[Ian Rochester]

Just received a letter yesterday from the local council saying that someone had made a complaint that I was trading from my home premises, filling vans with water on a daily basis and storing machinery in my garage, which may be in breach of the planning permission and can I contact them to discuss it.

We currently operate from home, a van gets filled up on a daily basis overnight on the driveway, I do store equipment in the garage.

Has anyone else received a letter like this in the past?

I think I know who has put the complaint in as he has already contested an extension that we are having built at the moment and we have had words in the past!!

[carlton care]

There's always one !!!!!!!!!  Parking a van in your driveway, or storing equipment in your garage is not running a business and should not be a problem, assuming, of course, that there are no volatiles, or inflammables included.

Taking water at domestic rates might be a problem, so I'd deny that and " re route your hose " to avoid prying eyes.

Talk to the council and they will probably be helpfull, but don't ask them to call unless you have everything that might be problematic, spirited away.

[Ian Gourlay]

It would depend on the size on your operation.

If your garage is soley for bussiness use you could also be liable for business rates.

From what I have read in the past you operate more than one van

You have a truckmount?
Water Fed Pole operators
Contract Cleaners

Therefore there is probably a lot of coming and going.

You may have reached the stage where you need to move to a small enterprise unit.

Your local planning officer will guide you through the regulations when he investigates.  They are not indictive and do understand that people do work from home and normally there is no need for planning permision but your operation may have become larger than is aceptable for a residentional property.

[ianharper]

Hi

yes i know someone. he lived on a old farm and had two houses at the end of his lane. one did the same and yes the carpet cleaner was in the wrong. but it was ages before they did anything and by the time they did this guy at the end of the lane had moved.

talk to him and see what his problem is. offer him free carpet cleaning. anything to make him think his got one over on you. its one of those times when its best to come second and not win.

also talk to the council and see how you stand and if you can get a permit or something. i would take the view that your just self-employed and have no intention of building a big business.

the law is the law but there is always compromise.

respect and good luck

Ian Harper

[carlton care]

Not sure that actual infringement of law is taking place here...........but, best to ask the council for guidance, which as Ian G says, will be given without prejudice.

Only issues likely to arise, are the possibility of causing a nuisance / inconvenience.

Using domestically rated water

Storing dangerous equipment  /  chemicals

Best of luck !

robert m

[Bill Robinson]

i live near lionheart .i do one or two cars a week on the drive way and the occasional rug in my garage. do you think this would be a problem with the council or does it depend on my neighbours.
Bill

[Timmy Boy]

Don't worry had exactly the same thing happen to me a couple of months ago. You are allowed a sign written vehicle on your drive, allowed to use your garage as storage of equipment and allowed to use one room in your house for business activities. At the moment the goverment are encouraging enterprise so all will be well and mrs busy body will have to shove it where the sun don't shine
Regards
Tim
ps deny the water thing though like carlton says!

[Joe H]

From what I have heared they would be interested if customers visited your premises because then there could be a nusance with parking, noise and other issues such as disabled access, but presume that is not the case.

[John Kelly]

You are perfectly entitled to run a business from your home providing it doe not cause a nuisance to neighbours and no laws are being broken. Filling a van with water and loading unloading equipment cannot be classed as a nuisance.
The water issue could be a problem but has sod all to do with the council. At worst if NW found out you may have to pay for a license which isn't much.
As for offering to clean his carpets...more like go over and wrap your wand round his napper!!!

[Ian Rochester]

I've spoken to the council today and they are quite understanding, they don't think there is anything to cause them concern at the moment.

I also made them aware that we are actively looking for local premises to move into, however, the same council are pricing industrial land at such a high value that small businesses like oursleves are unable to afford to buy or rent a unit in this area.

 

[cloverclean]

You can run your business from home as long as customer dont come to you ,carpet cleaning fluids are not classed as chemicals, and that any solvents you have are locked in your van.
Any neighbour that reports you should be told that ,paint, petrol mowers etc in garages are a bigger risk.

