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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Shed dispute

162 replies

runnerblade95 · 19/03/2022 11:55

Sorry if this is a long thread, bear with me! I’m a permanent council tenant who has recently moved into a new flat. Our communal garden is fenced off with 6 sheds facing our block which has 6 flats in it.

A tenant from another block, also fenced in on their side, is using my shed and has been using my shed for months maybe even years before I moved in. I called the council and someone from the neighbourhood team told me that they do not get involved in disputes regarding sheds and that basically it’s nothing to do with them.

They asked me are the sheds visible from where you are. I said yes and that I can see them from my window and that there are 6, presumably, for the 6 tenants that live in my block. The advisor then replied well then to me that sounds like 1 of the 6 is your shed. I advise you to put a note on the shed door stating that you’ve just moved in and that this is your shed and to give enough notice for them to move their items into their own shed. Which should be situated in their fenced off communal premises.

I followed the advisor’s advice and did this with the note on the shed, only to be met with confrontation and aggression. I did exactly what the council told me to do, to no avail.

What the other tenant did let slip is that he used to be very good friends with the previous tenant of my flat and that when they moved out, that they gave him the keys

Surely, that is not allowed?

So my question is, AIBU to be upset by this and if so, does anyone have any advice as to how I should approach this matter?

OP posts:

Wootothewho · 19/03/2022 11:58

Give her a weeks notice to remove their stuff then change the lock

Floralnomad · 19/03/2022 11:59

If it is definitely your property I would get a locksmith to come and change the lock and then put all the contents outside covered with a tarpaulin - not sure that is legal though so perhaps you could run that past the housing officer or whoever it is at the council .

Soul11Soul · 19/03/2022 11:59

Does the shed form part of your agreement with the local authority. If you are not able to use a part of your home because of a squatter then they should be doing something about it.

Original poster

runnerblade95 · 19/03/2022 12:00

@Wootothewho

Give her a weeks notice to remove their stuff then change the lock

This is exactly what my DF told me to do but I’m scared

I don’t want to get in trouble

OP posts:

SoyaChai · 19/03/2022 12:01

Why doesn't this other tenant of another block have their own shed

caecilius1 · 19/03/2022 12:03

Why can't you you use their presumably unused shed or are you saying this person has 2 sheds?

GeneLovesJezebel · 19/03/2022 12:03

You are paying for the shed as part of your rent. Kick their stuff out and put a new lock in it.

Original poster

runnerblade95 · 19/03/2022 12:03

@Soul11Soul

Does the shed form part of your agreement with the local authority. If you are not able to use a part of your home because of a squatter then they should be doing something about it.

I’m not actually sure, but the advisor I spoke to said something along the lines of the fact that she sheds are not part of the council property itself if that makes sense. That it’s a first come, first served basis. But if that is the case, how is anybody supposed to get a shed if previous tenants who have moved out, give their keys over to their friends who live in other properties? Surely some type of breach of tenancy is going on there? I’m so upset about this right now

OP posts:

Original poster

runnerblade95 · 19/03/2022 12:05

@caecilius1

Why can't you you use their presumably unused shed or are you saying this person has 2 sheds?

Well they are saying they don’t have a shed on their side and that they’re all being used which tells me that a tenant from their side is possibly using 2 sheds instead of one. If this is the case, how is that my problem and how does that give this tenant the right to use the shed that is situated in my communal garden?

OP posts:

Viviennemary · 19/03/2022 12:06

I would tell the Council that this person now has your keys. If the shed is mentioned on your rental agreement then the Council should deal with it IMHO. If you get nowhere with them or the neighbour you could try contacting your local councillor. I would be reluctant to throw the persons things out of the shed and change the lock although thats what I would feel like doing.

Original poster

runnerblade95 · 19/03/2022 12:06

@GeneLovesJezebel

You are paying for the shed as part of your rent. Kick their stuff out and put a new lock in it.

I’m going to have another look through my tenancy now to see if it mentions the sheds but I have a horrible feeling that it doesn’t. Based on what the advisor said to me.

