Living In A Shed - Is It Legal?

LateStarter

Salemicus wrote: »

Doozergirl - does the OP openly admitting that this is merely a nuisance claim dressed up as a planning breach in any way shake your faith? I don't suppose so; the great thing about faith is it doesn't depend on evidence.

AndyBSG - You are hilarious. By your own admission, the nuisance here is the noise. Your neighbours using their shed as a dwelling is not in itself a nuisance to you. If the neighbours dwelt quietly in the shed, there'd be no nuisance. If they made lots of noise in the garden without living in it, you'd be just as nuisanced.

You are wrong that the purpose of planning law is to prevent you being nuisanced. That is the purpose of nuisance law, but this is a whole different complicated topic on which I do not have the time to educate you. Suffice to say that if the council decide they're not interested in enforcement, you're SOL with your planning and building regs complaints.

What you should be doing here is discuss the situation with your neighbours, and ask them to keep the noise down. If they do that, your problem is solved - and you'll note nothing about planning or building regs changed one iota. If that doesn't work, make a noise complaint, and pursue and defend your own legal rights. You are absolutely entitled to quiet enjoyment of your garden, and I support you in that. What you are not entitled to do is use planning law as a crude cudgel to smash over your neighbours' heads.

I find it particularly amusing that you rant about the utterly trivial council tax implications here, and the terror - terror! - of having to lock up your children for fear of them hearing a loud phone conversation, then accuse me of being on a high horse. Get over yourself. But just remember this - when you come to sell, you'll have to declare any disputes with the neighbours. I do so hope your abuse of our planning system doesn't come back to bite you.

I'm not quite sure what pont you're trying to make...are you suggesting it's okay for people to live in unapproved sheds in your garden? How may people? How many sheds? So if the neighbour puts up another shed and moves in a family of 4? Are you really defending this?

Salemicus

are you suggesting it's okay for people to live in unapproved sheds in your garden?

I struggle to think where you can have got such an idea. The OP is an officious piece of work, but that doesn't mean his neighbour is an angel. It's quite possible for them to both be in the wrong.

If the neighbour comes on here and asks whether it's a good idea to turn his shed into a dwelling without planning permission, I would say no. But this is not that thread.

AndyBSG

Salemicus wrote: »

The OP is an officious piece of work, but that doesn't mean his neighbour is an angel.

Resorting to name calling so early on, classy.

Salemicus wrote: »

It's quite possible for them to both be in the wrong.

If I'm in the wrong then their visit from the planning inspectors and council tax depart won't cause them any problems will it... Of course, if they are in the wrong i make no apologies for reporting them.

I obey the rules as do all our other neighbours so I don't see why they should be able to break them.