FAQs

How do I contact my local Chamber of Commerce?

Bromley: http://www.business-focus.co.uk/

Croydon: http://www.croydonchamber.org.uk/

Greenwich, Bexley and Lewisham (South-East London Chamber):
http://www.chamber-of-commerce.org.uk/

Kingston: http://www.kingstonchamber.co.uk/

Merton: http://www.mertonchamber.co.uk/

Richmond:http://www.richmondchamber.co.uk/

Sutton: http://www.suttonchamber.org.uk/

Wandsworth: www.wandsworth.gov.uk/business

How do I contact my Local Authority?

Bromley: http://www.bromley.gov.uk/Default.bromley

Croydon: http://www.croydon.gov.uk/

Greenwich: http://www.greenwich.gov.uk/

Lewisham: http://www.lewisham.gov.uk

Merton: http://www.merton.gov.uk/

Kingston: http://www.kingston.gov.uk/


Richmond: http://www.richmond.gov.uk/business

Sutton: http://www.sutton.gov.uk/

Wandsworth: www.wandsworth.gov.uk/business
Businesses struggling to stay afloat in the credit crunch and the looming recession could be in line for a mini-windfall to help them weather the economic storm.

If you own a small business which has a rateable value of below £21,500, you could claim up to half of your business rates back.
Click Here for further information.


Wandsworth Council runs a Town Centre Improvement Scheme (TCIS), whereby businesses can receive up to 33% of the cost of eligible works to improve a business premises, from a minimum support of £1,000 to a maximum of £15,000.  Please find attached a leaflet on TCIS for the Balham area.  For further information on TCIS and to check eligibility please contact colleague John Ruske, TCIS Manager on (020) 8871 7031.
Click Here for further information

Lambeth: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/home.htm

London Development Agency: http://www.lda.gov.uk/

London First: http://www.london-first.co.uk/

How do I find out who owns particular premises and land, which I may be interested in renting or buying?

1. Look for property agent’s bill board outside the property you are interested in and contact the agent directly.
2. If there are no agents details available and if the property can be identified by a single postal address, (for example, 23 Coniston Drive, Kerwick) you can use the Land Register Online website which enables members of the public to download copies of title information for a minimum £3.00 fee, payable by credit or debit card. Title Deeds disclose ownership, boundaries, plans, covenants, charges, prices, rights of way and insolvency.

You can apply for an office copy of the register. Please note that an office copy of the register is not available online - you will need to apply in writing or in a Land Registry office.

If you are enquiring about land (or property which cannot easily be identified by a postal address), you need to provide a plan showing the location of the land or property. You should attach this to the Form OC1. The plan must be drawn to a scale of at least 1:2500 or 1:1250, whichever is the largest scale Ordnance Survey map available for the area.

You can download Form OC1 at:
http://www.landreg.gov.uk/publications/default.asp?fl=1&pubtype=1

Alternatively you may request a copy from any Land Registry office or purchase it from any legal stationer. Send the completed form to the correct land registry for the area in which the land is located. The fees pages give details of http://www.landregistry.gov.uk/fees/

Source: http://www.landregisteronline.gov.uk/

What are the definitions of the property usage classifications?

Please click here to go to the page that provides details on property usage classifications. The source of this data is property agent GVA Grimley.

SMALL GRANTS TO SUPPORT PREMISES IMPROVEMENTS

Capacitybuilders is making capital grants of up to £30k available for local resource centres to make improvements to their premises which result in improved availability, or quality and accessibility of accommodation, or shared facilities for local third sector organisations. Grants will be awarded for a range of changes to existing accommodation that will contribute to the programme aims - for example by offering additional meeting, office, storage space, better IT, telephony, access to resources (such as a common library). This is phase 1 of 3 funding strands under the Capacitybuilders Capital Grants Programme.

For more information about these grants, visit here


Office Relocation Renovation & Office Furniture Advice
Corporate Interiors offer design skills and an understanding of the problems associated with relocating or refitting your offices – with a dedicated team of individuals, they can offer a practical mix of contemporary and classic design solutions to meet your brief. They have a useful webpage which provides information on a number of the issues businesses face when relocating, please see the following link for more details: http://www.office-interior-design.co.uk/office-relocation-renovation-advice.asp .

The Frequently Asked Questions page covers the following issues -

• Where is the best place in London to locate my business?
• Can I use any UK premises for my business?
• What does a premises "Lease" cover?
• Is there a standard format for UK lease
• What are "dilapidations" and how do they apply?
• Am I allowed to carry out alterations to the building?
• What are "statutory approvals" and how do they apply?
• Will I have to pay business rates?
• Why do business premises have service charges?
• Are you equipped to advise on Health & Safety?
• Are our existing Fire Certificates still valid?
• What is the "Fire Reform Order" and who will it affect?
• Can open plan offices save me space?
• How important is the choice of furniture for my office?
• Can you provide new office furniture?
• Can we keep our old office furniture?
• Can you advise on office ergonomics?
• How flexible can you be during office refits?
• What is the "enhanced capital allowances" scheme?