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?!

I took this bit as ''being reported''

op quote "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’."

There's nothing they can do, so don't worry about it.

That is crazy. I hope I never have neighbours like you. You don't own the street and dictate what the neighbours do with their property.

I can see why it would be annoying on a quiet residential street but if it’s legal and you are declaring the income then what can they do

Sorry, I understood what you meant and shouldn't have put reported in quote marks.

😊no sorry I wasnt bothered I was just explaining

I know! Some people honestly don’t realise, they buy a house, their property does not own the road or neighbours property and they’ve no right to dictate what goes there.

It’s like cars perfectly legally parked outside their property and they’ve want to complain that it’s not right….. oh but it is!

... And Rachel Thieves... I am sure she'd like to know so she can find some way to tax you further.

The OP's situation isn't even a business, she doesn't earn money, she gets a small deduction from her electricity bill.

The OP never said that. Several posters have invented that. The 3 schemes I googled all involve direct payment from the user. From what the OP said, her getting paid sounds more likely.

Oh dear you are confused. If you operate a business from home, any business, you need to notify the following.

• Mortgage lender if you have one. Your mortgage will state that they are lending against a residential property not a business and change of use must have consent from them.
• Insurance needs to be notified as your premium will change based on the type of business. If its just a few hours of homeworking then the premium probably won't change but you must tell them or your home insurance may be invalid.
• Council. If you operate a business (not homeworking) your homes rates may change to business use. You will need planning permission for structural changes relating to business use and business impact on the community, if the nature of your business may have cause to be a nuisance to others, it needs to be assessed by Environmental health.
• Run a business involving the public and there will be health and safety considerations. Same goes if you employ someone in the business even if its a relative.

-HMRC needs to be advised of your change of incone.

Local council can advise when setting up but of course, their advice is based on what you tell them. If you tell them you're workind from home but you're really running a business then they're unlikely to be interested. Certificate of Use confirms you have made the correct admission around business activity to the council and they certify permission has been granted for the business on residential premises.

If cars are coming and going then it can be classed as a nuisance and a disturbance to neighbours.

The government website says this.

‘You MAY need permission’. Not must, may.

Yes it does and as I've said your premium will be adjusted depending on activity. That's the same as 'may be adjusted' you have to notify them to find out.

There is no way 3 cars a day in the manner OP has described can be classed as a nuisance.

I am not confused. There is NO obligation on OP to contact the council or get a certificate of lawful use. It is perfectly legal to run a business from your home without one. If you contravene regulations you may be prosecuted but you do not need to run your plans past the council in advance. That isn’t a regulation. What a huge bureaucratic nightmare and waste of our taxes that would be.

Wow.

Imagine if everyone who sold stuff on Vinted or the like contacted the council to get a business licence.

You're in denial. Town and Country Planning Act 1990 look it up or even email your local authority about the original posters problem and see what they say.

Have you not looked it up yourself, or is your reading comprehension just very poor? Which bit of the act do you believe requires every one running a business from their home to apply for a certificate of lawful use?

Well I'm glad I'm not your neighbour
You sound truly vile

Haha! Profesdiinals aren’t always the best behaved, her neighbour has complained about the behaviour of some! OP sounds entitled and has no consideration for her neighbours regardless of whether it’s legal! It would royally hack me off all these additional cars coming and going! I doubt OP has even checked with her insurance company who may charge her extra as she’s effectyrunning a business!

The people moaning about OP's council estate comment clearly do not live on one. Enjoy your middle class bubble because living on an estate is not something anyone would choose to do unless they had to.

I guess you’re just trying to make money, I take it is all above board, legal and you are paying taxes on earnings if due.

Have to say I would probably view this as a little annoying also especially if I lived next door / especially if I shared a driveway from the smoking and crass language, hardly professional types.

Well as long as you have declared your property as a business and are filing tax returns for the income you are getting yup, perfectly legal

What so “riff raff from the local estates” can’t have those types of cars?? In my experience it’s more likely the high flying types are usually the ones causing more issues! Can’t say I’d like random people outside all the time