A shop can look right for food and still not allow a kitchen. Before you sign, find out three things: where the smoke will go, how gas will come in, and where the oily water will drain. Then get the yes in writing.
Farhan wanted to open a biryani takeaway. He found a ground floor shop under a block of flats. Busy lane, offices nearby, and the rent was fair.
He was ready to pay the deposit. Then his cook asked one question: "Where will the chimney pipe go?"
Farhan asked the landlord. The landlord said, "Put it anywhere." So Farhan asked the society office upstairs. The secretary said no pipe could go up the building wall. The families on the first floor had already complained about the last tenant's smoke.
Then he asked about gas. No gas line in the lane. And the landlord did not want cylinders kept inside.
Last, he looked at the drain. One thin pipe, shared with the flats above.
Farhan walked away before he paid. The shop was fine. It just was not a kitchen.
Opening a café, restaurant or takeaway? Check the address before you sign. Viabe Location Check shows nearby competitors, how busy the street is, and the usual busy hours for your kind of business, fair rent and a clear answer for one exact address. Full report ₹2,999 + GST.
What to check on your site visit
Take your cook or kitchen person with you. They will spot things you miss.
1. Where will the smoke go? A food kitchen makes smoke, heat and smell. Ask where the exhaust pipe can run: up to the roof, or out of a back wall. Walk that path yourself. Ask who has to agree: the landlord, the society, the people living above. Smoke and smell are what neighbours notice first.
2. How will gas come in? Ask if piped gas reaches this lane, and if the gas company can give a connection to this shop. If not, you will use cylinders. Then ask where they will be kept, if there is fresh air there, and what the building allows. Rules on cylinders change from place to place, so ask your gas supplier and the local fire office.
3. Where will the oily water go? A kitchen sends out water with oil and food bits every day. Ask where the drain goes and how big the pipe is. Is it shared with homes? Is there space under the sink area for a grease trap? A blocked drain can stop your kitchen and anger your neighbours.
4. Is there enough power? Ovens, fridges, fans and lights all need power. Look at the electricity bill and ask an electrician if the load is enough for your kitchen.
5. Is there enough water? Ask how many hours a day water comes and how big the tank is. Cooking and washing use a lot.
6. Is it safe if there is a fire? Look for a second way out. Ask what fire safety your city asks for a shop like this. The local fire office can tell you.
Get the yes in writing
A spoken "no problem" is easy to forget later. Before you sign, ask for a letter or a line in the lease that says:
- The shop can be used as a food kitchen.
- You can run an exhaust pipe, and the route is written down.
- You can use piped gas or keep cylinders, and where.
- You can do drain work and fit a grease trap.
- Who pays for each of these.
- A way out. If a permission is refused later, you can leave without losing your deposit.
If the shop is in a society or a complex, get the society's written no objection too, not only the landlord's word. A lawyer can help with the exact words.
Common questions
The landlord says the last tenant cooked here. Is that enough?
No. Ask the neighbours if there were complaints. Ask to see any letter the last tenant had.
Who decides the rules for gas and fire?
It depends on your city. Ask the local authority, the fire office and your gas supplier before you sign.
Can I fix it after I move in?
Sometimes. But after you sign, you pay rent while you wait for a yes that may never come.
Why this matters
The front of a shop tells you if people will see you. The back of the shop tells you if you can cook at all. A food business that cannot cook pays rent for nothing, while the place down the road takes your customers.
Check the address before you sign. Viabe Location Check reads one exact address: nearby competitors, how busy the street is, and the usual busy hours for your kind of business, fair rent, a risk scorecard with the licences you need in your city, and a clear answer. Check your location. Full report ₹2,999 + GST.