CF Neighbours threatening to complain to council over EV charger ‘hire’

[FootballMumm]

We live close to the head office of a big corporate company - thousands of employees attend across the week.

Our house is a couple of streets away, and we’ve got an EV charger. We have made this available for ‘rent’, and it’s at a far more affordable cost than the chargers at the head office. Therefore, we’ve built up over time through word of mouth etc and we usually average about 3 people using it a day.

This has been for about 3 months with no issues at all.

Yesterday, our neighbour knocked and said they are uncomfortable with the ‘comings and going’s’ and not knowing who these people are, and feel it’s cheapening the street . I pointed out they work more or less over the road in corporate roles.

They then said that they have found some of the behaviour ‘unacceptable’. I asked for examples to which they gave two:

-A man smoking whilst waiting for his charge to finish
-A woman on the phone making an ‘extreme’ sexual remark. On pressing what this was, it was basically a fouler version of ‘I’ve had a crap day and want to have sex tonight’.

I said that usually, people leave their cars and then go into work before returning either on break, lunch or at the end of the day. But said I’d keep an eye out for any untoward behaviour.

I thought this would placate them, but they said that if we don’t stop it this week then they will speak to the council to register a ‘formal complaint’.

I don’t intend to stop, and am aware we are acting perfectly legally. Is it me, or they are batshit?!

To be honest with you that does sound quite annoying for everyone else on the street

It's not a business. No money changes hands. The electricity provider give the householder account credits in return for letting the public use her charger. This does not meet the threshold of 'running a business'.

I commented up thread about how amazing this all is.

As the OP states those charging trot off to work I can assume they’re not setting themselves up on the drive for hours (though still not a neighbour’s issue imo) - so I’m now equally amazed that some people manage outside at all!

One cigarette, one passing comment. The OP may not wish people to smoke on her drive, fair enough and put that in the rules, but for someone else then it was only one on somebody else’s property - how upsetting can that be let alone how can it be your business.

Same person apparently has to listen to other folks’ phone calls closely enough to memorise full sentences. I can actually find such calls irritating on a train sitting next to someone on a call loudly for ages (still try and ignore unless it’s fascinating lol)- but have never heard, let alone worried about what a random passing person on someone else’s property is saying.

This thread is though some light relief from the political ones I normally haunt so cheers for that!

If the woman wanting to be fucked was saying that loudly enough for them to hear she and the OP have made it their business. The OP could easily ask her customers to show consideration - but I doubt she will.

Could you put a note on your listing (presumably you have somewhere to help people find the charging point etc) asking users to be considerate of your neighbours when using your charging point.

I think the community charging is a great idea but would find loud conversations, smoking or music annoying if I was WFH, wanted to enjoy my garden in peace or had a sleeping baby for example.

I think it's a bit cheeky. Isn't it running a business from your home and there's some sort of law about that?

No it isn't and no there isn't (generally - although some forms of business need a specific licence). But this is not a business - what happens is the energy company gives you credits in return for letting other customers use your charger.

The people using the charger are not OP's customers, they are the energy company's customers. Effectively you are allowing your charger to become part of the public charger network in return for a discount on your own electricity bills. Public chargers do not require any form of permit, licence, or even planning permission.

You can't just start a business from home which involves offering services to the public. Has the council approved your business licence and agreed operating hours, risk assessments, premises suitability etc with you? If not, you may be in breach of planning regulations and would need to change your house from residential to business use. If you haven't done any of this and are operating a business from your home without these permissions, take your neghbours threat seriously fines can be hefty for unregulated businesses.

I would hate this too. I can see their point of view. Your home is your sanctuary. I do hope you are paying tax and the utility company is aware you are selling their product. I do hope you are paying HMRC.

Plenty of people operate businesses from home.
Piano teachers, private tutors, personal trainers

Yes you can. There is no such thing as a “business license” in the UK. The council do not routinely review business plans and do not have to approve everyone’s activities in advance. Some specific activities, like serving alcohol, need a license but you don’t need a license just because you do business.

It’s no wonder the UK is economically moribund when so many people have such a bureaucratic idea (and seem to want it to be that way) of what it takes to be entrepreneurial.

Of course you fucking can.

I run a business offering services to the public, the council couldn't give a flying monkeys. Everything is done properly, I didn't need any permission or change of use, I don't have a mortgage anyway (and previously ran same business from a council property)...

Unless you are substantially changing the use of the property from a dwelling to say, a gym or a mechanics workshop ... it's absolutely fine. Any number of businesses can be run from home without any special permissions being needed.

And in any case, this isn't a business.

If its "all above board" then why are you upset about her complaining to the council??

You must think the council will have some cause to come back and stop you?

You are bound to need planning or building control permissions to change the purpose of your residential property to that of running a business. Are you saying you've done that?

Why on earth would it make any difference whatsoever if OP rented?! You pay your electricity provider for your electric not your landlord!

If it was a council rent the council may be more interested? Also private rent and the landlord might have some stipulations in the lease.

I'm leasehold for my owned property and we have to get permission for lots of things and as a new development we have rules around the front of our property (no commercial vehicles/caravans, no visible sky dishes, no bins, no fences, etc).

It's always worth checking what's allowed if you rent or are leasehold.

It’s not running a business

She does t need to, HMRC only interested if tax is due, it’s not!

Oh we must have missed the part where you were introduced as her personal accountant fully versed in her tax affairs

Income from profit is taxable

It’s amazing how many people on this thread are so confidently wrong.

There is no such thing as a general ‘business licence’. The vast majority of businesses are unregulated and do not require any form of licence to operate.

Councils have absolutely nothing to do with operating hours, premises suitability, risk assessments etc except for the small minority of businesses that are licenced.

EV chargers do not require any permits or planning permission.

Buildings insurance for risk of fire or damage to the property from strangers that the landlord doesn’t know about perhaps?

https://www.gov.uk/run-business-from-home

The government seems to disagree with you

Your local authority needs to issue a Certificate of Lawful Use in relation to your business and premises. Without this, you run the risk of penalties for not adhering to the rules relating to buainesses run from home and may find yourself in court for statutory nuisance offences. Look it up on your local authority website or planning portal.

If it makes money and you're not employed by anyone its a business and you're talking absolute rubbish. Just shared this with another poster on this thread.

Your local authority needs to issue a Certificate of Lawful Use in relation to your business and premises. Without this, you run the risk of penalties for not adhering to the rules relating to businesses run from home and may find yourself in court for statutory nuisance offences. Look it up on your local authority website or planning portal.

Ignorance of rules doesn't make you lawfully compliant.

Just posted this perhaps it will help you understand what your obligations are when you start a business from home.

Your local authority needs to issue a Certificate of Lawful Use in relation to your business and premises. Without this, you run the risk of penalties for not adhering to the rules relating to buainesses run from home and may find yourself in court for statutory nuisance offences. Look it up on your local authority website or planning portal.

Your local authority needs to issue a Certificate of Lawful Use in relation to your business and premises. Without this, you run the risk of penalties for not adhering to the rules relating to businesses run from home and may find yourself in court for statutory nuisance offences. Look it up on your local authority website or planning portal.