Due to the pandemic, the number of work-from-home jobs seems to be increasing every day. Also, there is a rise in home run businesses worldwide. You probably want to work from home, but you are not sure if your landlord will allow it. So, you might be wondering, am I allowed to work from home in a rented apartment?”
Tenants may work from their rented apartments if their work or business does not hamper the property. You do not need to get permission from your landlord for computer-based work that does not require outsiders to enter the property.
I will explain when you can work from your rented apartment in this article. You will also learn when your business can become a problem for your landlord and why they may not allow all kinds of businesses on their property.
Can I Work From Home On Rented Property?
Depending on the job, you can work from a rented property. Considering the recent situations, landlords are becoming more considerate about allowing homes, offices, and specific businesses in their properties.
Working from home can be quite convenient. You can work from the comfort of your home and save a lot of time. But is it legal to work from a rented apartment? Operating a home-based business on a rented property is a tricky business.
If you have not started your home office or business from home yet, you better know the rules for conducting business from your rented apartment.
Generally, there are three kinds of work-from-home situations. These are:
- Working from home for jobs or freelancing
- Earning money through hobbies and crafts
- Operating a home business
Typically, you do not need legal permission from your landlord if your work is related to computer-based businesses from home. These jobs can be work from home office jobs, designing, copywriting, digital marketing, or any job that does not require outsiders to visit the apartment.
However, let your landlord know about your work-from-home situation because it might affect some of the agreements you made before renting the apartment.
As you will spend more time in the apartment, you will use more electricity, water, cooling, and heating systems. These resources will also go through more wear and tear.
Your utility bills can be included in the rental price, and your landlord may not like the amount shown on the bills at the end of the month. Therefore, you should talk with your landlord to determine if you have to pay your utility and maintenance bills separately.
With newfound free time to spend in the apartment, you may decide to practice some of your hobbies. You may knit some sweaters or mufflers and sell some of your crafts on a small scale via the online platform. That is okay if it is just a side business and not your primary source of income.
You are not permitted to sell or display any of your creative or crafted items on the property to outsiders. The landlord will not tolerate any wastage and damage to the apartment’s resources because of your side business. For example, you cannot paint and use your apartment as an exhibition place.
Moreover, your crafting should not cause a nuisance to your neighbors or landlord. Your hobby or craft work may produce a loud noise that irritates the neighbors. The neighbors may complain to your landlord.
Can I Use An Apartment As An Office?
In short, the answer is yes. But it depends on the opinion of your landlord and how he maintains the building.
First of all, you will need written permission from your landlord. For that, you have to explain the purpose of renting the apartment and how you will use it as an office.
Landlords must maintain the residential status of the tenancy; otherwise, they will face legal consequences. Hence, the property must be used no more than 40% for offices, and the rest should be used for residential purposes.
When you meet with a landlord to turn your apartment into an office, you have to convince them by ensuring your official business will not cause any trouble to the property. The landlord may agree and update the rules and regulations for renting the apartment for residential and official purposes.
Since you will be renting the apartment for both commercial and residential use, the landlord will assume you will use the apartment more than usual. Thus, they may ask you to pay for the utility and maintenance bills separately from the apartment rent.
Can You Have A Home Business In An Apartment?
You cannot operate a home business until you follow all the rules and regulations. Having the permission of your landlord is not enough to start a business.
But when you intend to grow a full-fledged home business in a rented apartment, you need to make sure to get all the requisite licenses and permits. Or else you and your landlord could face some legal issues. Your business could get shut down, and you may even get kicked out of the apartment.
You will need a general business license, just like any other business, for your home business. It will allow you to engage in business activities under the local jurisdiction. You must check if your business complies with local zoning ordinances. Some neighborhoods may restrict having a home business without zoning ordinances’ permission.
Then you must have a professional license. You may plan to start a hairstyling service, a legal service, an advertisement service, or a daycare center. Whatever your business is, you need to get a license for it.
If you are going to have clients and other business people visit your apartment office, you will need health and safety permits. You or your landlord have to apply to the fire department to inspect the apartment to make sure it is in perfect condition to conduct your business safely.
Can Your Landlord Stop You Working From Home?
You have the right to work from home when your office or company tells you to do so. Office jobs are mostly computer-based jobs, in which case there are limited or no commercial visitors. So, your landlord will not stop you from working in the apartment.
In the case of a home-based business, getting permission is difficult. Even after getting all your licenses and permits to conduct business in your rented apartment, your landlord can object when your business becomes a problem for them.
Here are the reasons your landlord may stop you from working in your rented apartment:
- When your business grows to become more commercial, it may not match the tenancy agreement. This can put your landlord in trouble. Landlords can stop your business if they find you using the apartment space more for business than living.
- A large-scale business can damage property and consume more resources. Your landlord will disapprove of the increased wear and tear.
- Your neighbors may feel disturbed by your business. You might have clients or your employees on the property more often. Thus, the landlord has to take action against you after complaints from your neighbors.
Conclusion
So, “Am I allowed to work from home in a rented apartment?” The answer depends on what type of work or business you plan to do in your rented apartment. Landlords are becoming more considerate because of recent events. So, you can operate a small home-based business along with a computer-based business with little trouble.
Make sure that your work from home does not cause any damage to the rented apartment. Your landlord can ask you to stop the business, or worse, evict you from the apartment if your work causes any damage to the apartment.