Hi
We have a double garage on the ground floor of our house (attached to the house) that we want to use as an office / living area. We still want to be able to use it as a car parking garage later on, but for now need some extra room. So we're not thinking of making any major renovations to it (NO new walls, NO new plumbing). The only thing I am thinking of doing is just putting a carpet down and some curtains around the windows in the garage which won't require city council permits. The garage door will all be still intact as it is with the garage door motor just switched off.
We have house and content insurance and we are very cautious people so I am wondering about the legal and insurance implications of doing this. In the garage I want to put in a sofa, a TV, an office desk with computer and a bed. I will be installing a fire alarm for safety. From what I know, although the garage is in-built to the house it's walls do not contain insulation. My questions and worries are as follows:
1) If council found out that I was living in the garage of a house that my family owns, will they take legal action?
2) In case of fire that - A) results from appliances in the garage will insurance not cover it? B) results from another area of the house that is original (e.g., kitchen) will insurance not cover it (although living in the garage had nothing to do with the fire).
3) In case of unlikely natural disasters (e.g., earthquake, flooding, etc) will insurance not cover our losses just because we are using the garage as living space?
4) Will health and safety be a concern in eyes of legal imposers (council / police)?
5) I have been advised by a friend with some knowledge that if tragic event occurred (e.g., fire in the house / natural disaster caused damage to the house) and the police / city council found out that we were using our garage as living space they could prosecute us. Please confirm if this is true.
I understand how the council may be concerned if we were trying to rent out the place or make monetary benefit from using our garage for another purpose, but it seems like so much complications are involved even though we are just trying to use space in a house we own to fit our own non-profitable needs. Some advice from people who are experienced or have professional knowledge in this area would be much appreciated.
Thank you
We have a double garage on the ground floor of our house (attached to the house) that we want to use as an office / living area. We still want to be able to use it as a car parking garage later on, but for now need some extra room. So we're not thinking of making any major renovations to it (NO new walls, NO new plumbing). The only thing I am thinking of doing is just putting a carpet down and some curtains around the windows in the garage which won't require city council permits. The garage door will all be still intact as it is with the garage door motor just switched off.
We have house and content insurance and we are very cautious people so I am wondering about the legal and insurance implications of doing this. In the garage I want to put in a sofa, a TV, an office desk with computer and a bed. I will be installing a fire alarm for safety. From what I know, although the garage is in-built to the house it's walls do not contain insulation. My questions and worries are as follows:
1) If council found out that I was living in the garage of a house that my family owns, will they take legal action?
2) In case of fire that - A) results from appliances in the garage will insurance not cover it? B) results from another area of the house that is original (e.g., kitchen) will insurance not cover it (although living in the garage had nothing to do with the fire).
3) In case of unlikely natural disasters (e.g., earthquake, flooding, etc) will insurance not cover our losses just because we are using the garage as living space?
4) Will health and safety be a concern in eyes of legal imposers (council / police)?
5) I have been advised by a friend with some knowledge that if tragic event occurred (e.g., fire in the house / natural disaster caused damage to the house) and the police / city council found out that we were using our garage as living space they could prosecute us. Please confirm if this is true.
I understand how the council may be concerned if we were trying to rent out the place or make monetary benefit from using our garage for another purpose, but it seems like so much complications are involved even though we are just trying to use space in a house we own to fit our own non-profitable needs. Some advice from people who are experienced or have professional knowledge in this area would be much appreciated.
Thank you
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