Can you rent an office and just live in it?

phil675

phil675

phil675

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Hi there. I'm a student and I want a place of my own this year.

When I'm looking on Rightmove you get these offices or shop units that have really low rent compared to houses, like £2000 for a year. I want to save some money and all I really need is somewhere to sleep for the year. Food and washing up would be fine for me with just a mini office kitchen. I can shower at the gym :)

But I'm guessing there is something stopping people doing this otherwise everyone would be at it. Could you just make a 'fake' business so that people didn't think you were living there? Do you have to pay any other costs than just the rent? (Bills of course but I'm thinking tax).

This might seem like a crazy idea but honestly I wouldn't mind living in an office, it would be like camping :D
 
No you generally can't live in an office. They're commercial properties thus buildings insurance would not cover you to reside there. Also council would start getting iffy about tax.
 
Dis86 said:
No you generally can't live in an office. They're commercial properties thus buildings insurance would not cover you to reside there. Also council would start getting iffy about tax.
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This and you would have to pay business rates for the shop/office which might mean the total cost is more than renting a room even if it was allowed.
 
Rates? As in utilities? I'm just brainstorming really, don't want another house share as it was just annoying last time and a 1 bed flat isn't much more expensive. The student houses are also pretty far from the city centre which is where I need to be so a private let would suit me better.
 
phil675 said:
Rates? As in utilities? I'm just brainstorming really, don't want another house share as it was just annoying last time and a 1 bed flat isn't much more expensive. The student houses are also pretty far from the city centre which is where I need to be so a private let would suit me better.
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No, rates as in business rates. It's a bill commercial properties have to pay to the local council on top of rent etc.
 
phil675 said:
Rates? As in utilities? .
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Nope business rates. If your renting it as a shop/office then rates will be due to the council. Depending on where you are, on a 20 foot by 20 foot premises the rates could be £6000 per year on top of your rent.
 
use your new shop to sell "the student experience"

inside is a display of how students live, the experience can be purchased....

shop is open 24x7, as the only employe you will have to be there all the time... (apart from when you take your "student" experience on the road and go to uni)
 
Dis86 said:
No you generally can't live in an office. They're commercial properties thus buildings insurance would not cover you to reside there. Also council would start getting iffy about tax.
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Exactly.

I know of a few that have tried this and in one instance I heard the council was around the next day after a satellite dish was put up!
 
I'm not saying it would be legal, just doable :D Had another mad idea of selling the car and buying an old camper van with my student loan, I wouldn't have a lot of space with one of those though and powering the computer would be tricky :p
 
You could probably do it, but you'd need to maintain an the appearance of some kind of business being run from the premises. Get a Limited company registered, and have at least a couple of desks set up. Pretend you're an internet start up and that you work all hours... put up a splash page website that is "Coming Soon". :p

The hassle of not having a "proper" kitchen (most offices will have a shared kitchenette, with perhaps just a microwave and very little preparation area) as well as no shower would probably outweigh the potential benefits. :p
 
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