Starting up an eBay business on a leasehold property

[TakeIX]

To All,

I own a Leasehold property outright and in regards to this I am kind of concerned that conducting a business using eBay (Primarily selling DVD/Blu Ray Films) which I know that this is in breach of the Lease contract.

This is only going to be conducted online and I am not going to have clients coming in and out constantly, nor keep dangerous or hazardous goods, etc.

Any assistance or guidance on this matter would be appreciated.

 

[fisicx]

If the lease says you can't conduct a business from the property then you can't run a business from the property irrespective as to whether people are coming or going to your door. I assume the property is classed as residential (which is a bit of a clue as to your legal position).

 

[Diane@JFS]

We would agree with 'Fisicx'. If your lease states that you cannot conduct business, then you should not do so. This is most probably due to the classification of the property, so to conduct any type of business from that property would be a breach of your lease. I hope this assists.

Joseph Frasier Solicitors

 

[kulture]

The question you should really be asking is who enforces the clause? The clause certainly prohibits you doing a change of use from residential, but any activity legally allowed in a residential property should be OK. Now a small ebay business would not be a problem. A large ebay business where you get stock delivered and store significant stock would be a problem. Not least with your insurance company.

 

[Maxwell83]

I agree with Kulture - worry about enforcement, not the actual wording of the lease.

How much stock will be coming and going out of the property? Is it such a small amount that no one would notice? If so then don't worry about it.

 

[The Resolver]

If you are serious about this business, then go to the modest cost of an ‘accommodation’ address for the business, and a live answering service (eg alldaypa.com) and rent a lock up garage to store the stock. Probably get that all that for less than £1,000 a year.