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Original poster

Landlord wants to put a skip on my driveway

67 replies

DeathByWalkies · 31/07/2021 10:37

Bit of an inconvenient confluence of events

I'm a private tenant. The tenancy agreement includes one parking space which is allocated and secure (there's a second space which belongs to my upstairs neighbours).

There's some works that do need doing to the rear of the property, where the parking space is.

I've been told that they want to put two skips on the driveway, leaving me with no parking whatsoever. This will also make it basically impossible to use the garden due to scaffolding / noise / dust so I'll be losing a second amenity.

I've already maxed out the parking permits available to my property (main car + visitor permit for DP) but now I'm in the process of buying a specialist and very expensive classic vehicle that needs to be kept off road for both security and insurance reasons.

I have nowhere else to store the vehicle, and the purchase of it cannot be delayed. Another one like it won't come on the market for many years, if ever. I've been trying to find a garage to rent anyway to store it, but nothing suitable has come up (mainly due to the size - it's an unusually tall vehicle and just won't fit in most domestic garages). I'm also worried about the builders damaging said vehicle either through carelessness or excess dust.

I've not broached this with the LL yet, and tbh I'm not sure how to handle this really.

Point blank refuse access to my driveway?
Ask landlord to source and pay for alternative secure parking (and cover the cost of any insurance increase?) on the basis that I'm already paying for my parking space?
Something else?

OP posts:
Frazzled2207 · 31/07/2021 10:42

I think the classic vehicle is a bit of a red herring. If you literally can’t park, and need a car, then what does the LL suggest?

Otoh if the work really needs doing, what do you suggest?

Re the classic vehicle if it’s as special as you say it is imm surprised you’ve agreed to buy it if you don’t have secure storage for it tbh.

AndyMurraysCat · 31/07/2021 10:49

How long have you got run on your tenancy? If you make it difficult for the Landlord to do necessary works, they might just serve you notice to leave?

Original poster
DeathByWalkies · 31/07/2021 10:51

Re the classic vehicle if it’s as special as you say it is imm surprised you’ve agreed to buy it if you don’t have secure storage for it tbh.

I do have secure storage - the gated locked driveway the landlord wants to put the skip on! I want to put it in dry storage during the winter when it will get less use, but unlikely to get that sorted before it arrives.

If it were the old banger I normally drive I'd just chuck it out on the street, no problems, but that won't be possible with this vehicle - partly due to it being a classic, and partly because I'm out of parking permits.

If the landlord had sorted this work in a timely manner (ie two years ago when it was first promised!) I wouldn't have this issue!

OP posts:
Shitfuckcommaetc · 31/07/2021 10:54

Rent a local driveway for a couple weeks. The skip won't be there forever

NannyAndJohn · 31/07/2021 10:55

His house his rules.

Maybe you should have used that money on a house deposit instead of burning it on a new car, eh?

Viviennemary · 31/07/2021 10:58

Ask the landlord if he has anywhere to store your car. Its annoying but I don't think there is much you can do to stop the works. Ask for a rent rebate to allow you to rent a parking space

AuntyFungal · 31/07/2021 11:01

The contract includes a parking space.

  1. You say “no” to the skip, as per your contract. LL has to pay council permit to park one skip on road.
  2. You say “yes”, only on the agreement LL pays for alternative secure parking for the duration of the works.
  3. You say “yes” and negotiate a rent reduction - as you are loosing part of your contracted amenities for the duration. You find alternative parking.
Frazzled2207 · 31/07/2021 11:02

@NannyAndJohn

His house his rules.

Maybe you should have used that money on a house deposit instead of burning it on a new car, eh?

Was thinking that too.

If LL had said 2 years ago that he would do the work, then although yes it’s annoying that it’s been this long, it can’t have come as a complete surprise. Plus most of that time we’ve had a global pandemic you might have noticed. So pretty much everything is happening later than planned.

If you can actually park in the street, then I don’t see how you can seriously object tbh. Can you buy additional parking permits? It’s not your LL’s problem that you have run out!

Original poster
DeathByWalkies · 31/07/2021 11:02

@NannyAndJohn

His house his rules.

Maybe you should have used that money on a house deposit instead of burning it on a new car, eh?

That's literally not how renting works. It's the landlord's property and my home - and for the same reason they're also not allowed to suddenly decide to start using a spare bedroom for storage.

I have a deposit, but the banks won't lend to people who are either
A) self employed with only one year of tax returns or
B) had their income affected by COVID

So I can't get a mortgage through no fault of my own.

It's also a business investment - it's not this, but imagine I run a wedding business and have bought an old routemaster bus to hire out as guest transport.

Basically this vehicle will make money, not burn it. I'm spending my bounce back loan on it, and the rules of the BBL (and mortgage providers) would prevent me from using that loan on a house deposit.

But yeah, carry on being judgy without knowing the facts.

