Questions regarding renting a unit.(Rates)

[LowlifeDubber]

Ive finally decided to let a unit out somewhere in the city as having 3 cars and 2 bikes in a 3 bed semi is a pain.Im working the weekend shift for the forseable future (32 hours over sat and sun)and it seems i have no end of peoples cars to fix during the week.
However the main reason i want it,is so i can move all my tools out my garage so i can use it to park my car in.I also want to use the unit over winter to do the engine conversion on the mk3.

Many years ago i rented a massive workshop for bugger all but that was off a farmer type.However i now live in Lincoln and it will have to be a proper unit/workshop.

I dont want to pay more than £200pcm and i should get 500sqft for that.Im a little concerned about getting stung for business rates though.Essentially it will just be for working on my own vehicles but the council might not see it like that if they see a few cars floating about.

Does anyone know the rules on when they decided your no longer using it for personal use?Or perhaps link me up as a search doesnt reveal anything concrete.

Cheers lads.

[robiwill]

based on the size of the unit you have you should get small business rate relief, also based on  the size of the unit and its rateable value you might not pay rates at all. Speak to your rates office, ring local council and they will give you the number, I wouldnt tell them its for personal use as business premises can not just be changed to personal use etc with out forms and visits.
A few words of advice when renting a unit for motor trade use as this is how they will see it. You will need public liabilty insurance, also make sure you get a very very secure unit as the local scum love breaking into workshops for tools cutting off CATS etc, we have spent a small fortune on alarms CCTV etc just some friendly advice

[LowlifeDubber]

Thanks for the advice mate.
Yes security is a concern to be honest as my last unit was broke into and the lot was taken and i was uninsured.Took roll cabs the lot.
That was another reason i was looking to go on a business park that's possibly gated etc.

I was looking at this one which is small but is just right for me.
http://www.hodelk.com/commercial/property.asp?ref=CP7241B


Regarding liability insurance,thats something i had not thought about to be honest.I used to have my own PLI when i was self employed as a mechanical engineer and as it was in food factories it was up to £10,000,000 and if i remember rightly it was around £750pa.

This would take a lot out of my original budget and make it a pain in the arse too.

Appreciate your help Rob.

[Sam]

Ive finally decided to let a unit out somewhere in the city as having 3 cars and 2 bikes in a 3 bed semi is a pain.Im working the weekend shift for the forseable future (32 hours over sat and sun)and it seems i have no end of peoples cars to fix during the week.
However the main reason i want it,is so i can move all my tools out my garage so i can use it to park my car in.I also want to use the unit over winter to do the engine conversion on the mk3.

Many years ago i rented a massive workshop for bugger all but that was off a farmer type.However i now live in Lincoln and it will have to be a proper unit/workshop.

I dont want to pay more than £200pcm and i should get 500sqft for that.Im a little concerned about getting stung for business rates though.Essentially it will just be for working on my own vehicles but the council might not see it like that if they see a few cars floating about.

Does anyone know the rules on when they decided your no longer using it for personal use?Or perhaps link me up as a search doesnt reveal anything concrete.

Cheers lads.

I wouldnt bother with a unit dude, there are so so many farms around us I would just hit up that option again. For beer money each month a farmer would easily give you a corner to use. Even offer to clean out a room for them, most farms have old workshops far too small for modern machinary that has become a dumping ground for random plastic tubs, wheels to tractors they no longer own. Offer to weigh it in one weekend for them and pay the first month in advance to get on there good side. Also if its of any interest, I know of a place that charges a pound per week per bay (car sized bay) has three phase. You may be able to get it cheaper if you took 5 or so off him or just paid £100 a month for an entire corner. Its out at toft next newton, about 12 miles from lincoln.

[Sam]

Here is a shot of said unit, you can just make out the bays behind the cab

[LowlifeDubber]

I was hoping to stay in Lincoln city centre tbh dude.Preferably within a 5 mile radius of Doddington Road near where i live.It would be handy for just nipping down at night and working away.Plus id always be concerned with tool/car safety in a farmers outbuilding after i got stung last time and had to build my tools up.

Ive not looked into insurance as im not sure what kind of insurance i would need to cover tools/contents.
I will see how i get on searching in Lincoln,but if i have no joy i will certainly give you a shout and rent a chunk of the ne you mentioned.
Cheers mate.

[LowlifeDubber]

Ah that looks sound.Is it shared with other users though?That would concern me if someone had a 9" grinder near my freshly painted car!

[Sam]

Ah that looks sound.Is it shared with other users though?That would concern me if someone had a 9" grinder near my freshly painted car!

Other users:

Owner who stores two bays of patio furnature

Some bloke who abandoned a sierra there and hasnt paid him for 3 months

A porche sat in the very back corner, no idea on that one.

No one is using it as a workshop, just a storage space. You could just corden off your own end with lorry tarps to protect everything else in the barn.

[robiwill]

regarding insurance for the unit forget it unless you really want to pay big, despite cctv alarm linked to the police, all keys taken home and logbooks, our premium would make you weep.

[LowlifeDubber]

Hmm it's sounding more appealing.Can you send pm me a postcode or a google maps link as ive never heard of the place.