Is my neighbor committing benefit fraud

mrsbmartin

Well then there will be no reasoning with you...if it can't be practiced at 'grass roots' level then there is little hope of the equality principle filtering up to the powers that be...I only hope that the generations coming through are more willing to practice what they preach.

Good luck getting the outcome that you are seeking.

brasso

00ec25 wrote: »

....quite clearly has an axe to grind....

Damn right he has. The neighbour is making his life hell.

BobQ

mrsbmartin wrote: »

To be honest I think you put a lot of people's back up by the simple fact that you felt the need to say that your neighbour was Polish...it just isn't something that matters unless you have some sort of predjudice (something 'most' people detest). If you take that away from your OP then it is a bit easier to want to help you...

As said above, if you feel that something is amiss then report it, and be methodical and consistant in your reporting. Ensure you get responses from the different agencies that you are complaining to and if you get told that there is nothing wrong with his behaviour then leave him be...if there IS something illegal going on then THEY will deal with it. BUT DON'T, AT ANY POINT, SPECIFY THAT HE IS POLISH IN YOUR COMPLAINT - IT MAKES YOU COME ACROSS AS A SPITEFUL, VINDICTIVE BIGOT (and I'm sure that's not the case is it?).

These are your words. The OP just said he was Polish. I can see that might be relevant. Many people do not understand the law of the land but if you have entered tyhe country more recently then you are more likely to be unaware of the laws of the country.

BobQ

If the guy is running a legitimate business and paying his taxes, business rates and complying with laws about selling cars, he must meet the planning regulations. More important the OP is entitled to object that the business is causing a nuisance for him.

If the neighbour is doing as he claims ( working on cars all day as a hobby) he is clearly either making money and not declaring it or not employed. If not employed, unless he is independently wealthy he is very likely to be claiming benefits.

Most tenancy agreements will require the tenant to get the landlord's permission to run a business. If he is breaking his tenancy agreement the landlord should be interested.

Eitehr way the OP is entitled to pursue the matter. He can find out who owns the property for £4 on the Land Registry site. If the landlord is not interested, his mortgage provider (on the land register) may be interested as the mortgage is probably for residential purposes.

mrsbmartin

There are enough people born here that don't understand the law...and, somewhat bizarrely, there is even a current thread where someone else is in EXACTLY THE SAME SITUATION...minus the polish element...

Like I said - if he is breaking the law then he needs dealing with but the OP has not actually come up with any evidence of this...and he has zero reason to suspect that the guy is on benefits other than his own social expectation...

brasso

mrsbmartin wrote: »

There are enough people born here that don't understand the law...and, somewhat bizarrely, there is even a current thread where someone else is in EXACTLY THE SAME SITUATION...minus the polish element...

Like I said - if he is breaking the law then he needs dealing with but the OP has not actually come up with any evidence of this...and he has zero reason to suspect that the guy is on benefits other than his own social expectation...

He has clearly not sought all the necessary certification and had inspections etc to run a business like this. Sounds to me like he is very likely to be breaking the law.

Of course, I'm sure he also has an accountant with whom he logs all his business dealings to make sure he pays all necessary taxes and professional indemnities and insurances. :cool:

mrsbmartin

I didn't say that it wasn't likely...but you need EVIDENCE! Report it, report it again and then report it again for good measure...iF it is illegal it will eventually get sorted...if it isn't illegal then you will need to calm down find a way to deal with it - it is really VERY SIMPLE.

brasso

mrsbmartin wrote: »

I didn't say that it wasn't likely...but you need EVIDENCE! Report it, report it again and then report it again for good measure...iF it is illegal it will eventually get sorted...if it isn't illegal then you will need to calm down find a way to deal with it - it is really VERY SIMPLE.

Let the neighbour produce the evidence of having the full support of the law and knowledge of the authorities.

But he can't, as we've heard.

Look, the guy is acting illegally and causing a nuisance. Let's give the OP some sympathy rather than supporting this egregious neighbour.

jamie11

brasso wrote: »

I feel more sympathy towards the OP than some on here, for sure. It's easy to moralise about how he should be accommodating to the neighbour, but I doubt if any of us would want a person like this living next door with all the noise and smells and trespassing.

And I don't think anyone is claiming that all businesses run from home are illegal, but for a business like this, being run outside the home, and with a high nuisance value and hazardous goods (petrol, oil, paint etc) there wil be very stringent regulations.

The stuff about depriving his children is outrageous emotional blackmail. Look, it's really simple. If the guy wants to be a self-employed car mechanic and trader, good for him, but he has to find suitable premises. It's not the OP's problem if the guy is unwilling to obey the law.

As for him being Polish (or any other economic migrant from anywhere), I do think this is relevant. If someone moves to the UK to start a new life for their family (if this is what he has done) then as a very minimum they should be willing to comply with the law and be a decent neighbour. If he is unwilling to accept those conditions, he can go somewhere else. If that is horribly un-PC then tough. Why should we make allowances for anti-social behaviour just because someone is non-British?

brasso wrote: »

He has clearly not sought all the necessary certification and had inspections etc to run a business like this. Sounds to me like he is very likely to be breaking the law.

Of course, I'm sure he also has an accountant with whom he logs all his business dealings to make sure he pays all necessary taxes and professional indemnities and insurances. :cool:

There is a seam of nimbyism running through this thread, I agree that OP should not be subject to continual fumes or noise but I doubt that is happening in fact, the guy is repairing a car and then sending it on as soon as it's done.

I worked on the road for many years doing something similar to this, I never had to claim any sort of benefit or help and I managed to pay all my taxes and mortgages from the proceeds and bring up a large family, I also had an accountant to keep me on the straight and narrow.

I suppose the main difference here is that I would go to my client's house or business to do the job, but there were many times a vehicle had to be brought to my place for extensive work, the neighbours hated me sometimes but that was how I made a living so I would never cease, I would just sell up and buy somewhere else, usually bigger with more parking space.

dacouch

brasso wrote: »

He has clearly not sought all the necessary certification and had inspections etc to run a business like this. Sounds to me like he is very likely to be breaking the law.

Of course, I'm sure he also has an accountant with whom he logs all his business dealings to make sure he pays all necessary taxes and professional indemnities and insurances. :cool:

The only compulsory insurance would be motor insurance if he drives vehicles or Employers Liability if he has any employees