Do you do your woodworking in rented accommodation?

[Ives]

We live in our own flat and I do my woodworking indoors and on the balcony, and in summer, away from the building by the sheds. We're looking into renting our flat out and renting a house, but I wonder what landlords would think if they knew I was doing woodworking in the house, and also the neighbours! I can get a decent distance away from all buildings here when I work by the sheds, but in our own rented garden, I wouldn't, because houses are all so crammed together. Even in a garage, would neighbours hear me and complain? The money I make from my woodworking business is what would pay for the rent, so if they made me stop, it would be reeeeeally bad and we'd have to leave!

 

[mseries]

Neighbours vary, mine can almost certainly hear me when I use powertools in my garage, no one has complained. I can hear others, I can hear their lawnmowers, their presure washers, their cars and their children - I have not of those except a lawnmower which is not powered. As for the landlord, you are best off asking him before you sign a contract.

 

[WellsWood]

I would have thought that any problems you may experience from neighbours / landlords by pursuing a hobby such as woodworking will pale by comparison to the grief involved if a landlord caught you carrying on a manufacturing business in a rented residential property. I won't pretend I know the law in this regard, but it seems highly unlikely it would be allowed without change of usage, commercial rates etc. etc.
I don't know what kind of woodwork you do but if you're planning on paying your rent with the proceeds you must either be doing a lot of it or getting pretty highly paid (or the rents in Eastbourne are extremely reasonable). I think you would be well advised to think this through carefully before committing to a rental agreement under these circumstances - get this wrong with a hardliner landlord and you could find yourself without a home with very little notice! As above, best ask first - he may turn a blind eye, but after you've moved in would be a bad time to find out he won't.

 

[James C]

I have my workbench set up in the spare room of our flat. It gets a light hobby use and the only power tool I use is a drill driver so it goes unnoticed.

The previous tenants to me were live in illustrators and artists and worked from home painting. I assume because they made no noise or mess there was no issue so I strive for the same thing.

My landlord had no issue with them working at home but they did seek permission first and declared everything through the relevant channels re: registered business and tax etc.

Doesn't concern me though as I only do it for fun.