Thread: Is illegal to have a hobby shop at home

Keep it nice.

He who descends in to personal attacks
has already lost the argument.

DavidG
Moderator

Well, it looks like my earlier response has been deliberately misread by people with a mindset to take offence.

In this case, I apologise. I truely do.

This is the second time I've apologised in 18 months on the board. People have taken the time to read the responses and personalise outrage in a manner that suits their sensibilities and misconception rather than actually what the words really say. The fact there was obvious sarcasm, group name calling and an obvious taunt didn't matter. It seems that Australian humour, sarcasm and taking a poke at rather obvious opportunity are unwelcome.

Again, I apologise.

I'm not about to quit the board over it, but I shall go away for a while and focus on my turning, boxes and projects instead.

So to those who found offence, sorry. Truely.

Perhaps there is a way you can block seeing my posts in the forums options? Maybe the moderators will decide that I'm an asshole and unwelcome then ban me. I await judgement.

Oh yeah, ring QBE, they just want an updated spreadsheet with serial numbers and photos and they cover the lot. For a trivial sum extra. Home owner, tenants both. NRMA covered my two properties the same. One tenant had a full metal workshop in it.

I think it went a bit pear shaped when Abbot somehow snuck into the argument. A little OT I think. All his disasters haven't happened yet. He's just bought in the acts of parliament to abolish anything good, caring or fair.

But its still OT.

I think it's best we leave polotics out of this forum I shouldn't have said anything earlier but I did but I won't anymore. Let's enjoy each others company and just talk wood we don't get this chance in our daily life.

Hi everyone,

Just to ensure I wasn't loopy, I rang QBE to double check the status of my contents insurance and their understanding of it.

I confirmed that I have $80k of contents, it costs $22.50 a month, it has accidental damage and a $250 excess. I get a 3 year no claim bonus.

We discussed the concerns raised here and the dude fully understood as he had an uncle who is a woodworker. Apparently he is possessed by it. I explained some of the gear is quite expensive. He reconfirmed and went away, spoke to some people and absolutely assured me that my understanding is 100% correct.

- a fully equipped, even an obscenely equipped, workshop is fine (almost welcome it would seem)
- as long as they are not Tools Of Trade. This is covered in a separate policy. Us, working at home, making things, even if we sell a thing here and there, or even sell often, is NOT tools of Trade. Is is just an enthusiastic hobbiest. TOT is for a professional man, not a bloke with very expensive toys.
- specify the items, with serial numbers of things over $1500
- send a spreadsheet, or similar with the details, to an email address they supplied
- my spreadsheet says I have spent $25k over the years. This includes every doodad and thingamajig.

What was nice is he took the time to explain the superiority of this policy. Accidental damage, breakage and motor burnouts are covered. I laughed that most woodworkers would simply fix it themselves (as we are handy) or simply use it as an excuse to upgrade.....but there it is - motor burnouts, fires... The next time you upend your table saw

I also suggested I have/keep photos and he said that was a very good idea. Since I have an ADHD-like obsession with data, I've documented even the purchase of sandpaper and domino tenons! Photos are are added advantage.

Hope this is helpful.

No, I'm not an agent of QBE or anything (Delbs said I always sound like a salesman!) just enthusiastic about our sport.

Lots of people run businesses from home, it's just usually computer-based. The only issues are typically signage and even then there are only generally restrictions on the size of signage visible from the street or placed on the road verge.

Nuisance is a different issue which I'm learning about in studying environmental law and policy which applies when neighbours complain about the noise, and the question of whether it's reasonable to expect to hear power tools going in your neighbourhood that often and how it affects neighbours (and whether the neighbours have a legitimate concern or just like to complain a lot). But that doesn't sound like it would be an issue in your case.

Originally Posted by Evanism

Hi everyone,

Just to ensure I wasn't loopy, I rang QBE to double check the status of my contents insurance and their understanding of it.

I confirmed that I have $80k of contents, it costs $22.50 a month, it has accidental damage and a $250 excess. I get a 3 year no claim bonus.

We discussed the concerns raised here and the dude fully understood as he had an uncle who is a woodworker. Apparently he is possessed by it. I explained some of the gear is quite expensive. He reconfirmed and went away, spoke to some people and absolutely assured me that my understanding is 100% correct.

- a fully equipped, even an obscenely equipped, workshop is fine (almost welcome it would seem)
- as long as they are not Tools Of Trade. This is covered in a separate policy. Us, working at home, making things, even if we sell a thing here and there, or even sell often, is NOT tools of Trade. Is is just an enthusiastic hobbiest. TOT is for a professional man, not a bloke with very expensive toys.
- specify the items, with serial numbers of things over $1500
- send a spreadsheet, or similar with the details, to an email address they supplied
- my spreadsheet says I have spent $25k over the years. This includes every doodad and thingamajig.

