Shed dispute

[runnerblade95]

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?

So who owns the land upon which the shed has been placed? Or has the council quite happily given that up without payment - along with the right of access?

Apologies for the very late update but you’ll never guess what… the tenants cleared out the shed completely, knocked on my door and gave me one of two keys, stating that I can use the shed now, and that it’s basically mine, but that they may store one or two boxes from time to time, and will text me to let me know when they plan to do this.

Little do they know, I saw them from my window a week or so ago, at night time, removing huge tanks of what looked like petrol.

I don’t want to accuse anybody of anything here but it doesn’t take a genius to work out that these tenants were very clearly storing items or products that they didn’t want anybody else to discover ie (potentially) stolen goods.

I also saw one of the tenants removing an empty box that looked like it had one of those electric scooters on it, putting it in the bin, going back into his flat and then coming back out to retrieve it from the bin.

Suspicious? Definitely. I’m speechless lol

Can you change the locks now? I'd not want to have a key to or be possibly seen as an owner of a shed full of dodgy gear!!

@FromOurHatsToOurFeet

Can you change the locks now? I'd not want to have a key to or be possibly seen as an owner of a shed full of dodgy gear!!

Exactly! I’m not entirely sure. Prior to this, I spoke to a very rude woman from the local council who basically told me I had no rights, the shed isn’t mine, it’s on a first come first served basis when it comes to the sheds because the council do not own them.

But if that’s the case, where I have been given one of two keys, and the other tenants have now left (indefinitely ie no idea when they will return), surely, I have that right?

I will be calling the council first thing in the morning to speak to the rude operative I spoke to last week, who told me that I would be arrested if I changed the locks and put all their stuff out …to tell her that the tenants from the other block, have given me the keys and told me that it’s basically mine.

I will ensure that this is both confirmed over the phone and in writing.

Once I have that, then yes, essentially the shed is mine, presumably?

I still can’t believe they willingly gave one of their keys over after completely emptying the shed..?!

Definitely something fishy going on there, for sure!

But will contact the lady that I spoke to previously who told me that I have no rights to inform her of the recent developments and then ask her if I have the right to now change the locks.

Should I tell her that the tenants from the other block only gave me one key and kept one for themselves?

Or should I just tell her that they gave me both keys and that I would now like to change the locks permanently?

Thank you for all replies and advice regarding this ongoing stressful situation

I'd change the locks and not inform the Council of anything. Par for the course really, I could go into reams of reasons why, but can hardly waste my breath on the infinite ways that 'local councils' are not the greatest of exemplars in efficient and straightforward decision-making.

It's the Officers, don't think it's the Councillors at fault, it's the Officers that get paid, quite highly in most instances and the few people who have the time, etc to be Cllrs rely on them for advice.

Change the locks and say nothing to the Council unless they ask at some point. If so, just advise them that the 'friends' of the previous tenants who used the shed handed "the keys" back to you, so job done.

Any trouble from the piss-taking previous users then call the Police.

@TheHateIsNotGood

I'd change the locks and not inform the Council of anything. Par for the course really, I could go into reams of reasons why, but can hardly waste my breath on the infinite ways that 'local councils' are not the greatest of exemplars in efficient and straightforward decision-making.

It's the Officers, don't think it's the Councillors at fault, it's the Officers that get paid, quite highly in most instances and the few people who have the time, etc to be Cllrs rely on them for advice.

Change the locks and say nothing to the Council unless they ask at some point. If so, just advise them that the 'friends' of the previous tenants who used the shed handed "the keys" back to you, so job done.

Any trouble from the piss-taking previous users then call the Police.

Perfect.

You’re right, I’m not going to waste my time being righteous when it comes to the council because ultimately they couldn’t give a rat’s arse about me. They don’t own the sheds, remember? Another company does.

So that’s made my decision for me. Thank you for your help

Change the locks, say nothing to anybody unless they ask. If they ask, lie and say someone from the council came and changed the locks and gave the key to you, you've no idea who it was. [wide eyed innocence]

I certainly wouldn’t be storing anything in a shed that other —dodgy— people have access to!

If they are up to illegal activities then the fact your stuff would be in there and you have a key, they can completely deny their illegal involvement and incriminate you!

You either can’t accept the key (and make that officially known] or you have to change the locks.

Glad they handed it back without any drama. Are they like brick stores or wood sheds?

As council said the sheds were nothing to do with them, presumably won't be bothered if you change the lock. You need to be able to secure your belongings & avoid storing any dodgy neighbors goods.

@BringBackCoffeeCreams haha this made me spit my coffee out wide-eyed innocence thank you! Will be doing exactly that!

@Sswhinesthebest If they are up to illegal activities then the fact your stuff would be in there and you have a key, they can completely deny their illegal involvement and incriminate you!

I never even thought of this.

Thank you! I will be changing the locks this weekend, DH has a friend who can do it for free as a favour. Excellent advice.

@SendCakes

Glad they handed it back without any drama. Are they like brick stores or wood sheds?

As council said the sheds were nothing to do with them, presumably won't be bothered if you change the lock. You need to be able to secure your belongings & avoid storing any dodgy neighbors goods.

Exactly! I would definitely be viewed as a co-conspirator and I refuse to allow that to happen.

They are brick store sheds. I would upload a picture but would potentially be outing.