OP posts:

FatCatThinCat · 19/03/2022 12:06

They're being an aggressive cheeky fucker and banking on you being too scared to do anything.

What does your tenancy agreement say? Have you spoken to your councillor?

Soul11Soul · 19/03/2022 12:06

The sheds must belong to someone. Does the person who is using the she'd have to enter your garden to access the shed. Surely noone should have access to the garden who does not live in the property. This is a security issue.

Original poster

runnerblade95 · 19/03/2022 12:08

@Viviennemary

Thank you for your advice. DH says that failing all else, that I should contact the local councillor so if it comes to that, I definitely will. I agree with you, I do not want to change the locks and throw their personal belongings out as there are children’s things in there and potentially other sentimental items.

OP posts:

DDivaStar · 19/03/2022 12:08

I think the only way usual win is persistence.

Write another note saying

This shed is for the use of number x, any agreement with the previous owner is no longer relevant. Any items left in the shed in 7 days will be removed and locks changed. Then you'll have to do it.

DDivaStar · 19/03/2022 12:09

Oh and update the council, tell them about the keys and ask for the locks to be changed.

ParkheadParadise · 19/03/2022 12:10

When you viewed the flat with your Housing officer did they tell you that you had a shed?
I would be contacting my housing officer and getting them to deal with it.
Is the shed included in your rent?

Original poster

runnerblade95 · 19/03/2022 12:10

@Soul11Soul

Exactly my point. Yes, the person who is using the shed does have to enter my communal garden through the gate to access the shed. The shed belonged to the previous tenant of my flat with whom he said he was very good friends with and who gave him the shed keys when he moved out

like, what the hell?

OP posts:

Original poster

runnerblade95 · 19/03/2022 12:11

@ParkheadParadise

When you viewed the flat with your Housing officer did they tell you that you had a shed? I would be contacting my housing officer and getting them to deal with it. Is the shed included in your rent?

I don’t remember, it was a while ago now but I vaguely remember her kind of dismissing my question if I remember right. Which I guess goes hand in hand with what the advisor over the phone said in terms of not getting involved with neighbourhood disputes regarding sheds. Just ridiculous

OP posts:

Original poster

runnerblade95 · 19/03/2022 12:13

@DDivaStar

I think the only way usual win is persistence.

Write another note saying

This shed is for the use of number x, any agreement with the previous owner is no longer relevant. Any items left in the shed in 7 days will be removed and locks changed. Then you'll have to do it.

Yes I completely agree with you. Except I’m just worried about breaking any laws or handling sentimental items that cannot be replaced and just putting them outside. I feel rude doing that

I’m so upset by all of this I really am

OP posts:

DDivaStar · 19/03/2022 12:14

Its nice you don't want to remove their stuff but realistically it doesn't sound like they're going to do it willingly.

What do you expect the councillor to do ?

Original poster

runnerblade95 · 19/03/2022 12:14

@DDivaStar

Oh and update the council, tell them about the keys and ask for the locks to be changed.

This I am definitely going to do. In terms of letting them know about the exchange of keys between the old tenant of my flat and the tenant with which I am having this dispute. Thank you for this advice

OP posts:

Gazelda · 19/03/2022 12:14

I think you should email your Housing Officer.

Explain that this person is accessing a garden intended as a communal area for your block of flats. The person is using keys which the previous tenant of your flat passed to them and refuses to return them.

Ask the HO to clarify if anyone other than the tenants of your block and their invited visitors have permission to enter the communal garden. Ask the HO to clarify if the shed is included in your tenancy.

Once you have that info In writing from the HO, you can pursue either with the shed squatter, the HO or with your councillor.

DDivaStar · 19/03/2022 12:15

The only other alternative is to buy your own shed !

Original poster

runnerblade95 · 19/03/2022 12:15

@DDivaStar

Its nice you don't want to remove their stuff but realistically it doesn't sound like they're going to do it willingly.

What do you expect the councillor to do ?

I’ve never even contacted a local councillor in my life, I’ve no idea what they will do! That’s why I’m stressing so much over this as I’m not sure which course of action to take or who I should approach that actually can help me

OP posts:

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