I want to move but I can’t can I?

[AssemblySquare]

We live next door to a house that has had new tenants every year… for about 18months an old colleague lived there. They moaned about the lack of maintenance and it got unbearable so they moved. That became a theme - new neighbours each time would make comments about “there’s going to be work happening” and then it didn’t and then they moved.

Now the person living there with their family turns out to be the landlords maintenance person!! He’s rarely out, there’s usually a van or 2, and a HUGE amount of household waste gets ‘stored’ next to our garage because he ‘can’t’ get to the tip. It looks awful and no one in their right mind would want to buy a house next to that.

I want to move but I think we’re stuck! What can we do?

Oh my goodness!
Well, if nothing was done before, & this guy IS the maintenance man, I think you're in for a wait to see things improve..
I think I'd just ask WHEN rubbish is going to be moved until he gets sick of hearing it, & moves it, then try & sell up quickly when he goes on hols.. :-0

If he's storing household waste in the garden, a chat with the local council will be your first point of call - I can't remember offhand if it's environmental health (rats etc) but they'll be able to point you in the right direction. In the meantime, maybe a friendly 'hi you said you can't get to the tip, I wonder if (telephone number for a couple of local skip hire companies) might help?' Obviously only if they aren't unfriendly/obnoxious - it might actually be true about not being able to get to the tip as all our local ones have restricted opening, must book, limits on loads etc now.

Hopefully if he's the maintenance person, the jobs will be done & the merry-go-round settle down.

As to the vans, unfortunately nothing you can do about that.

If you really are planning to sell, have a chat (again, caveats above) and explain that it's damaging the garage / need it gone for viewings, photos etc although in the current financial climate that might be the least of your worries. Plus if I remember correctly there's something in the rules now about declaring problems with neighbours.

Good luck x