Street light on my property - can I charge rent?

picitup

Hi All

I couldn't find a forum section for this so please accept my apologies if there's a better section.

We've lived in our house for 2 years and there's a street light in our front garden. Can I charge the council rent for it?

Thanks for reading...

Steve

TadleyBaggie

Streetlights are usually close to the street, so are you sure the location of the streetlight is actually your garden? Anyway the answer is no.

picitup

Hi thanks for your quick reply. Yes it's on my property as it's on my front lawn. We live in a small cul-de-sac with only 4 houses so that's the only one here.

Can I ask why I can't charge them rent?

Cheers

Steve

FOREVER21

Sorry I don't know about a street light, but many years ago I moved into a house that had a BT pole in my back garden, apparently the pole originally stood on spare land but then a housing estate was built, which resulted in the pole being in a large back garden.

Anyway I got a small annual sum from BT which was still being paid when I moved in 1985.

Pennywise

A previous owner of the land would have entered into a wayleave agreement with the utility firm that is responsible for the street light. This legal agreement stays with the property, so when you bought it, it should have been noted between the solicitors. If the wayleave agreement doesn't allow for any ongoing rent to be paid, you're bound by it and have no rights. If it does allow for rent, you can chase payment from whoever owes you the money, though it is likely to be a very modest, trivial amount.

picitup

Thanks both for your replies. I'll get a copy of the deeds from the land registry and see if it's documented there. Otherwise I guess I have to contact the council and see if they have an agreement?

Cheers

Steve

agrinnall

Given that you only bought 2 years ago your solicitor would have spotted this and advised you if there was anything due to you. I think you'll be wasting your time and money chasing it.

Apodemus

It would be unusual for there to be any way leave payment that pre-existed the cul de sac being built, as there would probably be no reason for a street light there before the cul de sac.

Normally after completion, the Council adopts the road from the developer and at that point also takes on responsibility for the street lights. The Council is taking on costs and responsibilities that would otherwise fall on the the owners, so would not offer wayleaves as part of the agreement.

picitup

I checked the deeds from land registry online but they are quite brief and not much help.

I guess I'm onto a loser here, so won't progress it.

Thanks to everyone for your replies.

Kind Regards

Steve