[Les]

I'm glad to hear that things seem to be okay with you and the Council....enough to give you sleepless nights.

I would've argued that Gordon Brown runs the entire bleedin country from his house and people are coming and going all hours of the day and night........

Not sure if he runs a van or does Carpet Cleaning though.... mind you, if things carry on as they are, he might be soon !! 

Les

[Len Gribble]

Ian

Had a letter from them years ago regarding my sign written van on drive against parish rules, didn’t have recycling then so went in the bin.

When I was having my extension built some got the jolly green giant syndrome, don’t buy the wife a new car it will only get worse.

Some of the stunts I do on the drive or in the road I would get 30 years

Len

[jasonl]

I had same thing about 10 years ago , I was running 4 vans from home , and my employees parked thier cars at my house,  I purposely  bought a house to run my business from  because I  thought that the extra mortgage I paid out would be better than paying to rent a unit. 
A neighbour across the road complained . I told the council bloke that if I want to have my friends round every day , who all happen to work for Chem-Dry then that is what I will do.  Heard no more from him , though he did stop the man 5 doors up from operating his mobile fruit van from his driveway. I think they are more worried about customers visiting you than what you do. As for the water issue , it is your water company that would have to take that up with you.

[Ian Rochester]

We have 5 vans, 3 of them come round most mornings at between 07:30 - 08:00 to sort out their days work and again at 16:00 - 17:00 to cash up, after that it's all quiet. 

I also generally tend to have one van on the drive in the evening getting filled up with RO water for window cleaning.

I think it's either a copper or an ex-copper who has complained, probably cos he gets woken up when he's on nightshift.

[Goldfinch PCS]

My advice always seek legal advice first. The cheapest is the Citizen Advice Bureau they will help and tell you which direction is best to take. The next avenue is the FSB - if you aren't a member then join, it's worth it..

Who want those type of t*ss pot neighbours? Can't you suck him away with the machine?

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

we have had this so many times now,  even went to court over this and theres bugger all they can do with your cleaning van being on the drive ! as for running your buissness from the house well aks your self this " do you take your house to your custys home and clean there carpets ?""

i guess it will be no   so as my legal team said in court " the cleaning is run only from the back of the van "  and not from the home job done ! all costs went to the council  how ever went dont claim any tax back at all from the house

[PaulKing]

get a nice cheap affordable unit and write back with that address and ask for correspondence to be conduct through your "business address" It really helps.

I have done it the same as you but the relaxation of not having everyone at your home is great honestly.

our unit is £300 a month plus rates and water works out approx £450-500 all in but can park 3 vans, clean rugs and have other businesses around us which is really helpful, even if it just a brew and a chat. also handy for delivery as office girls can sign for things.

[Ian Rochester]

Paul,

You're right I know, the problem is where we are out in the middle of nowhere, getting suitable premises is easier said than done.

I need it to be based in Amble, however the local council (Alnwick) own all the industrial estate here, there's one premises that's available and that we've had a look at, its just over 2000 sq ft, is a 20 year old building and has been empty for about 5 years, they want £350,000 for it on on a 99 year lease, or £20,000/year rent.  No surprise it's empty then.

The other option is to buy land and build from scratch, again, it's all owned by the council, a 99 year lease on 0.3 acres of industrial land - £65,000!  So in reality they are valueing industrial land that has been stood idle for 20 + years at over £200,000/acre...........I don't think so, especially not in the current climate.

If you read the Newcaste Journal, there was an article in there on Tuesday stating all this and slating Alnwick Council, I, along with two other growing businesses in the area were quoted in it. 

I'm now waiting for either the backlash or the "How can we help you Mr Rochester?" from the council.

I very much doubt it will be the latter!

[John Kelly]

I think you may be right Ian. Deep down they probably don't want any business in their area and they just want to enjoy the peace and quiet. Unless of course your're the Duke of Northumberland and they brown nose you till the cows come home.