Rentable annex

[Cogcog]

Anybody know the rules on renting out an annex? It runs off our heating ad leccy but has a seporate entrance.

Does it require planning permission and electical safety certificates etc?

[Cheib]

If it is already there why would it require planning ? I think if you're renting you need to have safety certs for Gas and Smoke Alarm...and Carbon Monoxide if you have a Fire/Wood Burner. Don't think you need a cert per se for electricity but you need to ensure they're safe or you are liable I think.

If the annex is part of your house I have no idea if those things apply to the main residence e.g. Gas Cert.

[Ug_lee]

If there is no separate address for the annex, for the purposes of renting out does it not come under lodging but just happens to have its own bathroom/kitchen etc?

I'll be interested in the replies as I'm in a similar situation with a flat that is part of my house, only difference is shared access.

[2lefthands]

If renting an area of your own property (main or annex, even just a bedroom to a lodger), you are required by law to have an annual Gas Safety Certificate completed, as you are classified as a landlord.

No requirement for electrical inspections, providing installation is safe, as mentioned. You retain legal responsibility for this.

[Cogcog]

I dont have gas. The annex doesnt have a kitchen at the moment but has a utility room which could be easily converted.

Sound slike i just have to get the contract right and sort out the tax man.

[13m]

Cogcog said:

I dont have gas. The annex doesnt have a kitchen at the moment but has a utility room which could be easily converted.

Sound slike i just have to get the contract right and sort out the tax man.

Careful.

If you make it fully self-contained the local authority may, if they get wind of it, slap a Council Tax banding on it (via the VOA). Which means anyone living there pays Council Tax (probably Band A) and when it's empty you get the privilege of paying it. It doesn't matter that it doesn't have its own utility supplies, if it has kitchen and bathroom they can get a banding on it.

[Equus]

Also check that it doesn't have a Planning condition on it preventing such use, from when it was originally built/converted: it's not unusual to apply condition that says, effectively, it can only be occupied by members of the same household as the main house.

[Cogcog]

Equus said:

Also check that it doesn't have a Planning condition on it preventing such use, from when it was originally built/converted: it's not unusual to apply condition that says, effectively, it can only be occupied by members of the same household as the main house.

The original approved plans were it to be a seperate apartment. I take the earlier point about bathroom and kitchen.