A "unit" to store and work on your cars?
Discussion
Hello all,
Is this a thing in the UK?
I'm just curious what some people do who have a somewhat inflated number of cars who are also DIY mechanics.
What do you do? Where do you store and work on the cars?
During Covid I moved back to Ireland for a year or so.. In that time I have accumulated a number of cars. With that I took out a lease on a commercial unit to store them and work on them.. it's a two year lease and will help me out while I relocate back to the UK.
Does anybody else do something similar?
In the long run, i've had a grand idea of setting up a kind of club where it's kind of like the above but multiple people come together.. there would be a social aspect to it also. Not a million miles off Henrys Car Barn type thing - but not as elite (expensive).
Curious.
Is this a thing in the UK?
I'm just curious what some people do who have a somewhat inflated number of cars who are also DIY mechanics.
What do you do? Where do you store and work on the cars?
During Covid I moved back to Ireland for a year or so.. In that time I have accumulated a number of cars. With that I took out a lease on a commercial unit to store them and work on them.. it's a two year lease and will help me out while I relocate back to the UK.
Does anybody else do something similar?
In the long run, i've had a grand idea of setting up a kind of club where it's kind of like the above but multiple people come together.. there would be a social aspect to it also. Not a million miles off Henrys Car Barn type thing - but not as elite (expensive).
Curious.
Interested in the replies. I imagine where you live makes a big difference. I've looked into this in the SE and cost is just too prohibitive.
I do know of a few places that rent ramps by the hour and I wonder how they make any money given the costs. For example, one place with space for two ramps pays £1,500/month rental.
I do know of a few places that rent ramps by the hour and I wonder how they make any money given the costs. For example, one place with space for two ramps pays £1,500/month rental.
I know a coupe of people who rent barns on farms as it's a fair bit cheaper than industrial units.
Some developers are pushing back against motor storage and repairs with the risk of oil everywhere, engines and parts all over the place and more cars than reasonable clogging up the whole estate.
Some developers are pushing back against motor storage and repairs with the risk of oil everywhere, engines and parts all over the place and more cars than reasonable clogging up the whole estate.
Out in the sticks, we have storage in a modern barn on a farm that rents out the land so the barns are spare. Our group has a bay of 6 spaces and paying £35/month for each vehicle with power of trickle chargers.
There are probably 80+ cars, tractors, campers, old fire engines and other eclectic stuff in the barns hidden from wives.
Also has a 4 post lift for foc use if needed.
But I can imagine in a city the cost would be multiples.
A chap a couple of doors down has a unit at the edge of the village on a small industrial estate. Small office inside and enough depth for 2 cars nose to tail and still got workshop space to the side and a mezzanine deck. For about £800/month.
There are probably 80+ cars, tractors, campers, old fire engines and other eclectic stuff in the barns hidden from wives.
Also has a 4 post lift for foc use if needed.
But I can imagine in a city the cost would be multiples.
A chap a couple of doors down has a unit at the edge of the village on a small industrial estate. Small office inside and enough depth for 2 cars nose to tail and still got workshop space to the side and a mezzanine deck. For about £800/month.
Common outside cities, and probably not feasible anywhere near London.
I live in Wiltshire, most of my friends have a unit for their track cars. One has a lean to thing he rents on a farm, which is without power or lighting, has dirt flooring and is generally crap.
Another two did similar on some private land, albeit an old cattle shed with power .
Four others grouped up and rented a large brick built unit on an industrial estate, this being substantially better value and way more usable. I believe they pay around £150 a month each, and they get their moneys worth.
I use my garage for my bikes, ane the driveway for my cars which is fine for most of the maintenance I do, any bigger stuff i need doing, I pay a decent local garage to do. If I didn't have a driveway/garage, I'd likely be looking for a unit or change of hobby.
I live in Wiltshire, most of my friends have a unit for their track cars. One has a lean to thing he rents on a farm, which is without power or lighting, has dirt flooring and is generally crap.
Another two did similar on some private land, albeit an old cattle shed with power .
Four others grouped up and rented a large brick built unit on an industrial estate, this being substantially better value and way more usable. I believe they pay around £150 a month each, and they get their moneys worth.
