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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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 Hmm

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:
caecilius1 · 19/03/2022 12:16

@DDivaStar

The only other alternative is to buy your own shed !
There may not be space though.
SoyaChai · 19/03/2022 12:18

Surely noone should have access to the garden who does not live in the property. This is a security issue.

How can you stop that, though? Where I lived there were loads of two story blocks with 3 downstairs flats and 3 upstairs.

You could walk through the front communal door and into the communal gardens of these flats at any time. Not that random people of the street would generally do that, but there is no "security" stopping it.

Original poster
runnerblade95 · 19/03/2022 12:18

@DDivaStar

The only other alternative is to buy your own shed !
Yes unfortunately there is not enough space in the communal area to fit an extra shed
OP posts:
LIZS · 19/03/2022 12:19

Local councillor can speak to housing or a neighbourhood officer to intercede. You are normally expected to have approached them and neighbour yourself first though. Councillor details will be on the local council website.

Original poster
runnerblade95 · 19/03/2022 12:20

@LIZS

Local councillor can speak to housing or a neighbourhood officer to intercede. You are normally expected to have approached them and neighbour yourself first though. Councillor details will be on the local council website.
Thank you for this information.
OP posts:
blitzkoff · 19/03/2022 12:21

As you have asked and had lack of effort with the council I would contact your local councillor, this is exactly the sort of local issue they can help with , if this doesn't work you can also contact your MP , an email from them should resolve your councils lack of motivation

Squeezita · 19/03/2022 12:21

OP, do you live alone?

You need to find the courage to act.

Give them the notice and change the locks.

amillionrosepetals · 19/03/2022 12:22

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Georgeskitchen · 19/03/2022 12:23

You definitely need to push harder with the housing officer. Contact your local Councillor and have them speak to the HO.

FatCatThinCat · 19/03/2022 12:24

This probably sounds pretty obvious but make it clear to the council that the shed and keys are in possession of someone who is NOT a tenant.

namejustforthis · 19/03/2022 12:33

Hi housing officer here

Might not be as clear cut as it's your shed.

First you need to check if your tenancy agreement includes a shed. If it does, does it say which shed? Most won't. Normally sheds and garages etc are not part of specific properties but standalone in their own right with their own deeds.

At my work we hold deeds for all our properties for things like sheds and garages so it's fairly easy for the housing officer to check and give you a clear answer.

Therefore although it seems obvious that the 6 sheds would be for the 6 properties they are by, that may not be the case. If they aren't it's then for the council / housing association to decide who can use which ones.

Also I would be wary of you telling the other person they can't use it (if not in your tenancy) as it's not your property and you have no legal rights over it. If you do and then dispose of their items they could take legal action against you.

If you give written notice you are removing someone's items from a property which belongs to you this has to be done following the correct legal process and they need to be issued the correct paper work, called a TORT. I would go back to your landlord and ask to speak to someone else or as another poster said speak to your local councillor as they are good for things like that.

LottyD32 · 19/03/2022 12:34

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?

Put a padlock on the communal garden gate and give a key to the others in your block, for starters.

PuppyMonkey · 19/03/2022 12:35

Could you start storing big piles of your stuff in front of the shed so that it makes it really difficult for them to access it? Grin

LottyD32 · 19/03/2022 12:39

I'd also be a bitch and make up posters like pawn wars or whatever that programme is where people can bid on locked storage areas and let beeline know you are holding an auction for them contents of your shed.

I would shame these cheeky fuckers to high heaven.

LottyD32 · 19/03/2022 12:39

Everyone not beeline 🙄

namejustforthis · 19/03/2022 12:40

@LottyD32

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?

Put a padlock on the communal garden gate and give a key to the others in your block, for starters.

With regards to the previous tenant giving the current person using the shed the keys, this is again for housing to address as it is their shed and they are the ones who can enforce who has possession of it. You can't address the key issue if the shed does not belong to you. If housing want to take the shed back from this person again they have a legal route the have to follow re changing the locks, removing items etc.

With regards the communal area absolutely do not padlock it off. This will be a breach of your tenancy and you could end up in a lot of trouble doing that. Again it is for the housing to decide who can and can't access that area however you can raise the issue if security with them and explain non tenants are accessing the area and ask them to address that.

Ellie56 · 19/03/2022 12:43

@runnerblade95.

I agree contact your councillor. They can be really helpful as they know all the right people. Ours are great and have helped us several times.

Hankunamatata · 19/03/2022 12:49

Are these like brick outbuildings rather than sheds?

TigerLilyTail · 19/03/2022 12:55

To be honest, it sounds like the person you spoke to was speculating rather than actually knowing the situation. I think you need to get more information before you proceed.

Is there a neighbor who has lived there for a while who you can ask about the shed situation? They may be able to advise you better.

ImInStealthMode · 19/03/2022 12:58

It really depends whether the shed is detailed as part of your property on your tenancy doesn't it? Is it definitely yours?

Were the sheds put there by the council, or did neighbours get together at some point in the past and pay for the sheds themselves? In which case I can understand that one could be 'gifted' to another nearby tenant rather than automatically passed to the next tenant of the flat.

My building has a number of sheds but they don't belong to particular flats. They can be rented by tenants but when a tenant moves out the shed goes to the next person on the waiting list, or up for grabs to anyway, not straight to the new tenant.

LakieLady · 19/03/2022 13:07

@Wootothewho

Give her a weeks notice to remove their stuff then change the lock
This, but I'd give them 2 weeks notice.

The neighbour is a CF. Is there a right of way across the communal area of your block? If there isn't, they have no right to be there.

Movingonup22 · 19/03/2022 13:09

Make an official
Comlkt then take to the housing ombudsman if not resolved

Bimblybomeyelash · 19/03/2022 13:12

What makes you think that the shed is yours?

Whatamesssss · 19/03/2022 13:17

@Gazelda

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.

Do this, also cc your local councillor as then they know you are serious and won't be fobbed off.

Keep everything in writing/email.

Floralnomad · 19/03/2022 13:17

Can you agree with the rest of the tenants in your block to lock your garden access , that way the person who is using your shed won’t be able to access the garden to get to it .