Legal Advice for Residential/Work Destinations

Questioner

We want to buy a building that has a residential/work destination. Living upstairs, downstairs is a business property. We want to use the business part privately, as storage. There will be no business in it. Is that allowed?

Lawyer

I expect that it concerns a business destination with business-related housing. This means that your approach will probably conflict with the usage regulations of the zoning plan. Sometimes it is possible to obtain an environmental permit for deviating use, but then you will have to contact the municipality in which the building is located.

Questioner

In the zoning plan, the property is listed under 'mixed purposes'. This also includes an explanation/content of the regulations: Garages and Storage areas. Purpose description: A. Parking of vehicles. B. Storage areas of a domestic nature. Is this allowed in this case?

Lawyer

I can only give you proper advice based on the actual texts, but the description of use 'mixed purposes' is often used for residential homes, where, in addition to residential use, light commercial use is also possible; in practice this often concerns the garage or extension and with a view to 'small self-employed persons' or ZZP-ers. In such cases, the garage or outbuilding may always be used for residential purposes.