Vat and cohabitating

[aceparts_com]

I have a 'couple' of friends, both living together at the same address who are both looking at starting similar businesses but want to run them independently.
Would the VAT man look at them unfavourably as this could be viewed as a way as not having to register.
I remembered Eric mentioning a term for this some months ago and thought i'd better ask!

[JonRB]

If they are indeed separate businesses then there is no issue. However, if they've going to part-own or share assets or services then it will get complicated.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Phew! Read the thread title & thought they were about to levy`VAT on nooky!

not that it'd cost me much, and I'd only have to pay the reduced rate