What was nice is he took the time to explain the superiority of this policy. Accidental damage, breakage and motor burnouts are covered. I laughed that most woodworkers would simply fix it themselves (as we are handy) or simply use it as an excuse to upgrade.....but there it is - motor burnouts, fires... The next time you upend your table saw

I also suggested I have/keep photos and he said that was a very good idea. Since I have an ADHD-like obsession with data, I've documented even the purchase of sandpaper and domino tenons! Photos are are added advantage.

Hope this is helpful.

No, I'm not an agent of QBE or anything (Delbs said I always sound like a salesman!) just enthusiastic about our sport.

Thanks for going to the trouble of calling an insurance company. Above and beyond the call of duty.

Originally Posted by Evanism

Hi everyone,

Just to ensure I wasn't loopy, I rang QBE to double check the status of my contents insurance and their understanding of it.

I confirmed that I have $80k of contents, it costs $22.50 a month, it has accidental damage and a $250 excess. I get a 3 year no claim bonus.

We discussed the concerns raised here and the dude fully understood as he had an uncle who is a woodworker. Apparently he is possessed by it. I explained some of the gear is quite expensive. He reconfirmed and went away, spoke to some people and absolutely assured me that my understanding is 100% correct.

......
No, I'm not an agent of QBE or anything (Delbs said I always sound like a salesman!) just enthusiastic about our sport.

I have been down the same road with our insurer previously (different insurer btw). Hobby tools & machinery are covered under the contents policy. Normal policy conditions apply, limits, under insurance etc. - and no need to list seperate items, just require proof that they existed in the event of a claim.

Originally Posted by Mobyturns

I have been down the same road with our insurer previously (different insurer btw). Hobby tools & machinery are covered under the contents policy. Normal policy conditions apply, limits, under insurance etc. - and no need to list seperate items, just require proof that they existed in the event of a claim.

I also received the similar response when I contacted my Insurer (also not QBE) regarding hobby tools and machines. It was suggested however, to maintain a inventory of items under that category.

Originally Posted by NathanaelBC

Nuisance is a different issue which I'm learning about in studying environmental law and policy which applies when neighbours complain about the noise, and the question of whether it's reasonable to expect to hear power tools going in your neighbourhood that often and how it affects neighbours (and whether the neighbours have a legitimate concern or just like to complain a lot).

I am an amateur radio operator. This gives me two hobbies that can cause nuisance to neighbors. Not that many years ago most Amateur radio operators put up big antennas to work long-range on the HF band. (now most of it is on much smaller antennas on vhf/uhf working through repeaters even including repeaters that feed into the internet and come out on a repeater on the other side of the world.) When moving in to a new house, neighbors of amateur radio operators often complained of interference to their TV or radio reception as soon as big antennas went up, whether it was real or not.

Once a complaint was received a visit from the Radio Inspector was inevitable.

The trick was to put up the antennas and not connect a radio to them for a couple of weeks. then when the complaints came in and the Radio Inspector came out, it was obvious that the complaint was bogus. Then once the radio transceivers were connected, anyone who complained already had a history of making bogus complaints.

There must be some similar way that woodworkers can do it....

Any ideas?

Doug

To update you it all worked out the agent went in the garage and said nothing at all except you are handy with wood she loved how well the property is taken care of and gave credit to my wife. So in the end as always I stress about nothing at all. Happy days for me.

Originally Posted by doug3030

I am an amateur radio operator. This gives me two hobbies that can cause nuisance to neighbors. Not that many years ago most Amateur radio operators put up big antennas to work long-range on the HF band. (now most of it is on much smaller antennas on vhf/uhf working through repeaters even including repeaters that feed into the internet and come out on a repeater on the other side of the world.) When moving in to a new house, neighbors of amateur radio operators often complained of interference to their TV or radio reception as soon as big antennas went up, whether it was real or not.

Once a complaint was received a visit from the Radio Inspector was inevitable.

The trick was to put up the antennas and not connect a radio to them for a couple of weeks. then when the complaints came in and the Radio Inspector came out, it was obvious that the complaint was bogus. Then once the radio transceivers were connected, anyone who complained already had a history of making bogus complaints.

There must be some similar way that woodworkers can do it....

Any ideas?

Doug

One idea comes to mind unplug your machines and put a drop sheet over them but with hand tools the only noise one makes is when chopping out mortises and that really depends on the quality or should I say thickness of the bench top. I have three benches only one is heavy but unfortunately it's too small for me but the other two are below average with only a 30mm top and with little weight doesn't dampen the sound at all. They were meant to be my assembly benches when placed back to back it's huge but recently I had to convert one of them into a work bench until one day I can make or even buy a decent bench.