Shared accommodation above a pub - landlord using one room as an office?

HouseBuyer77

does he violate that rule if I have my door open and he looks in or tries to walk inside?

If he walks in, certainly. If he stands outside and looks in, probably. If he occasionally strides by without a glance, doubtful.

My LL lives two doors down from me. I might occasionally see them walk past from my kitchen window, perhaps they'll even look towards the house, this doesn't violate my right to quiet enjoyment and if I dislike it I am free to shut the blinds.

Realisitically I don't think there's much you're able to do about the situation short-term. Maybe the LL is on slightly dodgy ground and maybe you could have a claim against them but if they've made their mind up it's probably going to happen. If you dislike it the easiet thing to do is to vote with your feet and leave (if everyone in the house feels the same way say this to your LL, maybe they'll change their mind?).

agrinnall

schnide wrote: »

Fortunately, that isn't true and you do a disservice to the varied and well informed knowledge of your fellow posters. These forums have in the past literally saved me thousands of pounds with their legal knowledge.

But you have no idea who is giving you their opinion, and you certainly have no come back if you act on it.

And if you have enough legal issues that you are saving thousands of pounds based on random internet comments perhaps paying a few quid for professional advice might sort your life out so that you don't have so many issues.

schnide

agrinnall wrote: »

But you have no idea who is giving you their opinion, and you certainly have no come back if you act on it.

And if you have enough legal issues that you are saving thousands of pounds based on random internet comments perhaps paying a few quid for professional advice might sort your life out so that you don't have so many issues.

I have had one or two, at most, legal issues through private renting over an eight year period, which is perfectly reasonable. Most rental experiences were very good.

The help provided by your fellow MSE posters was not "random internet comments" - it was experienced, sensible and selfless advice. This was enough to give me the right direction for my own further research (and confirm that it was ultimately legally sound) and, again, saved me thousands for which I was most grateful. Why you would begrudge that, I do not know. Fortunately, those kind of posters I mention above are on here as well as yours.

As everyone knows, legal advice is not "a few quid."

And finally, my life doesn't need sorting out in the slightest. You may wish it did, but your assessment continues to be unqualified and unhelpful. Can you please take your opinions somewhere else? They are no use to anyone on this subject. You're taking up valuable space from the people who are actually willing to help.

schnide

PasturesNew wrote: »

I'd prefer it if he were to use it as an office. The reality is it's probably a vanity project- feeling he's important enough to have his own office - and it'll be more about being able to sit down for him, rather than having to stand at the phone on the wall flicking through invoices when speaking to the occasional supplier.... I'd prefer that the room was mostly empty/unoccupied by somebody I already knew, than tenanted by a new person with strange habits and poor music taste.

I bet once the initial excitement's worn off for him he won't be in there more than 10 minutes/day.

I suspect you are correct - thanks for the input.

schnide

duchy wrote: »

You have rented a room - the pub landlord can use the common areas (and any empty rooms) now - and that won't change if he chooses to use one of the rooms as an office.

If you don't believe using the room as an office will be a noise issue - what "quiet enjoyment" will you be losing ?

Quiet enjoyment is a legal concept in rental agreements. Noise isn't an element I have ever mentioned as a cause for concern.

pmlindyloo

schnide wrote: »

I have had one or two, at most, legal issues through private renting over an eight year period, which is perfectly reasonable. Most rental experiences were very good.

The help provided by your fellow MSE posters was not "random internet comments" - it was experienced, sensible and selfless advice. This was enough to give me the right direction for my own further research (and confirm that it was ultimately legally sound) and, again, saved me thousands for which I was most grateful. Why you would begrudge that, I do not know. Fortunately, those kind of posters I mention above are on here as well as yours.

As everyone knows, legal advice is not "a few quid."

And finally, my life doesn't need sorting out in the slightest. You may wish it did, but your assessment continues to be unqualified and unhelpful. Can you please take your opinions somewhere else? They are no use to anyone on this subject. You're taking up valuable space from the people who are actually willing to help.

I totally agree with you that advice on this board is usually accurate and backed up by legislation.

However, there is nothing in the legislation that covers your circumstances other than your rights under your tenancy agreement and/or statutory legislation relating to this.

Shelter's advice is free and they will be able to give you the legal information you need according to the different scenarios that you have outlined.

It is pointless creating further posts which are unrelated to getting an answer to your question - not meant to be harsh but threads go 'off track' so quickly.

schnide

pmlindyloo wrote: »

I totally agree with you that advice on this board is usually accurate and backed up by legislation.

However, there is nothing in the legislation that covers your circumstances other than your rights under your tenancy agreement and/or statutory legislation relating to this.

Shelter's advice is free and they will be able to give you the legal information you need according to the different scenarios that you have outlined.

It is pointless creating further posts which are unrelated to getting an answer to your question - not meant to be harsh but threads go 'off track' so quickly.

Great advice. Thanks very much for this and a great weekend to you.

cyantist

One thing to consider, if he is using it as an office then he's unlikely to be there evenings and weekends so that's one less person trying to cook in the kitchen, one less person queueing up for the bathroom in the morning.

Depending on what shared facilities are between the 6 rooms, having one less permanent tenant there might have advantages.

lincroft1710

I cannot see how the landlord using one of his rooms as an office breaks any laws. It may infringe the planning permission but equally it may not.

If you leave your door open then it is possible for anyone who has legitimate access to that part of the building to enter or look into your room. If the top two floors can be easily accessed by non-residents, then potentially anybody could enter or look into.

schnide

lincroft1710 wrote: »

I cannot see how the landlord using one of his rooms as an office breaks any laws. It may infringe the planning permission but equally it may not.

If you leave your door open then it is possible for anyone who has legitimate access to that part of the building to enter or look into your room. If the top two floors can be easily accessed by non-residents, then potentially anybody could enter or look into.

Do you have any expertise in the area? I am referring to the principle of this:

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/housing_w/housing_renting_a_home_e/housing_student_housing_e/housing_students_in_private_rented_accommodation_e/student_housing___unacceptable_behaviour_by_your_landlord_.htm

It would be, for instance, far more likely that he may be tempted to unlock the door and take a peek inside one of our rooms knowing that we would all be out of the building during the day. He is also more likely to comment on our use of the upstairs rooms, given that he does not normally see them. It would be akin to feeling like supervised use, instead of free use (conditional of the laws of the tenancy agreement, of course).

Please note: I am not saying that I expect this or this kind of thing to happen. But clearly, given that there are 24 hour notice periods to cover against landlord intrusion and the right to quiet enjoyment, there are circumstances which laws have been created to protect tenants from.

I am asking if any are present in this case, from those with expert and/or experienced knowledge in the area.