Small businesses have struggled as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown. Many had no income for months. Around the world, small business owners are terminating their leases at shopping centres and office buildings, and seeking more affordable options, including working from their homes.
In South Africa, this is creating challenges for community schemes such as bodies corporate as well as the trustees entrusted to manage the schemes. Small business owners need to arm themselves with the facts, including the municipal regulations and the conduct rules of their own estate, before moving any business enterprise into their home. Trustees should also consider refining their rules in order to mitigate risks and the impact on other residents.
Correct rules
In large schemes, the properties may be able to accommodate small businesses but generally, the trustees need to be strict about having the correct rules in place if they decide to allow a complex – which is strictly speaking for residential purposes only – to accommodate certain home enterprises. A formal application should be made to the trustees, and the business must comply with the rules of the body corporate and the municipal by-laws.
A recent case
I was involved in a recent case where the trustees of a building in Fourways, Johannesburg, approached me about an owner who wanted to close her hair salon and work from home. She planned to convert an entertainment area into a home salon. In terms of Section 20 of the Home Enterprises for Professional Occupation, City of Johannesburg Land Use Scheme (2018), an owner wishing to use his or her residential building as a home enterprise may do so, provided certain conditions are met.
It is important to first note that some businesses are not permitted to operate in a residential area at all. These include motor sales, heavy mechanical repairs, a car wash, spray painting operation, a shop or retail outlet, spaza shop, tavern or shebeen, restaurant or coffee shop.
While the hair salon in question would have to comply with certain conditions, a pet grooming salon would be a no-go. Further businesses not permitted to operate from a home are a place of amusement, guest house, bed and breakfast, boarding house, commune and a hotel.
Home business regulations
Once the business owner has established that their particular trade is not specifically excluded, they would then need to ensure that not more than 25% of the built floor area of the unit will be used for the non-residential purpose, or 50m² of the dwelling. The principal of the business must also be a permanent occupant of the residential home. The number of people who may work at the business is limited. A maximum of two other people – in addition to the members of the household who live there permanently – may work at the home business.
Parking
Parking is also a consideration and must be to the Council’s satisfaction. It is also stipulated that any home business, profession or occupation that causes an undue increase in traffic will not be permitted. Furthermore, the enterprise may not negatively impact any infrastructure services or place greater demand on these services than normal domestic use would. Any business that interferes with the aesthetic appearance of the neighborhood or creates noise, smells or dust would not be permitted.
Rules of the scheme
Once the business owner has ensured compliance with the conditions set out by the Council, there are also the rules of the specific scheme to be considered. In a community housing setup like a sectional title scheme, the business should be subject to approval by the body corporate. The rules of the scheme where the hair salon was planned stipulated that no business activities could take place without the written approval of the owners and the approval of the City Planning Department. The resident was not able proceed with her home business plans.
Recommendation
I would urge anyone considering a home business to study the municipal regulations and the conduct rules in place. Rules must clearly state that no business activities will be permitted without the written approval of the owners. There should be alignment of the rules and the municipal by-laws.
In this way, each application can be considered individually and everyone’s interests are protected. In the event that the rules are breached, the association would be entitled to institute legal proceedings in respect of such a breach, as well as refer such conduct to the relevant authorities for breach of the by-laws.
Alternatively, trustees who are more willing to contemplate the running of home-based businesses during these unprecedented times should considering amending the schemes’ conduct rules to set proper boundaries that are not unfairly prejudicial to other owners.
Author: Marina Constas