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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this might not be legal ?

65 replies

CheesysNo1 · 05/02/2020 17:55

Need some advice.

I own a flat in a block of 6, last year my elderly neighbour died below me and the flat was sold and Iv noticed a lot of women coming In and out every week with suitcases and me and my other neighbours have been a little confused.

Well recently it’s all went down hill the close is full of rubbish and they are not taking their weekly turn of sweeping and mopping the stairs and three days ago a very aggressive man kicked in the common door to the building and he was shouting and screaming into the letter box, I never noticed the door was broken until later on when I felt safe to leave the house. Now the last two days all Iv heard is shouting and banging from down stairs...male and female voices.

Today I went down to tell them to keep it down and if I could get the landlords number and the women said there is no landlord this is a women’s shelter and gave me the website.

This is what it said... A charity to help women with accomodation needs edited by MNHQ for privacy reasons

Iv phoned and left a message but there was only a mobile number no office number and no one has got back to me.

I was just looking for some advice on what to do or if this is legal ? Should I just suck it up and deal with it ? Obviously I have a lot of compassion for these women but on the other hand I’m pregnant with my first child and I’m a little scared walking down the stairs and worried about if anymore trouble will be brought the to building.

Thanks.

OP posts:
Cockw0mble · 05/02/2020 17:58

Why wouldn't it be legal?

FuzzyAtmosphere · 05/02/2020 18:00

There will be a landlord; even if the charity own it outright. Why don’t you do a Land Registry search and see who is the owner and try to take it from there? I would imagine you all have a lease and that states everyone has the right to quiet/peaceful enjoyment of their flats, and there will be an obligation to adhere to rules regarding rubbish etc.

Do you have a management company or similar?

LoisLittsLover · 05/02/2020 18:00

Why wouldn't it be legal?

Indeed. Why do you think this wouldnvt be permitted?

gingerbreadslice · 05/02/2020 18:00

They could be woman that's fled domestic violence hence the aggressive male kicking off, maybe he found her. I'm confused on why you think it's illegal? It sounds like a good idea to have for emergencies where a woman can go to.

Original poster
CheesysNo1 · 05/02/2020 18:00

I just wasn’t sure if you needed planning permission or if any residents needed to be informed.

OP posts:
LoseLooseLucy · 05/02/2020 18:00

Yeah, the legality is a bizarre angle to come from.

itsamood · 05/02/2020 18:01

I’d be angry at the place being left like a tip.

OP I don’t know why this would make me feel uneasy too

slipperywhensparticus · 05/02/2020 18:03

I'm guessing you feel you should have been consulted before they bring a potential bad situation to your door the aggressive man would put me right off living there

Dyrne · 05/02/2020 18:04

Can you raise it with the freeholder/ management company if you have one? Also if you don’t hear back from the charity I would actually look into whether I could report them to the charity commission It sounds like the charity are failing in their duty of care to these women if they are being found so easily and often enough to create an unsafe environment for you and other residents.

The “cleaning common areas” sounds odd though - is this a contractual requirement of your lease or more of a gentlemen’s agreement?

Nicknacky · 05/02/2020 18:04

Why wouldn’t it be legal?

DollyPomPoms · 05/02/2020 18:04

It could potentially be a breach of your Lease and you could contact your Freeholder. Depends what your Lease states.

Original poster
CheesysNo1 · 05/02/2020 18:07

Yeah well I wasn’t really sure how to word my Aibu. Maby am I being unreasonable to be a little scared might have been better. I don’t know anything about women’s hostels ..it’s just a small two bed flat. As far as my hearing is I can here a mans voice shouting ? I’m concerned now as pp said it might be domestic violence. Are men allowed in the shelters ?

OP posts:
Dyrne · 05/02/2020 18:08

Also OP you may want to ask MN to change the wording of the website in your OP - pasting that into google only brings up one women’s shelter so it’s pretty outing as to where you live...

theemmadilemma · 05/02/2020 18:09

Agree it could be a breach of lease. Often they have usage terms written in, especially these days. For example a friends lease states no AirBRB etc.

Canadianpancake · 05/02/2020 18:10

If it is legit, I think the charity need to know that there are regular disturbances caused by aggressive males coming to the property. It's not a refuge is there is no 'refuge' to be found there, it's just a doss house. If women are going there thinking of it as a safe house, the last thing they want is aggressive males tuning up!

FuzzyAtmosphere · 05/02/2020 18:10

If there is anyone aggressive that is intimidating you or leaving you too scared to go out into the communal area of your flat, then that is a police matter.

CheesysNo1 · 05/02/2020 18:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Dyrne · 05/02/2020 18:14

Fair enough.

They’ve got a landline number on the “contact us” page so maybe try that in office hours tomorrow. Definitely start from the potential abuser/unsafe environment angle - that should get their attention.

SW16 · 05/02/2020 18:16

Lots of leases on flats have covenants that prevent short term let’s, hence why many flats can not be used for AirBnB, but are. Lots have covenants about sub-letting.

We all want to be compassionate but don’t judge the OP until you have lived with this. We dealt with distraught women being bullied by other residents, people setting off water fire extinguishers, fires, fake fires and fire brigade attendance, prostitutes, violent drunk and drugged up punters and pimps, begging, theft, innocent vulnerable residents needing help that was never forthcoming from the hostel managers...

Original poster
CheesysNo1 · 05/02/2020 18:26

I guess the cleaning of the close is just a gentleman’s agreement as we’ve all took our turn cleaning on a rotation every week. Initially I did think it was an air bnb and I don’t mind it being a women’s hostel but it’s just the last few days with the noise and the broken door Iv felt a little uneasy. I wasn’t meaning this post to be judgy or mean. Sorry

OP posts:
LoseLooseLucy · 05/02/2020 18:28

You're entitled to feel however you want about it if it's impacting you in any way. I hate "NIMBY" accusations.

ToelessPobble · 05/02/2020 18:31

Sounds unusual. Every women's shelter I have been in has had a rule of no men whatsoever.

ToelessPobble · 05/02/2020 18:31

As in visited

Seeline · 05/02/2020 18:36

I think it would require planning permission for a change of use. The flat would have an authorized use as a single family dwelling. The use of the property as a refuge would not be covered by this. Contact your planning department and they can investigate.

WorraLiberty · 05/02/2020 18:37

I've just had a look at their website and under 'contact us', there are 2 phone numbers an address and an email.