Residential property used as an office

Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Error

Residential property used as an office

Options

Previous Topic Next Topic

CEGraham		#1 Posted : 16 April 2019 06:22:56(UTC)
Rank: Forum user		Hi, I would be grateful for your thoughts on the following scenario: A residential property has been rented out to a Business on a two year contract for them to use as an office for a small number of staff. The Business would like to treat this scenario as 'working from home'. I would be interested in your thoughts on the H&S requirements that should be followed eg. risk assessment/fire risk assessment. In the event that commercial fire precautions are put in place by the Business, as it's only a two year lease, it would complicate the situation when the lease comes to an end and the property changes back to an ordinary residence. M/thx.

1 user thanked CEGraham for this useful post.		SJP on 16/04/2019(UTC)
User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

Roundtuit		#2 Posted : 16 April 2019 08:09:43(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		Unless it is a true "family" business how are they all working from the same home (and is anyone actually residing in the property)? More correctly has the properties use been adjusted with the local authority or is the purpose of the proposal to avoid paying business rates?

6 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.		A Kurdziel on 16/04/2019(UTC), CEGraham on 16/04/2019(UTC), SJP on 16/04/2019(UTC), A Kurdziel on 16/04/2019(UTC), CEGraham on 16/04/2019(UTC), SJP on 16/04/2019(UTC)
User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

Roundtuit		#3 Posted : 16 April 2019 08:09:43(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		Unless it is a true "family" business how are they all working from the same home (and is anyone actually residing in the property)? More correctly has the properties use been adjusted with the local authority or is the purpose of the proposal to avoid paying business rates?

6 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.		A Kurdziel on 16/04/2019(UTC), CEGraham on 16/04/2019(UTC), SJP on 16/04/2019(UTC), A Kurdziel on 16/04/2019(UTC), CEGraham on 16/04/2019(UTC), SJP on 16/04/2019(UTC)
User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

biker1		#4 Posted : 16 April 2019 08:17:59(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		It all sounds a bit iffy to me. They have effectively changed the use of the premises, for which there is a process to go through. Are the premises insured, and if so on what basis? It can't be classed as working from home unless the people live there. Why have they decided to use a residential property when there are plenty of commercial properties available? Sounds very much like cutting costs and avoiding tax.

5 users thanked biker1 for this useful post.		UncleFester on 16/04/2019(UTC), A Kurdziel on 16/04/2019(UTC), Elfin Davy 09 on 16/04/2019(UTC), CEGraham on 16/04/2019(UTC), SJP on 16/04/2019(UTC)
User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

Zyggy		#5 Posted : 16 April 2019 15:17:28(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user		I have come across something similar very recently where a flat within a tower block was being used as an office on a " temporary" basis, but the difference was that it was not treated as "working from home" & the usual office type procedures were in place, e.g. fire evacuations etc.

1 user thanked Zyggy for this useful post.		CEGraham on 17/04/2019(UTC)
User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

Users browsing this topic
Guest

You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.