VOA complaint and Council calls regarding my lodgers

HampshireH

rpgo said:

Well, got this on the post today.
I guess it's not a scam. Not sure how to begin to fight this.

What band were the property and annexe before? 

Do you have an annexe. I'm a bit lost now as thought it was one building.

Put your appeal in via their form with photographic evidence and a factual defence statement as part of your appeal  (omit the emotion as it will clog it up)

rpgo

It is only a property, in D band. There is a garage at the end of the garden, no one lives there as you can imagine.
I think their argument is that the loft extension is somehow a self-contained flat.

HampshireH

rpgo said:

It is only a property, in D band. There is a garage at the end of the garden, no one lives there as you can imagine.
I think their argument is that the loft extension is somehow a self-contained flat.

Contact them tomorrow as the advise to appeal.

I'm sure people will be happy to advise on the content of your appeal if you need reassurance before sending it. Don't rush it but don't leave it as you are now being billed for two properties

You have blanked out the effective date is that this week or back dated?

rpgo

HampshireH said:

rpgo said:

It is only a property, in D band. There is a garage at the end of the garden, no one lives there as you can imagine.
I think their argument is that the loft extension is somehow a self-contained flat.

You have blanked out the effective date is that this week or back dated?

A date from last week.
I feel quite betrayed. At no point when I bought the house it was mentioned that the loft extension might be a problem. I was always sold the single property with a D band. No paperwork for the house mentions self-contained unit or flat.

anselld

rpgo said:

HampshireH said:

rpgo said:

It is only a property, in D band. There is a garage at the end of the garden, no one lives there as you can imagine.
I think their argument is that the loft extension is somehow a self-contained flat.

You have blanked out the effective date is that this week or back dated?

A date from last week.
I feel quite betrayed. At no point when I bought the house it was mentioned that the loft extension might be a problem. I was always sold the single property with a D band. No paperwork for the house mentions self-contained unit or flat.

So is it self contained? What facilities does it have other than bedrooms?  What facilities do the loft rooms share with the rest of the property?

I don't think you should feel betrayed; the vendor could probably not have foreseen this either. 

KatrinaWaves

It will be very easy to show if a house is simply a typical house with lodgers, or with a self contained flat. 

HampshireH

As above it will be easy to evidence otherwise if indeed it isn't self contained.

Your post initially sounded like a malicious allegation had been made.

Your betrayed feeling needs to be pointed in their direction as you have obviously rubbed someone up the wrong way.

Do you have any adverts available on Google for these rooms as evidence of how they were advertised.

You can ask for a copy of your call. It should be recorded and I imagine you could put a subject access request for info on you in to get hold of a copy of your file (but someone with better knowledge on SARs will be able to advise).

May be worth doing this before drafting your appeal so you know what you are actually appealing against 

rpgo

anselld said:

rpgo said:

HampshireH said:

rpgo said:

It is only a property, in D band. There is a garage at the end of the garden, no one lives there as you can imagine.
I think their argument is that the loft extension is somehow a self-contained flat.

You have blanked out the effective date is that this week or back dated?

A date from last week.
I feel quite betrayed. At no point when I bought the house it was mentioned that the loft extension might be a problem. I was always sold the single property with a D band. No paperwork for the house mentions self-contained unit or flat.

So is it self contained? What facilities does it have other than bedrooms?  What facilities do the loft rooms share with the rest of the property?

I don't think you should feel betrayed; the vendor could probably not have foreseen this either. 

I find it very hard to understand what is a self contained flat, the more I research, the more confused I get. There is only one open space in the loft with a small partition and door for a bathroom. There is a small counter and sink by the dormer wall window which is what the complainant is assuming is a kitchen, that's what I'm guessing. Which also raises the question, what is a kitchen? How do I prove it isn't a kitchen? One can argue that I can prepare meals in this counter, no matter how small it is.
The vendor might haven't foreseen it, but the solicitors and real estate must have.

HampshireH said:

As above it will be easy to evidence otherwise if indeed it isn't self contained.

Your post initially sounded like a malicious allegation had been made.

Your betrayed feeling needs to be pointed in their direction as you have obviously rubbed someone up the wrong way.

Do you have any adverts available on Google for these rooms as evidence of how they were advertised.

You can ask for a copy of your call. It should be recorded and I imagine you could put a subject access request for info on you in to get hold of a copy of your file (but someone with better knowledge on SARs will be able to advise).

May be worth doing this before drafting your appeal so you know what you are actually appealing against 

Mind you, a neighbour has contacted a government agency to complaint about seeing someone cook in their room. Someone actually stared for long enough through a window and tried figuring out what you were doing. The neighbours are at least 30 metres away. If you don't find that upsetting, I'm not sure what to tell you. I haven't interacted with any neighbours in a nasty way.
I've kept a record of the ads for the 2 rooms I have lodgers in. I never mentioned self contained flats as I don't even fully understand what they are.

KatrinaWaves

Genuine question, if there is already a bathroom there, what was the purpose of a counter and sink, if not to provide a cooking space? None of my bedrooms have counters and sinks. 

HampshireH

Also by it's very nature a loft conversion is high and normally with dormer style windows or at least high normal ones.

How would your neighbours see in so high to see anything properly?

Could it be your tenant who has reported you?