I use my garage for my bikes, ane the driveway for my cars which is fine for most of the maintenance I do, any bigger stuff i need doing, I pay a decent local garage to do. If I didn't have a driveway/garage, I'd likely be looking for a unit or change of hobby.
Edited by Pebbles167 on Wednesday 25th January 13:05
Local to me is this place;
https://thisisyourgarage.com/about/what-is-tiyg/
Seems to offer storage, a number of ramps available to rent and a social side. Storage is advertised at £160/month and workshop time on a rampruns at £25/hour.
Personally, I rent a few spaces in a local barn which has been nicely refurbished by the farmer. Storage is a bit less, but the going rate around Oxford seems to be £120-150 per month per car, which soon adds up when you have a few cars to store. First world problems, I know.
Buying a unit would be great, but whilst relatively cheap(!) to buy they'd attract business rates etc. which wouldn't be insignificant. Buying land or a property with enough space to build a decent workshop here is expensive - anything decent tends to get snapped up by developers pretty quickly.
https://thisisyourgarage.com/about/what-is-tiyg/
Seems to offer storage, a number of ramps available to rent and a social side. Storage is advertised at £160/month and workshop time on a rampruns at £25/hour.
Personally, I rent a few spaces in a local barn which has been nicely refurbished by the farmer. Storage is a bit less, but the going rate around Oxford seems to be £120-150 per month per car, which soon adds up when you have a few cars to store. First world problems, I know.
Buying a unit would be great, but whilst relatively cheap(!) to buy they'd attract business rates etc. which wouldn't be insignificant. Buying land or a property with enough space to build a decent workshop here is expensive - anything decent tends to get snapped up by developers pretty quickly.
As noted above quite a lot of landlords are firmly "no motor trade, mechanics or breakers" and anything car related is storage only.
If I can't work on the car, storage alone is useless to me.
There always seems to be the demand in my area (Warwickshire) if Retro Rides' Garage Life sub forum is to be believed, but no one wants to commit to a length of lease, even if you can find somewhere. You then take the risk should someone bail out and you can't find anyone else to rent to.
I'd need to be able to make a few quid from the fact I've got it, to pay for it. And TBH I don't want to end up needing to run a side hustle from a unit in order to pay for the unit, and not be able to use it for the fun stuff.
If I can't work on the car, storage alone is useless to me.
There always seems to be the demand in my area (Warwickshire) if Retro Rides' Garage Life sub forum is to be believed, but no one wants to commit to a length of lease, even if you can find somewhere. You then take the risk should someone bail out and you can't find anyone else to rent to.
I'd need to be able to make a few quid from the fact I've got it, to pay for it. And TBH I don't want to end up needing to run a side hustle from a unit in order to pay for the unit, and not be able to use it for the fun stuff.
It seems that once you get above the level of 'leaky barn on a farm' (as seen on the popular 'HubNut' youtube channel) you are competing with money making businesses wanting the same spaces which bumps the price up.
Whilst browsing RightMove, I've noticed you can get something with space for one or two lifts for not much money - suitable for a one-man-band garage business - but it is then a big jump up in costs for larger units suitable for storage of half a dozen or more cars.
That's before you realise a lot of 'warehouse' type units are also built with office space that you'd not need for hobby storage.
(Finally, at what stage do you have to start paying business rates on a unit, especially if you are splitting costs or sub-letting to fellow enthusiasts)
Edit to Add: Of course, the cheapest way to do it is to buy a unit and then sell for a profit when you're done with it
Whilst browsing RightMove, I've noticed you can get something with space for one or two lifts for not much money - suitable for a one-man-band garage business - but it is then a big jump up in costs for larger units suitable for storage of half a dozen or more cars.
That's before you realise a lot of 'warehouse' type units are also built with office space that you'd not need for hobby storage.
(Finally, at what stage do you have to start paying business rates on a unit, especially if you are splitting costs or sub-letting to fellow enthusiasts)
Edit to Add: Of course, the cheapest way to do it is to buy a unit and then sell for a profit when you're done with it
Edited by Truckosaurus on Wednesday 25th January 14:06
Pebbles167 said:
Four others grouped up and rented a large brick built unit on an industrial estate, this being substantially better value and way more usable. I believe they pay around £150 a month each, and they get their moneys worth.
