Can they run this business from home!?

[IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads]

My neighbours used to have a shop.
They gave up the shop premises and now run the business from home, using social media to encourage people to come for a browse or make an appt.

There's been no change of use planning application.

This has increased traffic and dodgy parking in our small street. We have residents parking but it's not enforced

Is this type of business allowed from residential premises ?

Their home insurance probably won't allow it and if it does then they will also need liability insurance (like they would in a shop). The council might not allow it so that's the best place to start with your enquiries....

You see I have an ethical dilemma, because I don't wa t to grass up someone trying to make a living, but equally, it's bringing a lot of traffic in to a street with no parking.

You either ask the council if it's permitted or you ignore it. There is no 'ethical dilemma ' if they are operating a business illegally. How would you feel if a child is knocked down by one of the many extra cars and it comes out that the business should not have been operating from the premises but you didn't report it? You can't have it both ways - either report them or don't.

It depends on the scale of the operation. How many visitors and at what times?
Generally if a business is operating at a level that neighbours are aware of it happening, then it would be likely the planning permission would be necessary.
If an application were submitted, the Council would consider the impact of the business in terms of noise, disturbance, privacy, parking etc.

^ What they all said, and they would also have to be paying business rates instead of council tax.

I'm guessing they have no public liability insurance, no proper buildings or contents cover, no professional indemnity insurance, no health & safety policy, no licences to run a business from home, and they are probably not producing proper accounts or paying tax, and it's unlikely they are accounting for VAT or paying their employees NMW.

Someone needs to report them, and it might as well be you.

There is legislation around operating a business from home for good reason. Your local council would be your first port of call, with traffic issues/concerns being your impetus for calling.

All good points.
Thank you.

What type of business is it? Are people just arriving to collect things they've bought online, or are they effectively using part of their house as a shop/showroom?

Do you know/get on with them? Do you think talking to them about the parking might help? I wouldn't want to grass someone up who's just trying to make a living with the way things are at the moment, but if it's genuinely affecting others, someone will do it at some point.

You could maybe approach it as giving them a heads up that it's bothering people, hopefully they'll take the hint.

Look on Companies House as to what businesses are registered at the address.

Usually it’s only a clerical type business that can be run from home, to prevent disruption to neighbours, sometimes property’s have covenants to prevent a business being operated from an address. Could you speak to the neighbours?

Report to The Council.
I doubt its allowed for a variety of reasons

There was a local 'on line' letting agency that the Council enforced against where I live a few years ago.

Basically he was a twat and a crook and lots of people turned up at his house to deliver a well deserved kicking