Buying a home with retail space? Ask for free advice!

Questioner

I am about to purchase a house that can be divided into multiple parts in the land registry. There are three front doors at three different addresses, but it can be seen as one house. However, one of the parts is consistently referred to as 'the shop space' within the VVE and land registry. My questions: Can I easily have this combined into one home after purchase? Can I have problems with occupancy because part of the building has the sticker retail space and I should therefore actually enter a shop there? Do I need to consult the municipality about the zoning plan of this property?

Lawyer

You must indeed inquire with the municipality whether you are allowed to use the retail space as living space. If the zoning plan does not permit this, you may be able to obtain an exemption or request an adjustment of the zoning plan. In that case, you must take into account that the costs of such a change can be quite high.