Obtaining planning clearance is the first step you should take to switch from residential to commercial space usage. Then there are the issues of building codes to make sure the commercial property for sale Kent is compliant with the law and hiring any tradespeople who would be required to adapt the premises.

Before you sign the papers to buy a residential property with the express intention of turning it into a business endeavour, it is crucial to look closely at each of these factors. Additionally, be sure that your budget can cover any unanticipated challenges that could arise. Even though it has gotten simpler recently, there is still much red tape to get through before cutting the red ribbon to open your business location.

Needs For Planning Permission

Several documents are required when applying for planning authorisation. These consist of the following:

• Typical application form, typically submitted online

• Site maps and architectural drawings

• Ownership document

• Certificate of Agricultural Holdings (required even if the land does not include any agricultural holdings)

• Design and access declaration (required if the look of the building is being dramatically changed and for listed buildings)

• The Fire Statement (required for buildings over 18m or seven storeys tall)

• Cost of application

The Town and Country Planning Order of 1987, which specifies the permitted uses of a plot of land or a structure, establish use classifications. You will need complete planning clearance to convert it from residential to commercial use, and you must be clear on the kind of business building you intend to create.

• Is this a store?

• A workplace?

• A commercial workshop?

• A manufacturing facility?

You must apply for the appropriate one because each has a separate use class.

Your local authority’s planning division will decide whether to take your application and grant you the necessary permit.

The local authority frequently offers pre-application guidance. However, there may be a fee. You will be subject to enforcement action, which could be expensive if you do not apply for planning approval or proceed without it.

Upholding Building Codes

All buildings, old and new, are subject to legislative regulations that must be followed about architectural design, building construction, and any adjustments made in the future.

To ensure you cover every angle, think about it in conjunction with the approved documents that go along with it. These include access, drainage and waste management, sanitisation and hot water, and ventilation, along with instructions on meeting the required criteria.

To ensure you are protected and haven’t unintentionally missed something crucial, it can make excellent business sense to contact an attorney early on.

The procedure will go much more smoothly for everyone involved because property solicitors are knowledgeable in all facets of property law and will provide assistance and direction in addition to conducting the necessary research and filing the required documents on your behalf.

Would The Property Work Well As A Conversion?

When converting a residential property to a commercial one, one of the most important factors is whether the structure is in good enough structural repair to absorb any additional building work needed and endure the rigours of whatever happens inside its walls.

Will equipment and machines fit through any access points, can additional restrooms and kitchens be installed, and can fire exits be provided on all floors?

Occupational health and safety must be scrutinised considerably more than at home, with PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) for electrical items, well-marked fire exits, and defined escape routes, among many other factors. Before they are declared suitable for commercial use, plumbing and electrical systems must be carefully inspected and may require a complete renovation.

Every component from the floor to the top needs to be in good shape since housing many extra people in a structure that may have formerly merely been a family home places additional stress on its construction and foundation. Before beginning any corrective work, have a building surveyor come out and have a look at the space and offer advice on layouts and which walls may be pulled down and removed without endangering the building’s structural integrity.

Final Words

The above gives you a demonstrative view of whether changing a residential property into a commercial one is possible.