Rental - Privacy being invaded

shelby75

I'm unsure of how to approach landlord with an issue without causing animosity in what is a fairly cordial relationship.

We have lived in the property for 2 years now. When we paid the deposit, signed lease, picked up keys etc, we had no idea that the landlord was a neighbor; landlord's garden backs on to our garden. Ordinarily this wouldn't be a problem, we are not neighbours from hell and keep ourselves to ourselves and are good tenants. Also what we didn't realise before we moved in is that there is a gate between the our two back gardens (it just looks like a part of the fencing).

The LL uses this gate as access to the property rather than walk down his shared driveway past 1 house, walk down the road for 30 seconds and up our drive; it would take 2 minutes.

The LL maintains the gardens which have quite a large footprint and hundreds of mature shrubs and trees, there is no external electrical outlet at our property and he uses a fuel-filled mower.

When we first moved in, he popped round to introduce himself (advertised through agency and managed by LL), this was a Saturday at 2.30. He advised that he does the gardens at about this time on a Saturday.

However, whilst we are pleased that we don't have to tend the garden, it isn't always a Saturday, it isn't always at the same time. We never know when to expect him, he just pops up through the back garden. Sometimes it's once a week and sometimes it's several times a week.

A couple of months ago, he situated a wood chipper in our front garden, understandable, lots of tree branches. But this has been left in situ and it would appear that he is storing it in our garden, but now for his own use. Several times he has popped onto the property via the back garden to use the chipper for the branches off his own trees in his garden, one day he was here, in and out for 8 hours. He has also used the fire-pit to burn his own material; I thought he was burning garden waste from his efforts in our garden, but in the remains are all-sorts of metal cannisters and cabling.

A couple of weeks ago he called me at 8.30 in the morning to say that he was selling a mower on ebay and that some people would be around at 1.30 to collect it. I said fine; I thought that it was something out of 'his bit' at the back of the garage and as I would be out that afternoon saw no problem with it as my teen girl wouldn't be home from school for an hour after that. When she arrived home she called me to let me know that there were 3 strange men with a white van in the garden along with the LL and a sit-on mower. I am thinking that he didn't want strangers at his own property, so used ours.

I never ever know when he is going to enter the back garden, making me reluctant to use the garden. Three of the rooms (2 of them bedrooms) have floor to ceiling windows, I tend to keep the curtains in these rooms closed, again because I never know when he is just going to show up in the garden.

It's gotten to the point where my youngest, one week looked out the window and exclaimed in surprise that there was no man in the garden - that's how often he visits in some weeks.

I am unsure of how to approach this without causing friction. He has always been cordial when speaking with us, but I gather from neighbours that he is uncooperative and recently have been told that he is verbally abusive and aggressive.

To the LL's on here, how do I best approach this? I realise that we should have nipped this in the bud sooner, but we didn't so where do I go from here?

Angelicdevil

I would write a polite letter requesting his property be removed within 14 days from your property and request that he cease entering and using your garden/property for disposing of things/selling things etc by reminding him of your right to quiet enjoyment.

Perhaps remind him that the agreement was for him to pop over on a saturday (around 2.30pm) to maintain the garden and any other access requires at least 24hours notice and mutual agreement to this (unless it's an emergency obv).

angrypirate

Put a bolt & padlock on the gate and unlock it every saturday afternoon at 2pm, replacing it at 5pm.

pmlindyloo

He is your neighbour so you have an opportunity to speak to him. Don't resort to anything else until you speak to him.

When he is next round to your garden just politely say that you feel a bit awkward with his turning up whenever and mention his having visitors on your property whilst your teenage daughter is in the house. mention safety issues etc. etc/embarrassment if daughter/you in bedroom undressed.

Try to keep it friendly and reach an agreement that he telephones you first if his gardening is going to be at a different time than arranged.

If he refuse to do this then you will have to follow up with a letter (keep a copy) pointing out that you have tried to be amicable but now you will have to insist that you are allowed your quiet enjoyment.

These things are always best sorted out in a friendly way first. Since you haven't said anything before he probably thinks you are very 'laid back' and don't mind about any of this. He isn't a mind reader (just rather inconsiderate). Not telling him sooner now you really have to go heavy on the embarrassment side (big windows) and safety aspect.

shelby75

Thank you for your replies, it has calmed me down considerably. I was getting the point where I was winding myself up a bit, starting to see red and ready to let rip! Which wouldn't do anyone any good. I think that when he next pops up, which will no doubt be unexpectedly, I'll need to have a word. I think that I'll explain that it isn't normal for a stranger to regularly enter property via a back-garden and that I don't want the kids to think that it is usual behaviour. I think that it may be a bit of a bully/power trip on his side too though; 'it's my property and I'll do what I like'. Earlier this year, on a blazing hot day I was out in the garden with the kids, dressed for the heat in the garden, he waltzed in unannounced unperturbed by my appearance, announced that he was going to mow the lawns and carried on with his business and the kids and I retreated indoors. I kick myself for not saying something at the time. It's not as if he's a great landlord, maintenance wise he's rubbish and I have been too laid back. But I will speak to him now before things get worse. Thanks guys.