That my neighbour’s paranoia is not my problem.

[Libertylawn]

I have lived in my house for 20 years and it’s got a loft conversion which was done originally as a granny flat, so little kitchen and bathroom, 2 bedrooms. We are semi rural but near a couple of major employers and a business park and so I started letting out the annex to contractors. They are all fully vetted and usually just down for a couple of weeks or so. The rooms overlook farmland and my garden and also my neighbour’s garden.

My neighbour when she found out about the lodgers went bananas and has tried to report me to anyone that will listen, because she firmly believes it isn’t safe and as a consequence she and her children won’t go in the garden AT ALL, in case my lodgers are watching her. Why the hell they would want to watch her or her kids is beyond me.

The neighbour has kids the same age as mine, and we have mutual friends. She has cried - tears crying - saying how worried she is and that I’m ruining her dream house. The houses are detached, there’s no shared drive etc so this is all on the basis of the chances of nutters watching her put her washing on the line. I’ve ignored her so far but this morning I got a card through the door from her begging that I stop letting out the annex to anyone “except maybe relatives.” I’ve tried talking to her but am getting nowhere. She’s crackers isn’t she?

What compromise might that be?

I mean, the neighbour sounds deeply unreasonable but I suspect there’s the OP’s version, the neighbour’s version, and then the reality somewhere in the middle.

In the OP, the guests are described as “fully vetted” but then later on, the OP scoffs at the idea of needing to vet anyone, and just says she might occasionally have a look on LinkedIn. She seems to think that working for the local big company, even as a contractor, means they’re totally legit.

She also describes one guest who was noisy early every morning.

If it’s an area where everyone knows each other - which seems to be what OP is describing - then having a stream of unknown men staying next door might be unsettling for someone who prizes that type of “safe”, local community. Also, there does seem to be an element of noise or disruption. Plus, if OP is as misleading in describing them as she’s been here, assuming that working as a contractor for a local employer means they’re “fully vetted”, again I can see why it might concern a nervous neighbour.

You’re doing nothing wrong in letting out your rooms OP and the neighbour is daft refusing to use her garden. But I can also see circumstance's where a neighbour might not like it. Unfortunately for them, it’s up to you what you do.

When you book into an air bnb which is usually an annex or in close proximity to neighbours snd the hosts house, you don't have to have a dbs check before you book, dhort tetm renting your annex is no different.
Neighbour sounds mental .
Tell her you're moving but keeping the house as an HMO for asylum seekers!! She'll have a heart attack...hopefully!! She sounds a batshit crazy nosy Neighbour

Am bemused by some of the OP should try for a compromise... these lodgers should be vetted...
Do people think they would get a say if it was new buyers or renters?!

This really sounds like it could be a trauma response. Its often worth considering, when a response seems/is massively disproportionate to a set of known circumstances and facts, whether it may be a response to unknown circumstances and facts - it may be previous personal experience driving it. Can you try asking whether there's anything you can do to make her feel safer (other than stopping renting out the room, obviously). If it is trauma and she feels dismissed and unheard/ignored - and worse - that she's being dismissed and ignored because you think she's 'batshit' - it could really make everything worse. It;s not easy, for either of you clearly, but I'd be looking for collaborative ways to sort it if possible.

Was the conversion all done properly and above board, and was it signed off? Its quite common for extensions/conversions to have to use privacy glass in any new windows that overlook a neighbour's property.

It's a bit of a grey area if it has a kitchen etc - does it count as a separate dwelling, or do they count as lodgers? Do you pay council tax for both properties? If you're now essentially running it as a business, do you need to apply for change of use?

She’s crackers . We have had neighbours in the past who would spy on us and if they thought we were out would physically hang over the dividing garden wall having a good old nose I used to shout “you lost something” or I’d wave at them if they were spying through windows at us in our garden . She’s crazy tell her to move into something total rural if she afraid of people or advise her you’re gonna apply to make yours into a HMO

What do the local big businesses these chaps are working for do? Certain sectors will security clear all employees and contractors before they can work -this is certainly true for many aerospace/defence/certain marine sectors, and the process includes a basic criminal record check as a minimum.

Shes crackers unfortunately. How well do any of us know our neighbours? Also, If someone had a desire to watch a woman or children, does this woman genuinely believe they would travel around the country renting airbnbs in the hope that their desired target live nearby?

It was there when OP moved in and had PP.

@Libertylawn carry on with your life as you are,

Batshit crazy. Do not hesitate to reach for help, cause she is not gonna stop and is likely fake accusations (probably difficult to prove) might start soon from her, to get her own way

YABU in that this whole question is completely self-evident so I’m not sure why you’re asking here, if not for superfluous validation?

Whilst I am inclined to think your neighbour is indeed paranoid, I am somewhat confused at the thought of a completely self-contained annexe, as you describe it, also being a loft conversion. Any chance of a diagram, please, @Libertylawn?

I'd be tempted to wind her up further and tell her your next lodgers are refugees being housed on a government scheme and watch her implode from space.

I mean, I have 2 family members who are convicted paedophiles. What makes family members so safe to children? I don’t allow these family members at my own house.

I would much rather have Barry the builder in the granny flat next door, because Barry is likely too tired after a day’s work to do anything other than eat a takeaway and go to bed at 8pm. He’s surely not sitting around all day watching the children one garden over.

There are definitely weirdos at the park who do that though. Does she never take her children to the playground?

OP as long as you’re declaring everything you should, you have nothing to worry about. Don’t give her any opportunity to get you into trouble. I’d put cameras up or a ring/blink doorbell set to record audio on any exchanges and let her know that what you are doing is perfectly legal and none of her business. You also need to make it clear that if she continues in this way it’s harassment and will be reported appropriately. I like the post upthread suggesting that if she wants the flat to be empty she can always rent it herself to ensure it stays that way!!

Wtaf

Tell her if she doesn’t like it she is free to rent the annex so it is not taken up by people

otherwise she can shut up

OP says it was there when she bought the property, so as part of conveyancing the solicitor would have made sure it met building regulations, and would have obtained insurance policies to cover anything that didn’t. And FYI it’s a loft extension. Part of the same property. It’s not a separate dwelling and doesn’t attract extra council tax. And OP has already said she doesnt need to apply for change of use because she’s resident in the building herself.

Just because an annexe has permission to be used as ancillary accommodation, does not automatically mean it has permission to be used as a self contained dwelling for rental purposes.

OP should consult their local authority to see whether they need to apply for a material change of use. Neighbour is not necessarily being ridiculous here.

Genius.

My sister-in law-used to let a couple of rooms to contractors and they were excellent - quiet, reliable, stayed for four nights a week, went out early and mostly came in to watch TV and go to bed. Your neighbour is nuts.

OP describes it as a self contained unit - It could be very feasibly be considered a separate two bed flat, especially as that is how it is currently being used. Although I'm struggling to see how a loft conversion could be self contained, and I'm very curious about the fire precautions and procedures.

I’m sorry if this sounds harsh. But her neighbour’s response, whether as a result of trauma or not, is not OP’s problem. She’s doing nothing wrong and accommodating this neighbour in any way is just going to to increase the sense of entitlement which has driven this so far.

Well she’s been doing it for two years, I’d hazard a guest the crazy neighbour had explored that avenue.

In addition OP says

One of the mutual friends says that she had tried to report me for “change of use” or something because I’m making a profit/running a business. But I live here too so that doesn’t stack. And I declare it all anyway.

Hasn’t OP already said she’s done this ?