About neighbours? Or a bit precious?

[NickyEds]

We rent a lovely house in a great village. I love it here and I absolutely don't want to fall out with my neighbours. The house has a garden and at the bottom a drive and garage. We don't have a car so the drive is only really used when we have family to visit. A few months ago one of our neighbours asked if he could leave some stuff on our drive for a couple of days. I said it was fine- the drive gives slightly easier access for them and we weren't using it that weekend.

So a couple of weeks ago we bumped into a different neighbour and he told us he'd be using our drive. His actual words were " we'll be using your drive for some building work. We've checked with your land lady and she says it's fine". I just feel like this is a bit out of line tbh but didn't say anything at the time as we were with friends. This morning huge amounts of building materials have been delivered onto the drive and there are builders mixing concrete etc there. As it happens we are having family to stay so would have used the drive. We would have probably said yes anyway but AIBU to think this is just a bit rude? Dp thinks I'm being precious.

[ClaudiaWankleman]

Landlady does not have the authority to authorise that. I'd have it off immediately.

[snorepatrol]

That is so rude I take it she won't be reducing your rent for the inconvenience cheeky cow

[BeautifulMaudOHara]

I'd be furious - your landlady should have asked you and presumably you pay rent which includes the drive. I'd call her and tell her you're not happy

[ReginaBlitz]

Yes it is rude! While you are paying rent it "belongs to you" I would be having words with the landlady.

[ThatAnneGirl]

Can you speak to your landlady? She shouldn't have given permission to them. She should have asked you and equally if the neighbour had asked up you, you should have asked her.

Mind you, you only have this blokes word that he did ask your landlady.

[TanquerayToots]

I'd be contacting your landlady and asking her why she did this without your consent and telling her that you need the drive and ask what she's going to do about it.

I'd also think the neighbour was a cheeky sod going over your head to the LL and I'd be asking him to move his stuff. How rude!

[JaneAustinAllegro]

the phrase to use is "the right to quiet enjoyment" which is the legal principle that your landlord can't barge in / authorise others to barge in while you are a tenant. It's a fundamental breach of your lease.

[honeyroar]

I bet he hasn't asked the landlady really. She'd have to be mad to allow that and not mention it to you. Did you tell him you needed the drive for your visitors? Ring your landlady now and get it shifted!

[ManneryTowers]

If your drive forms part of the property covered by your tenancy agreement then your landlady has no grounds to give that authority.
Contact your landlady in the first instance to ask why she did so, then approach your neighbours and ask them to remove the building materials.

[ManneryTowers]

Sorry cross post JaneAustin

[AntiHop]

Yanbu. That's rude. If he'd asked your permission then that would be different.

[Wolpertinger]

I bet he did ask the landlady but failed to mention he'd be blocking the drive with building materials and just asked for access.

Phone up the landlady now.

[NickyEds]

The drive and garage are definitely part of the property- if we had a car it would be parked there! He could well have asked the landlady as this was her family home so all of the neighbours know her. Tbh it's not having all of the stuff on the drive, if he'd come and asked we would have said yes, it's going above my head that's upset me. Dp really thinks we should just let it lie for the sake of keeping the peace/goodwill. Nice to know I'm not going mad though and other people would be pissed off about this too!!

[OttiliaVonBCup]

No, it's not OK.

You are paying and the landlady has no say in this whatsoever.

[Wolpertinger]

I would phone the landlady simply to make it clear that she doesn't have the right to give permission like that, even if you are happy to put up with the building materials.

It sounds like she is new to being a landlady and made a mistake.

[skankingpiglet]

Definitely not ok. Check with your LL (and complain if she has agreed it), then approach your neighbour. There's no need to fall out over it or be rude, but you need to pull him up on it otherwise he'll think he can keep doing it. How long does he estimate his building works to take?

[AskingForAPal]

Do you have a letting agent? If so, get on to them right now and complain.

They should be able to sort it out with the landlady as this WILL be in breach of your right to quiet enjoyment which is the very soul of most tenancy agreements. What next, your landlady coming in to use your shower in the morning? The neighbour sitting on the sofa watching EastEnders as yours is more comfy? FGS.

[GreatFuckability]

Really REALLY rude!

[specialsubject]

the first thing to find out is if the landlady knows about this and what, if anything, she actually gave permission for. Start the conversation that way.

if she did allow this - no, that's not on. The driveway is part of the property that you rent and you get exclusive use of it. Rent reduction required at the very least.

[LeaLeander]

Very rude.
Phone the landlady and tell her you expect a 20 percent rent reduction for the duration as your ability to use the full property is restricted.

Going to her instead of you, by the neighbor, would piss me off too. Don't be the doormat here, assert yourselves.

[GoldPlatedBacon]

Complain!!!

I had a similar situation last summer. I'm in a flat and the owners of the flat above wanted to install a loft conversion. To do so they (apparently) needed to put scaffolding in my front and back gardens. They asked us but I said no as I was due to give birth the week the work was due to commence (in any event I would have refused for summer work as I would want to use my garden). I said I would agree for this in the new year as long as we were compensated for the disruption.

A few days later we received a call from ll to say that upstairs needed to put scaffolding in our garden and he has authorised it. I said about 'quiet enjoyment ' etc. I said they could put scaffolding up if we didn't have to pay rent for one month or longer if the work exceeded a month. I also contacted the letting agency to tell them I objected.

The work still hasn't commenced but I expect I'll be asked again soon even though I'm sure it could be done without scaffolding in my garden.

[pippistrelle]

I know you want to keep the peace but it's an important principle: it's YOUR family home now, not your landlord's. So, even if you don't want to insist that it's all removed immediately, I would call her, tell her what your neighbour said, ask if it's true and, if so, you're surprised and disappointed not to have heard from her to discuss the matter and check that you agreed because you're sure she realises that that's not in the terms of your tenancy agreement. Ask her how long you'll be because you need to use the space and plan for visitors.

I see this as a sort of middle way, makes a point that it's not acceptable and reminds her of her obligations.

[shovetheholly]

Woah! Totally out of line. YOU are the one who gives permission in this situation, not your landlady.

Just because you are renting does not make you a second-class citizen. It makes me on your behalf that you are being treated this way. You sound lovely and very accommodating and sweet.

[MerryMarigold]

I see it as Landlady's fault not neighbour's. Maybe he saw her and just asked, as he is used to her living there, or didn't know the rules. It's not up to him to know the rules, but she should have said, "I will ask the tenants if it's ok, it's ok with me." As a landlady myself, I think something like would need to go through both of us (landlord and tenant), if the building materials etc. are going to make any kind of mess.