Live-work covenant

[munemema]

I've seen the perfect property.

However, it comes with the condition that at least one resident must "derive their sole or principal income from activities carried out within the employment space contained within the live/work unit."

Whats does this mean in practice?

I would be the full-time main breadwinner outside the home. DH could argue that he does a bit of freelancing which is his only income, but he'd be mostly living off my wage. Would that be sufficient? Who polices it?

Also, we're moving closer to retirement. Does that mean we'd have to sell up once neither of us is working at the house?

I think it would be dishonest and unethical to go for a live-work unit if the workspace would just be used for occasional bits of freelance stuff that could just as easily be done at the dining table without disrupting day to day life.

Live-work units are like gold dust and there aren't nearly enough of them. They are intended for people who run a proper business from home that needs dedicated space. I have friends who are desperate for a unit like this but they keep getting snapped up by others. It would give me the rage to know their dream to reclaim the dining table and have some proper workspace in their home was being quashed by people who really don't need it.

You can't ask here, you need to find a very good solicitor that's an expert in leases (assuming this condition is part of a lease?). Get a copy of the conditions in writing and be sure to call several solicitors.

You can get covenants removed. I'd speak to your solicitor.

I bought a house that had two. I couldn't keep chickens and I couldn't operate it as a pub, fortunately I didn't plan to do either, but I always wondered if anything would happen if I kept chickens. I don't think anyone polices these things.

Actually I'm wrong. This isn't a convenant as such. It's very very different.

A live work unit is not deemed a residential property, you need to speak to a solicitor.

It can't be that sought after Yoba, it's been on the market for 18 months and the price has been reduced twice.

It's a bargain for the accommodation offered in the house, but (I'd imagine) the restrictive covenant is making it difficult to sell.

It's not in London, if that makes a difference.

It's being sold freehold Moodlighting, which is what makes me wonder if you'd be expected to sell up once you retire.

I realise we'd need proper advice if we were to be thinking seriously about it. At the moment it's just a bit of a dream.