Tenants rights in regards to building work starting on the premises

princeofpounds

It's very clear. If the deed plan covers the whole area including drive etc., and the contract clearly demises the whole property to you, which it seems to, then they have rented the whole place to you. If that's not what they meant to do, it's their mistake, not yours.

You have quiet enjoyment and so if they turn up to build or otherwise disrupt the property, I suggest you phone the police to get them removed (show them tenancy agreement and deeds - police tend to be a bit dim when it comes to housing law so you need to make it clear to them). Then you warn the LL and LA in writing that such actions could be construed as harrassment and an attempt at illegal eviction (which they really could be).

Of course such things are better solved by negotiation but if they aren't upfront about their intentions then it's hard to address the matter. It's up to you whether to write a warning-shot letter based on your findings, but it might be there is nothing to worry about and all the work it planned for the future, and you don't want the fuss until something actually happens.

Of course your relationship will go downhill, but it would be your LL's own fault for being so duplicitous in trying to have his cake and eat it. Plus it sounds like you would be contracted up for as long as you need (just make sure LL has no break clauses). But once renewal time comes around I would expect an S21 notice.

poppysarah

Ask for a rent reduction when the work starts or move out.

LL will be faced with an empty property they will find hard to fill.

BattyMatty

Thanks for all the advice guys. Have sent an email to the LA asking them what their plans are. If they're evasive, we'll let them know politely that we know about the planning permission and ask again. Then we'll just play it from there.

I'm definitely up for amicable negotiations, but basically we really want peace and quiet for our final year (one reason why we signed again, the house is incredible), so I think only a massive rent decrease would make up for foundations being laid right next to us when trying to revise!

Also, having had bad experience with LLs two years running, I now have £50k legal insurance for tenancy disputes, so that's a handy backup. Hopefully it won't come to that though. Again, thank you for the advice - I'll keep you all up to date on the situation as it progresses