not unusual, neither is locking themselves when the do so either.

 

[silvermusic]

One thing that is clear is that some peoples ideas about the term "warehouse". Some are little more than concrete floors with racking, while other have decent offices and facilities within them. Went to one a while back which was called a warehouse and it looked any but your stereotypical warehouse. Offices, rest rooms, kitchen, shower, and the bit where the stock was kept was carpeted and heated.

 

[Kay]

We moved house to London recently (after 10 years in Thailand). I was closely watching the properties available before our move. There were all sorts of interesting things - converted pubs, churches, even a police station. I would have loved this type of thing - so much more interesting than a cloned box of a house. None of them suited us for various reasons, but I would have been interested to consider any of them, including any warehouses which ticked the right boxes for us.

 

[asm3k]

I doubt the fire services would naturally assume no one was inside considering some warehouses will also have security guards inside at night too.

There are some nice rented warehouses I've seen that allow 24/7 access even having a community gym and cafe. I just think it would be easier staying once in a while, even though my family's home is nearby.

I've read quite a number of stories of people living secretly at the Google offices for months even years.

 

[Peanut Butter Man]

If the choice were to live in the unit and save lots of cash (maybe while renting your own place out) or have the cost of running a unit and a home then just get on with it. If your single and can do it, then really, why not.

 

[cristinabarkerjones]

You can live in a warehouse. Why not?! You will save a lot of money that you can invest in your business or something else. If it has a kitchen, a bathroom and a bed, it sounds like a house to me

 

[Cherrie Hub]

yes, I don't think anyone will be controlling if you sleep there or not - even if they were some regulations against it - you don't have to advertise it I suppose it would not be too cosy, but as long you are comfortable, why not..

 

[ParcelBright]

Living in a warehouse is fine as long as its temporary!

 

[Deleted member 59730]

I often slept in my Covent Garden studio when working late. As a food photographer back then I had a fully equipped kitchen.

Years later I discovered I had had a 'squatter' for nearly a year. He was tidy enough to leave no sign of his presence.

 

[thecareguy]

You could try squatting.

 

[SampsonWEB]

I'd find it fine! If you made it comfortable why not? At the end of the day it's what you make of it!

 

[anon37f83jw]

I'd imagine if you made this comfortable, it could make some sense, if you struggling for cash to afford both home & warehouse. The only problem being, it will probably make you feel abit down for a bit as it would me and i'd be careful of feeling lonely.

 

[Naive citizen]

You'd have to apply for a change of use.

The council apply different tax rates depending on what the property is used for. There are usually conditions with the type of use of the property as well.

So no, it's not allowed.

Imagine if this really was allowed!! How long would it be before you found a 4000sq ft warehouse stacked with 4 or 5 story bunk beds full of minimum wage immigrants?

So no, it's not allowed but as one of the initial responders suggested, you'd be able to get away with it every now and then.

The idea of working on the site where you live isn't a new one though. In fact, it's a very old one. There will be rules to follow and an official way of doing this if you want to do it long term.

 

[Deleted member 59730]

Just search Google 'loft living' and look at the images. Pretty luxurious most of them.

 

[TODonnell]

You'd have to apply for a change of use.

The council apply different tax rates depending on what the property is used for. There are usually conditions with the type of use of the property as well.

This is the nub of it. I'm also trying to think about what the pinch-point would be when you try to establish yourself as resident in a warehouse e.g. when you put the address down on application forms.

I think you can doss ok, but maintain a middle-class lifestyle, hmmmm ....

 

[silvermusic]

Saw this today, made me chuckle. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-29146961