housing association refusing a shed...please read

ems01

Ironically we've just had a letter stating a rent increase and the offer of assistance to increase our income or manage it better from a financial inclusion officer in order to retain our property if the increase should affect us. Continuing with my small but profitable business which is also a form of therapy to me due to a diagnosed mood disorder isn't obviously part of that!

freeisgood

Could you have the shed put in a mates garden for a nominal payment for a year or so.

EmmyLou30

You'd think an upcycling business would appeal to their eco side of things too really!?

Mojisola

ems01 wrote: »

We made it clear from the outset that I have my own business upcycling furniture from home and we would be putting a shed in the huge garden to do so. So too did we want to errect a shed for garden equipment such as a lawnmower and mountain and a road bicycle. No problem, just get the permission to do so.

We applied for permission and have been told that as we have a starter tenancy we cannot make any alterations to the house or garden in the first 12 months. This rule is hard and fast and they won't budge.

Have you spoken to the people who told you the shed wouldn't be a problem?

Is that clause in the tenancy that you signed?

G_M

Have you actually read the tenancy agreement you signed? What does it say?

You say

I've spoken to the housing officer, I've had an outright no. I've also spoken to the person who marketed the house and dealt with throughout, he is looking into it and finds it absurd. I've been told the next course of action is to write to the chief executive.

so there's your way forward.

Let us know how you get on.

ems01

Unfortunately no freeisgood. It's a commissioned piece that is being erected professionally by the company. I wouldn't want it to be put up and taken down again. Plus it's defeating the bike, lawnmower and working from home between holding down a job and a family too object lol
You would have thought so EmmyLou. They haven't even got to the business side of it yet though.
Yes, I've read the agreement booklet which was handed to us after signing the forms and it does state the 12 month clause but it wasn't relayed to us at the time In the very rushed hand over where the lady was more concerned that we understood it was our responsibility to pay our utility bills. And putting us in touch with housing benefit in spite of us telling her we pay our own rent in full. ��.

ems01

Thanks for all your suggestions. I'm waiting for the man who originally dealt with us and told us no problem to the business and shed etc to get back to me. If not I'll be writing to the chief arguing all the above points about tenancy retention, entrepreneurship, security of garden equipment required to maintain the garden and expensive hobbyist equipment.

casper_g

If the monitoring of the energy use etc is needing more access than you are contractually required to allow, then they are reliant on your goodwill. This works both ways. How inconvenient would it be for them if you started requiring them to stuck to he letter of their agreement?

pmlindyloo

The reason you have been given for not allowing the shed to be erected is because you have a starter tenancy and are not allowed to make any alterations to either the house or the garden during the first 12 months.

You need to look at your tenancy agreement and see if this is written there and exactly what it says. This is a contract which you and the HA signed and agreed to.

Kevie192

Surely the best way to approach this is to remind them that the contract allows for 2 visits in relation to the study per year and since they have been out 5 times so far you won't be allowing access until 2017 when they will have visits available again...?

I'm thinking they will be more co-operative when you take this stance.