How much should I offer in rent to neighbour for bike shed in her yard?

zoothornrollo_2

My neighbour in the flat downstairs (and co-freeholder) owns the back yard to the house.

I am thinking of asking her if she would be amenable to us putting a bike shed in one corner so we can get our bikes out of our flat, and if so how much she would want in 'rent'.

I have mentioned the idea before and she didn't seem to find it out of the question - but we never discussed it further, as I said we'd see how we got on with the bikes in the flat.

It's a large yard - about 10x6 yards - and the shed I'm thinking will be something like 6x4x2 feet, enough for two bikes I think. She has sole access from her back door but there is also a gate in the alley that runs down the side of the house.

So it is practical.

What do you think would be a reasonable monthly amount?

victor2

Is that a back yard in northern Scotland, or one in central London?

zoothornrollo_2

victor2 wrote: »

Is that a back yard in northern Scotland, or one in central London?

ah yes, forgot that bit - greater London / Richmond-upon-Thames.

If she rented out her one-bed 500 sq ft flat she'd get c.1000 pcm.

PasturesNew

If I were her and needed the money, I'd look online to find out if anybody's renting bike space to try to come up with a figure. It might not be enough to change her life....

However, if I were her and didn't need the money, then I'd be more concerned about the "nuisance" and potential intrusion of having you come/go to get your bikes in/out - and the possible ramifications regarding gate/access security and ensuring the gate's always locked.

Aylesbury_Duck

PasturesNew wrote: »

If I were her and needed the money, I'd look online to find out if anybody's renting bike space to try to come up with a figure. It might not be enough to change her life....

However, if I were her and didn't need the money, then I'd be more concerned about the "nuisance" and potential intrusion of having you come/go to get your bikes in/out - and the possible ramifications regarding gate/access security and ensuring the gate's always locked.

I agree. If it were me, the amount would be based less on the physical space it takes up and more about the intrusion, privacy and security aspects. That amount would probably be more than you would think reasonable, so we'd be unlikely to come to an agreement.

£100 a month and I'd entertain the idea. Much less and I wouldn't bother.

Icecannon

My setup is the same, I've considered asking the downstairs if they would let me store my bike in their garden, but don't think I will as I wouldn't like to put them in a position to have to say no, so if they ever offer than that would be great but if it were the other way round, I would be happy to do it free, or even use of their wifi.

moneyistooshorttomention

I am wondering if "didnt seem to find it out of the question" was an initial response by her and just being polite.

In actual fact many people would find someone else's proposal that they use part of a tiny back yard more than a little cheeky and would be wondering how to politely refuse. 540 square feet (30' x 18') is quite definitely small imo.

The way you've phrased her response to date isnt "She thought this was a good idea". If she had liked the idea then I would say she would have been more enthusiastic than "didnt seem to find it out of the question".

If she is thinking straight on this - she would consult a solicitor and that solicitor is likely to promptly start saying things about "being sure not to create a Right of Way" and mention possible insurance problems and resale problems. Even if she agreed personally - the second the flat is sold the new owner would probably make it a condition of sale that the shed must be moved out.

Personally - I don't think it's very fair of someone else to try and get the use of another persons (small) yard or garden for what I guess you're assuming would only be a few £s a month. In her position - it would get me feeling "a bit worried" about you for asking for something like that.

If she does agree - then...yes....she should ask more in the region of £100 a month (given how she would be giving up privacy/security/making things more difficult on her insurance cover/knowing she'd have to tell you to take your shed down if she decided to sell her flat) as well as losing a bit of space in a tiny yard.

victor2

Insurance could be an issue too. Say the bikes are stolen - if they were insured, would it cover them being stolen from a shed on somebody else's property? Similarly, if the owner of the land claimed for something else on their contents insurance, would the insurers say she was underinsured because she never declared the shed and bikes, and therefore only pay out a percentage of the claim?
I am no expert on insurance. but just base this on experience and stories i have heard about claims.

ska_lover

No amount of money would get me to agree to this - its a massive intrusion to expect 24/7 access to someone elses garden


Does your neighbor not lock their garden?

I have a bolt and padlock on the inside, and if I were to allow someone access to the garden 24/7 , it would mean I could never lock my garden and never have privacy in my own back garden again as you could come in with your bike whilst I am in the garden in my dressing gown. Or sitting having lunch in the garden with my husband or a cup of tea with visitors, you come barging in to park your bike and I am forced to make polite conversation with you because you happen to be there, even though we clearly aren't friends

I have to admit I think this is a BIG ask and I would find it really uncomfortable to be asked this, as its really putting them on the spot - sorry OP but I think your neighbor was just being polite. It is all a bit awkward but I would think you cheeky for asking -

Head_The_Ball

How do you access your upstairs flat?

Is there room on the stairs to hang the bikes on the wall or suspended from the ceiling on a pulley system?

There may be ways to store them indoors with less inconvenience than at present.

zoothornrollo_2

God this place is full of bumptious know-it-alls isn't it?

As it happens, when I asked her, she went away and thought about it, and then came back to me and said she wouldn't be averse to the idea.

I do odd jobs for her and am about to help her tidy up her yard which is overgrown with weeds.

The question was not 'am I right to ask her' - I'll be the judge of that.