Ndn has rented out his garden shed to be lived in. The shed is built in to the side wall of the garden, he’s done a little ‘extension’ by covering the remaining space between the side entrance gate and the wall of the house with some corrugated plastic roofing, and he’s extended the shed lengthways with some planks of wood, by about 0.3m. I’ve measured the equivalent space in our garden (the houses are identically built) and it’s 2.7m x 3.2m, so with his extension it will be about 2.7m x 3.5m.
He didn’t post anything locally about planning permission or have any workmen round so I have no idea what conditions are like inside the ex-shed but I really doubt they meet any kind of building regulations or safety requirements. Apart from anything else, the shed part of it still has the original roof, which makes it not high enough for me to stand up in (I'm 5'6'' and I have to stoop slightly, MIL is 5'2'' and can stand up in it). I have no idea whether he has managed to get electricity out there or what arrangements he has made for bathroom use.
There have been a few tenants in and out, they mostly keep themselves to themselves so it’s only recently I’ve been 100% sure they are actually living in the shed and not in the main house. Currently there’s a young couple.
I’m quite torn whether to report him to someone or to leave it alone. On the leave it side, part of me thinks that if people are willing to pay to live in a space like that, that’s their business and they can just get on with it. On the do something side, I’m sure it can’t be a suitable place to live and I worry that ndn is exploiting vulnerable people – all the tenants have been young eastern Europeans with limited English.
So, WIBU to report him (W = would not was)? And if not then who would I report him to? Or should I leave well alone? He’s a friendly enough neighbour, but we’re not on terms where I feel I could confront him directly about this. WWYD?