I live in a 4 br house with roommates. One recently got married and moved out, so I decided I would rent his room and use it for my home office. I work remotely as a loan officer for a reverse mortgage company based in So Cal. My landlord now says it's not legal for me to use the room or any part of the house for my work purposes. I use my home office for phone calls and administrative purposes. I meet with clients in their homes, not mine. He says there are insurance/zoning laws which prohibit me from doing this. I don't believe this is true. Everyone has a home office these days, including my landlord, who lives about 20 miles away. Any qualitified advice and/or resources would be greatly appreciated so I can give him an educated response. Thank you.
2006-08-14 10:14:52 · 10 answers · asked by Corey 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
it all comes down to your zoning area. Had you not rented a room for office and did not list your house as your business office they should not have been able to do anything.
2006-08-14 10:22:09 · answer #1 · answered by Generation268 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's amazing how the lexicon has evolved. When did bringing work home with you become a "home office"? On job search sites, why are business opportunities, (versus real corporate positions) now listed at the top of the list.
Just because you do some of your work at home doesn't mean you have a "home office". Would you have to have a library license if you set up a reading room? Or if you bought a billard table, would that make your house a gaming establishment?
I think perhaps you have worded things wrong to your landlord. Help him understand it isn't a home office, you're just doing some of your work at home, where it is more convenient.
Good luck...
2006-08-14 17:39:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your activities are not creating a nuisance in any way, nor are they damaging the property. I think your landlord is just being a jerk.
Check your rental agreement. Is there anything about a home office not being allowed? If not, ask him to put up or shut up by showing you proof of these insurance/zoning laws. Most likely he's just blowing smoke.
Your goal is not to start a feud, so be polite, but tell him that unless he can demonstrate a good reason why you should not have a home office, you will continue operating one.
2006-08-14 17:24:50 · answer #3 · answered by Uncle Pennybags 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your landlord is wrong. There are no rules/regulations as to what you can do with your own space that you are currently renting. Contracts/leases specify that you are an occupant of the place, but does not specify what you can do with that space. It is a common practise that if you rent, you live there, not work, but again it is just common practise. He is simply afraid that people come to your house, something happens, he gets sued, etc..etc.. Typical landlord stuff. I have seen it many times. You can suggest writing somehting on a piece of paper that you are soley reponsible for any damages that may occur when a client comes to your workplace. That should make him feel better for a while. Otherwise, request those zoning codes. I am just curious what they are.
2006-08-15 06:11:58 · answer #4 · answered by ratetake 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well yes there are Zoning laws and he could be correct. You could check with City hall to see what the zoning laws are where you live. Then if it is allowed you might check your lease it may had a clause saying no at home businesses. If it doesn't is the person you talk to the owner of the building? If not talk to them...
Might be ahead to go somewhere and rent a Desk only somewhere for a small fee...
2006-08-14 17:31:03 · answer #5 · answered by Scott 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its only illegal if its stated in the lease and he could PROVE you do more than 50% of your buisness with clients in your home. I am in the same situation. I work on eBay from home. I do not have clients come here. Its NOT illegal.
2006-08-14 18:01:55 · answer #6 · answered by tianac23@sbcglobal.net 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So long as you aren't doing anything illegal nope. nothing wrong with that. I do real estate law and I can honestly tell you that that has nothing to do with zoning laws. The way you earn your money has nothing to do with being a tenent. Take your landlord to court. wait...do you use that room for your primary residence? cause if you do then she/he cant do anything about it.
2006-08-14 17:24:03 · answer #7 · answered by funkucla 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
contact city hall to see what exactly the laws are for home based business. they will have the info if there is in fact a specific law for that. and they can help you get the necessary permits to have your home based business. good luck
2006-08-14 17:22:09 · answer #8 · answered by ?Cheshire Cat? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
check with your local zoning codes and such,
2006-08-14 17:20:58 · answer #9 · answered by rhino_man420 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
GREAT QUESTION!!!
2006-08-14 17:20:38 · answer #10 · answered by Sandy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