I'd have thought that still sounds cheap. Most commercial premises with power would normally be an easy £1000-1500/month. But maybe they got very lucky.I rent a unit along with three friends.
Reason being we don't have the space at our homes to do the work or store multiple vehicles.
It was a tough find back in 2013 as most industrial sites are owned by the likes of CBRE who command premium rent.etc
We have space for two cars each along with some used equipment we have purchased over the years (2-poster ramps.etc).
It really is a resource, the cost is offset by not needing to take our cars to garages for work.etc - there is a good social element too as more often than not there are a few of us there at the same time - after work / weekends.etc
Reason being we don't have the space at our homes to do the work or store multiple vehicles.
It was a tough find back in 2013 as most industrial sites are owned by the likes of CBRE who command premium rent.etc
We have space for two cars each along with some used equipment we have purchased over the years (2-poster ramps.etc).
It really is a resource, the cost is offset by not needing to take our cars to garages for work.etc - there is a good social element too as more often than not there are a few of us there at the same time - after work / weekends.etc
FNG said:
It's just made me go looking. This is Loughborough, nowhere near me (there's nothing near me) but maybe an idea of what can be had.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/119863049#/...
160k, put £20k down, best mortgage offer I can quickly find is £650 a month. Business loan rate may vary.
There's decent space inside, 5 ramps I think, at least 5 car parking spaces outside, paint booth, office. And it's around a town / on an estate, so security is less of an issue than in rural industrial estates.
I think there's likely a better chance of making the financials work with a bunch of mates by buying than by renting.
But the asking price is £170k, not £160k (I know, negotiation) on a business that is turning over £295k pa according to the blurb. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/119863049#/...
160k, put £20k down, best mortgage offer I can quickly find is £650 a month. Business loan rate may vary.
There's decent space inside, 5 ramps I think, at least 5 car parking spaces outside, paint booth, office. And it's around a town / on an estate, so security is less of an issue than in rural industrial estates.
I think there's likely a better chance of making the financials work with a bunch of mates by buying than by renting.
That looks like a tidy little unit for an indy mechanic/specialist to set up business and trade from, rather than a storage facility for a bunch of mates, surely?
300bhp/ton said:
Pebbles167 said:
Four others grouped up and rented a large brick built unit on an industrial estate, this being substantially better value and way more usable. I believe they pay around £150 a month each, and they get their moneys worth.
I'd have thought that still sounds cheap. Most commercial premises with power would normally be an easy £1000-1500/month. But maybe they got very lucky.Much like getting cheap plimbing, landscaping or house fitting, they happened to know someone who knows someone. Same story with a lot of people I know who've managed to get hold of cheap units or business places.
If you're having to look at public listings for rental, I'd expect double or more.
PurpleTurtle said:
FNG said:
It's just made me go looking. This is Loughborough, nowhere near me (there's nothing near me) but maybe an idea of what can be had.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/119863049#/...
160k, put £20k down, best mortgage offer I can quickly find is £650 a month. Business loan rate may vary.
There's decent space inside, 5 ramps I think, at least 5 car parking spaces outside, paint booth, office. And it's around a town / on an estate, so security is less of an issue than in rural industrial estates.
I think there's likely a better chance of making the financials work with a bunch of mates by buying than by renting.
But the asking price is £170k, not £160k (I know, negotiation) on a business that is turning over £295k pa according to the blurb. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/119863049#/...
160k, put £20k down, best mortgage offer I can quickly find is £650 a month. Business loan rate may vary.
There's decent space inside, 5 ramps I think, at least 5 car parking spaces outside, paint booth, office. And it's around a town / on an estate, so security is less of an issue than in rural industrial estates.
I think there's likely a better chance of making the financials work with a bunch of mates by buying than by renting.
That looks like a tidy little unit for an indy mechanic/specialist to set up business and trade from, rather than a storage facility for a bunch of mates, surely?
Ignore the above - it's the cost to buy the business. The leasehold business. Which leases the building It's bugger all to do with the building
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