Can my landlord lease the driveway out to strangers?

sunnyk_2

I am a tenant in a shared house with 5 other people. My landlord recently mentioned that he will lease out the driveway to people other than those who live in the house. We were not asked and found strange cars appear in the driveway.

Last night, my housemates and I went for a walk and returned to find a man we didn't know walking out of our driveway towards us in the dark. Me and the other 2 men who were there responded initially in quite a hostile way. He explained he was renting it from our landlord - who by the way is an agent.

We asked ourselves some questions. Who is this guy? Does the landlord really know this guy? What could he have done in the house while we weren't there? What if it was just the girls walking back at night by themselves? All in all, we feel much less safe about ourselves and our possessions.

Can the landlord lease out the driveway to people who do not pay rent? If we feel unsafe are we within our rights to ask him to stop?

Cheers

timbo58

Yes, the landlords drive is his property and he can rent it out to anyone.
Sorry but the whole property including driveways, garages, outbuildings etc is still the LL's property.
You have no rights to ask him to stop -why would you feel 'unsafe'?

DRP

timbo58 wrote: »

Yes, the landlords drive is his property and he can rent it out to anyone.
Sorry but the whole property including driveways, garages, outbuildings etc is still the LL's property.
You have no rights to ask him to stop -why would you feel 'unsafe'?

Hang on, that's a massive assumption - surely it depends on what the tenancy agreement says?

The property is for the tenants use for the period of their tenancy. If the agreement includes the drive, then the LL has no right to do this.

sunnyk_2

1) Because there are people I dont know walking out the drive way in the middle of the night

2) Whose fault is it if one of these guys breaks into the house when no one is there? Who is liable?

3) How can I tell who is renting and who has just decided to park their car there for whatever reason?

4) Who would get priority if all of us decide to park cars in the drive way and these apparent renters also want to park?


I think its pretty clear.

DRP

sunnyk wrote: »

1) Because there are people I dont know walking out the drive way in the middle of the night

2) Whose fault is it if one of these guys breaks into the house when no one is there? Who is liable?

3) How can I tell who is renting and who has just decided to park their car there for whatever reason?

4) Who would get priority if all of us decide to park cars in the drive way and these apparent renters also want to park?


I think its pretty clear.

What type of tenancy do you have and what does it say about the outside areas?

ognum

Read your tenancy agreement!

Why didn't you question the landlord when he talked about it?

If you tenancy agreement does not include the driveway then he can let it if he wants, if it is not included in your agreement then you have no rights over it.

sunnyk_2

Why would the word 'property' not cover the driveway? Also, if it is his right to lease the driveway then it is also my right to call the police about every strange car so that the police calls the car owner and the property owner.

Mr_Pitiful

What sort of tenancy do you have?

Is it a joint tenancy for the whole building or do you all have individual agreements just for your room?

Was the property advertised as having a drive?

Is the drive in your tenancy agreement?

princeofpounds

If you have a tenancy for your rooms only then yes, he can. Though it may well be ungentlemanly conduct!

If you have a tenancy for the whole property, either jointly or as individuals, no, he cannot.

What matters is what the tenancy has 'demised' (allocated) to you.

So, what is the answer?

Guest101

timbo58 wrote: »

Yes, the landlords drive is his property and he can rent it out to anyone.
Sorry but the whole property including driveways, garages, outbuildings etc is still the LL's property.
You have no rights to ask him to stop -why would you feel 'unsafe'?

How'd you know? If they have leased out the whole property, it could easily include the driveway. Infact the only real exception to this would be a seperate garage.

Now im not saying the LL may have specifically stated the driveway is not included in the lease, but you have no idea.

Your comment is very misleading

Guest101

sunnyk wrote: »

Why would the word 'property' not cover the driveway? Also, if it is his right to lease the driveway then it is also my right to call the police about every strange car so that the police calls the car owner and the property owner.

You have the right to call the police whenever you choose, thats nothing to do with this. It all depends on your tenancy agreement.