According to the Seeff Property Group, estate agents are increasingly dealing with property buyers in search of residential properties where they can live and work from home or run a small business.
If you are for example doing consulting or doing freelance work or the business is primarily digital and you will generally travel to see clients, it is usually not a problem and fairly straightforward. Seeff said the most important consideration when it comes to whether you can operate a business from your property and the type of business will depend on the local municipal zoning and use of land guidelines. As a starting point, you can usually check with the agent when you enquire or view the property or make enquiries with your local council.
In the City of Cape Town for example, the basic residential zoning now allows you to work from home or to run a small place or worship, crèche and an Airbnb, bed and breakfast or guest house, subject to certain provisions. “You would need to check your local council regulations, but in the case of Cape Town for example there are no restrictions, subject to a maximum of six guests at any one time and only three rooms may be used.