Neighbour renting Annex

Fenman22

...............

Cheeky_Monkey

Did you mean to say 'separate bathroom' rather than 'separate bedroom'?

If so, if the lodger does not share any facilities with the landlord, then surely he's a tenant and not a lodger which is a whole different matter.

Fenman22

Oops yes, a typo and should have said separate bathroom

Furthermore - I presume that a tenant will be a different proposition legally than a lodger?

moneyistooshorttomention

As it's not causing you a problem - perhaps you can clarify why you are concerned as to what is happening in someone else's house?

marcarm

Would I be the only one wondering why their situation has any concern for you?

EDIT: EVIDENTLY NOT

You say yourself 'Iit is not causing us a problem at the moment other than the occupant was continually parking outside our house until we asked him politely not to as we are on a corner and it was restricting our vision when we exited our drive (the neighbours don't have room for their cars let alone a lodger's)!' so no problem there, as well as saying you get on with them, so are you not looking for problems where there aren't any?

How do you know it is 'under the radar' and not done legally? Any potential issues and the legal side would not be anything to do with you so I'm not sure why you are so concerned about it?

worried_jim

I'd be keeping my nose out of other people's business.

G_M

This can only be your business if the occupant inconvniences you in some way.

If that happens, it becomes essentially a matter for neighbours (ie you and the occupant) to resolve.

As you seem to have amicably resolved the parking issue, I don't understand your interest.

Unless and until some other issue arises, mind your own business.

Meanwhile, bake a cake and invite the new occupant to tea as a 'welcome to the street' gesture.

worried_jim

Trolls. Lol.

mije1983

Just for reference...

Fenman22 wrote: »

I wonder if anyone can give some advice regarding our current situation?

Our neighbour is currently renting out their self contained annex with their latest lodger. Iit is not causing us a problem at the moment other than the occupant was continually parking outside our house until we asked him politely not to as we are on a corner and it was restricting our vision when we exited our drive (the neighbours don't have room for their cars let alone a lodger's)!

I would like to be informed as to the potential issues and legal side and whether they are actually permitted to do so because as far as I can tell it is "under the radar" as the owners let it themselves.

The property is a separate dwelling, but the utilities are shared with the main house (which is adjacent) other than the heating where there is a Calor gas boiler that runs off a gas bottle. It is a bit like a bedsit with the kitchen, sitting area and bedroom all in one room with a separate bedroom.

We sort of get on with our neighbours and if there were any issues, we would speak to them if necessary but it would be useful to have some advice and guidance on the legality of the situation should it turn sh*tty (forewarned is forearmed)

Kynthia

Someone not going through an agent doesn't necessarily mean it's 'under the radar'. Loads of landlords choose not to pay an agent.

If you suspect your neighbours aren't paying tax on the income and are liable to, which if it's a tenant rather than a lodger then they probably should be at least declaring to the HMRC, then report it. I'm not sure what would make you suspect it though.

If you think the building is not fit for habitation and not safe in some way for the tenants life (such as poor construction or fire safety regarding escape access or ventilation for carbon monoxide) then report to Environmental Health.

Other than that I can't think what you need to know or would affect you or your conscience? There's nothing inherently wrong with renting a room or annexe to someone.

moneyistooshorttomention

True - ie "nothing inherently wrong.....". I can see it would be a problem if they were illegal immigrants and/or there was overcrowding going on (ie extra demand on community resources).

Obviously not a problem though if it's a standard normal household with suitable number of people for the place and no-one is committing any crime.

I wouldnt have expected neighbours to "take an interest" back when I had to take in lodgers for a few years in my last house. I was paying tax on it (whilst still applicable - darn it.....) and the house wasn't overcrowded. All except, possibly, one of them were either British or entitled to be in Britain (and I didnt suspect the one wasnt the student he said he was for a while - and, when I started getting suspicious, it was one of the reasons he got kicked out).

So - leave the neighbours to "police" themselves - unless something is obviously wrong. If you suspect the tenant isnt entitled to be in the country - then tell the neighbour your reasons for thinking that and you might find they would be as mortified as I was back along about that. It didnt take me long from when I clicked he seemed to be doing a full-time job - and that that was rather odd for someone that had told me he was a student.