al dente

Good old Google Earth, was having a nosy after receiving the development application notice for a neighbour and notice a whopping great sign on our front wall. Our tenants and management agent never mentioned it, but google tells me that there is an accountancy business being run from our home.

A (very) quick google on tenant rights/ commercial versus residential shows me nothing. I am irked, but that will pass, about not being informed. However, does this alter or affect a bog standard tenancy contract?


We also need a new tax accountant

Beoz

Depends how you want you react to it. If they were running a mechanic shop out of it you might be concerned for damage.

Accountancy? Is it real an issue? Be thankful your tentant is making money and paying rent. If you cut that off, you then have a tenant without money. Not a good place to be as a landlord.

rabble_rouser

Don't see the issue here. You should be pleased if anything.

Kiwipaul

The only issue I can see is if your house insurance precludes running a business from the premises. If it does and their is a claim it could be denied due to the business use.

Amazulu

I agree but they should have asked to put the sign up - especially if it is big and conspicuous

rabble_rouser

Ah right - the sign, yes they ought to have asked about that. I assume its a temporary sign and easily removed though?

Having run my own home business I know that this type of business in the UK has no residential zoning restrictions. Obviously a mechanical/horse grooming business is being conducted in a residential zone its a bit different. Then again if the administration HQ is a residential address shouldn't be an issue either.

jad n rich

In OZ we drove past one rental to see a large plumbing business sign on the front boundary.

But our house liability insurance in the fine print clearly says we are not running a business from the property!

Needless to say this could be a huge issue, someone coming to get a plumbing quote trips over on the driveway.....

House burns down and insurance company wont pay because we did not declare a business.

Rates, we pay residential let to tenants category, not running a business category...

Our local council does not allow random signs to be erected, you need a permit of course.

The tenants had no considered any of these issues.

If UK has any of those little blips I dont know, but wouldnt be at all surprised if it did.

years back we had a similar issue with a tenant running a beauty salon in the home, not covered by a normal home policy in any way shape or form.

al dente

Looking into insurance now. Thank you.

And, yes, it does feel a little uncomfortable to have our family home become a place of business. Though I can suck it up.

teza

As a long term tenant, I won't comment on the business side of things but on that "our home" comment. We have the most fantastic landlords, we rent privately, have done so for several years with them and one thing that is mutual is that we live in their HOUSE but in OUR HOME. We are home proud, keep it immaculate as our HOME reflects us.
Sorry but to call it your home instead of your investment (that it is at the moment) leaves the tenant without a home doesn't it?

I agree with others, if they earn an income and pay rent in time, you're lucky. However erecting signs etc, any good tenant knows to have the courtesy to ask permission, just so you know what's happening in your house.

Scotty1

In a standard tenancy in NSW, the tenant will agree not to cause a nuisance, but there is no specific clause not to run a business. You would tend to use the nuisance clause if there was a problem.
So unless there is a specific clause in the agreement, or in the by-laws or strata of the property if its a unit prohibiting use for business, or the tenant is causing a nuisance by running a business, then you have no grounds to terminate the tenancy.
However they should have sought your permission to fix a sign and they need to return the premises in the same condition without the sign.
They are likely to have put up the sign because it is one of the tests to allow occupation costs as a deduction for tax purposes.
The rules about running a business from home are not the same as the uk, where local authority planning departments play a part.
May just be best to take the rent - if you use an agent get them to do an inspection and point out the sign, the lack of permission and the need to resolve at the end of the tenancy. For more NSW info

Tenants_and_home_owners

Pollyana

i see what you mean, its a little odd calling it 'the family home' when the family are actually living elsewhere.
I've been renting on both sides of the world for many years now and I always consider the flat/unit I am living in as my home cos thats the only way I can get any stability. If I had to think of it as someone else's home and my temporary stop-gap I would feel even more unsettled here than I do already!

teza

Thanks Polly, I may be nitpicking but if it's not my home then what is? I pay to have a home, not temporary stop over

Pulaski

I agree Teza. The landlord owns the house, it is "home" to the tenants who rent it.

BTW I think you are agreeing with Pollyana.

spouse of scouse

If they haven't done so already, the tenant needs to advise their local council that they're running a business from home. Most local councils in Australia have regulations regarding this. Depending on the council, they may not need a special permit to conduct their business from home, but the council will want to know all about it.

Some things that the council may want to pursue, aside from whether the business needs a permit or not, are is there sufficient parking if customers attend the home, or they may want to survey the neighbours to see if there's any objections. It's up to the tenant to make sure they comply with all local regulations.

Beoz

I run a business from home. I run it from the office too. I run it from where ever I want to be. Lots of people run businesses like this. Surely we don't have to inform councils with such trival information.