Who's been using my shed

Pixie5740

I'm in the process of moving into a rented flat (in Scotland). In the shared backgarden there are the old coal cellars which are now being used as outside storage units, or sheds to give them a better name. One of the reasons I went for this property is because it has outside storage so I can keep my bicycles there.

The LA have informed me which one is mine and said that it was empty except it isn't empty, it's filled with garden furniture and children's toys and there is no padlock on the door.

I'm going to check with the LA that a) I have the right shed, and b) if the contents might belong to a previous tenant. I have a feeling though that it could belong to one of my neighbours. I don't want to start !!!!ing off my new neighbours but I would like to be able to use the shed that comes of part as the flat I am renting. If the LA confirms the property inside the shed doesn't belong to either a previous tenant or the LL I will speak to my neighbours, not that I've seen any of them yet, and if I can't speak to them pop a polite note through their letterbox. If I don't get any responses do you think it would it be acceptable to empty the shed and give the contents either to charity or the dump?

moneyistooshorttomention

Personally, I'd check that it is the correct shed and then get the landlord to take responsibility for emptying it out (preferably before I moved in) to minimise chances of whichever neighbour it is that has been trying it on to use a shed they weren't entitled to deciding to fall out with me.

If need be though...I would "ask" the neighbour myself to remove their property and, if they didn't do so in a reasonable period of time (ie within a week) then tell them "I'm sorry...but I do need to use my shed and will have to empty it now to do so. Where do you want your stuff put?" and leave the onus on them as to just where their possessions were going to go at that point.

If they try not to tell you a suitable place to leave those possessions (hoping to put you off moving them out), then leave them as near to their place (but off your property) as possible and they should get a move on with dealing with it then.

Better not dispose of their possessions for them...as that would certainly create aggro and they would say they intended to keep them even if they didn't iyswim.

If you cant work out which neighbour is the "culprit", then you had better leave the possessions in a communal area.

Certainly put a padlock on the door of your shed as soon as the notice has been given to other tenants and the culprit will soon make themselves known when they try to open the door of their purloined shed.

Pixie5740

Thanks MITSTM, that's sort of what I figured. I guess this kind of thing happens a lot with shared gardens as it's difficult to tell what belongs to who and things get left behind by previous owners and tenants.

quidsy

If LL can't answer the question, just put notes in all neighbours doors along lines of

"I'm moving in to number xxx, the shed which belongs to this flat is full of stuff, if this belongs to you please empty by xyz date otherwise it is being donated to a local charity & or dumped" many thanks.

Polite, concise about what you will do on xyz date & gives them a chance to resolve the issue.

Had a similar issue once, someone kept putting their bike in our ground floor storage cupboard which had a broken lock, we had nothing of value in it but I did sometimes need to get something from it or put something in & would have to take the bike out. Next day it would be back in!, left a note on the cupboard which was ignored so after a while we just put a padlock on it. Next day a sheepish looking neighbour had to knock to ask for his bike. I did ask him why he ignored the notice but he had no good reason. haha

patman99

It might be that the neighbour was told that that was their shed when they moved in and have no idea it is in fact yours.

Pixie5740

patman99 wrote: »

It might be that the neighbour was told that that was their shed when they moved in and have no idea it is in fact yours.

You could be right which is why I'm trying to find out the facts from the LA before doing anything.

paddedjohn

Good chance to introduce yourself to your new neighbours, knock on a few doors and find out if anyone owns the stuff if not get the council to remove it for you, I could be that the old tenant has left the stuff there or allowed one of the neighbours to use the shed.

princeofpounds

My bets:

1) The stuff actually belongs to the LL.

2) The shed isn't part of your property.

3) The LA pointed you to the wrong shed.

Would imagine all of these are more likely than a neighbour using the wrong shed, except maybe #2.

and I'm pretty sure that the LA probably had little clue over the actual situation when they answered your question.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

and then again it might be that the shed is indeed your shed, though the previous tenant of the flat had no need for the storage, and allowed a neighbour to use it.

Speak to your neighbours, especially ones with children.

Blackpool_Saver

quidsy wrote: »

"I'm moving in to number xxx, the shed which belongs to this flat is full of stuff, if this belongs to you please empty by xyz date otherwise it is being donated to a local charity & or dumped" many thanks.

Polite,

No, not polite, rude. Better would be 'please can you move the items or I will have no choice but to do so'

Pixie5740

I know the LL recently had some work done in the flat and there is an unlocked shed full of old bits of plasterboard etc. What are the chances that that is my shed and the tradespeople hired just dumped the rubbish in there. I shall find out tomorrow.