Cabin house – Is it legal ?
11:31 AM, 22nd May 2017, 9 years ago
4
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Hello, I’m being offered an accommodation in form of a cabin house / green house as a part of a payment for my services.
How could I check if the cabin is registered with local authorities as a unit suitable for this sort of arrangement ? As well as are there any other legal obligations, regulations I ought to be aware of as a tenant in this case ?
The cabin itself has no concrete foundations, is one story, with kitchenette, and a small bathroom, and does not exceed 4 m in height .
Thank you
Patricia
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Member Since February 2011 - Comments: 3453 - Articles: 286
11:34 AM, 22nd May 2017, About 9 years ago
Hello Patricia,
Will you be renting the property on an Agreed Shorthold Tenancy contract (AST)?
How long will you be staying there and will it be your main residence?
Is the accommodation part of your employment contract and PAYE?
If there are no proper contracts in place I would be concerned about this arrangements legitimacy.
Member Since September 2013 - Comments: 534 - Articles: 2
12:31 AM, 23rd May 2017, About 9 years ago
Bed in a shed?
Ring the local council
Member Since September 2013 - Comments: 120
4:25 PM, 23rd May 2017, About 9 years ago
Hello Patricia,
You need to ascertain from the owner what the basis is for the arrangement. If the accommodation is tied to the job, it is probably registered with the local authority. If this is something that he/she has just come up with out of the blue, then it may not be. The bottom line is really how desperate are you too get the job and what level of risk you are happy to take on. From reading your question, it seems not much, I should walk away in that case. I personally wouldn’t start conducting a search with local council, if you get a negative result from them, you may just unleash a s***t storm on your putative employer, not really fair on him and I expect you wouldn’t be too happy about it either.
Member Since July 2014 - Comments: 104
3:23 PM, 29th May 2017, About 9 years ago
Be aware that if the property is registered with the LA, there may be planning restrictions on its use as a permanent residence, i.e. it has to be vacated for one or more months in the year. Also check on proposed cost of mains services to the property, plus repairs, renovations etc. All these would be covered in an AST agreement, including insurance.