Navigating Legal Concerns: Can We Run Our Software Business from a Residential Flat?

Hello, we have money (and distance to the office) concerns, so we want to find a cheap office nearby our home. The owner is agreeable, but we want to ensure that everything we do is 100% legal. This situation is really confusing because sometimes I feel it is legal, and other times I feel it might be illegal.

Options for Office Space

We have three options:

1. Take a residential flat (fully residential) and ensure it is 100% legal. What steps should we take?

2. We have come across a building where the first floor has commercial shops (like banks), but everything above that is fully residential. We are interested in taking an apartment (residential) above those commercial shops. How can we ensure this is done 100% legally?

3. If there is any potential illegality in the above options, consider taking personal loans to pay for a commercial property.

Primarily, please suggest the proper category for this post so we can receive guidance from the best individuals in this community.

Thanks.

Second option is good, but be aware to start in a residential apartment if you are planning to start on the ground floor. This will be a good option. Otherwise, all society people will start many issues.

Whichever apartment you are choosing, you must convert it from residential to commercial status for all aspects, especially from a utilities perspective. Once you convert the residential unit to commercial use, the property tax aspect will also change. This conversion has to be accepted by the apartment owner for a residential flat to legally operate. Only then will you be allowed to display a name board; otherwise, that will not be possible.

Most importantly, since most residential apartments belong to a society, please obtain a No-Objection Certificate from the Society Welfare Office to prevent complaints from other residents. Trust this information helps.

Regards, Fred