OP posts:
Frazzled2207 · 31/07/2021 11:04

@AuntyFungal

The contract includes a parking space.
  1. You say “no” to the skip, as per your contract. LL has to pay council permit to park one skip on road.
  2. You say “yes”, only on the agreement LL pays for alternative secure parking for the duration of the works.
  3. You say “yes” and negotiate a rent reduction - as you are loosing part of your contracted amenities for the duration. You find alternative parking.
3 is the best solution here I think. The fact that you will have a classic car is wholly irrelevant
LIZS · 31/07/2021 11:05

Are you even permitted to run a business there under your lease. The classic vehicle is entirely your issue to solve but you might ask what discount on rent he will offer for temporary loss of amenity of parking space and garden access.

FurierTransform · 31/07/2021 11:07

I'd remind the landlord that's off-road parking space was Included as part of the tenancy, & if he wishes to remove that from you, he should either provide alternative off road parking or a reduction in your rent so you can procure your own.

Postdatedpandemic · 31/07/2021 11:08

You can rent spaces in yards to store the route master. I'm quite impressed you think that keeping it at a private is acceptable. Most HGV drivers do not park up outside their home.

Original poster
DeathByWalkies · 31/07/2021 11:08

If LL had said 2 years ago that he would do the work, then although yes it’s annoying that it’s been this long, it can’t have come as a complete surprise. Plus most of that time we’ve had a global pandemic you might have noticed. So pretty much everything is happening later than planned.

I was promised the work would have been completed by Summer 2019 so this isn't a COVID issue. I know people who have had equivalent work done, with far fewer delays, during COVID. I even referred my landlord onto the contractor a friend used for equivalent work.

The work isn't coming as a surprise (well, maybe the fact it might actually happen is...) but the skips are a surprise tbh.

If you can actually park in the street, then I don’t see how you can seriously object tbh. Can you buy additional parking permits? It’s not your LL’s problem that you have run out!

I cannot park on the street because
A) it's old enough to not have any security features, so would be easily stolen
B) my insurance would be invalidated
C) it would attract a lot of attention and there would be a high risk of vandalism
D) I've run out of parking permits. That's not the landlord's fault per se, but I've been working on the basis that I'm already paying for secure off street parking, so I can have my car on street + visiting DPs car on street + classic vehicle on the drive!

OP posts:
THisbackwithavengeance · 31/07/2021 11:08

Some of these replies!

As if every problem with the flat is somehow the OP's fault because she didnt choose to buy her own house. You'd think the OP was staying in the flat for free! I'm sensing there are some disgruntled landlords here..

In the end OP, you pay money to rent a flat with designated parking and if that parking space is no longer available even temporarily,, you need to speak with your landlord about how you can be appropriately compensated for it's loss.

DogsSausages · 31/07/2021 11:10

What work needs doing, 2 skips and scaffolding sounds like it is a pretty big job, is it essential works like windows or the roof. What does your upstairs neighbour say as this must impact on them too. I would look to rent a garage for the new car, ask for a rent reduction to cover any inconvenience and alternative parking if there is no fee parking where you live. It's not your driveway, it's his and its shared.

titchy · 31/07/2021 11:11

@NannyAndJohn

His house his rules.

Maybe you should have used that money on a house deposit instead of burning it on a new car, eh?

You don't understand the concept of legal rights do you...?
AndyMurraysCat · 31/07/2021 11:12

You haven’t answered my question OP.
How long have you got to run on this tenancy?

If you refuse to be cooperative the LL might just serve Notice on you and hold off doing the works until you’ve left.

titchy · 31/07/2021 11:12

@Postdatedpandemic

You can rent spaces in yards to store the route master. I'm quite impressed you think that keeping it at a private is acceptable. Most HGV drivers do not park up outside their home.
It's not a route master - that was an example. Read. Then comment.
Frazzled2207 · 31/07/2021 11:13

Definitely speak to the neighbour if it affects them too.
If contractually parking is included then I think LL should agree to rent reduction or arrange alternative parking. Hopefully that can pay for secure parking for your classic car for a short period.

Original poster
DeathByWalkies · 31/07/2021 11:15

@Postdatedpandemic

You can rent spaces in yards to store the route master. I'm quite impressed you think that keeping it at a private is acceptable. Most HGV drivers do not park up outside their home.
As I said in that post, it's not ACTUALLY a routemaster (it's not anywhere near that big, an average bloke could touch the roof) that was just the first example that came to mind.

Are you even permitted to run a business there under your lease.

I work from home like most of the rest of the population nowadays. I never have business visitors / customers to my home, don't do anything that disturbs the neighbours or damages the property. Those clauses are aimed at people who want to turn their living room into a hairdressers salon or their garage into a car repair shop with a constant stream of visitors, noise, damage and planning permission issues. Landlord knows I'm self employed and it has never been an issue before.

OP posts:
nocturnalcatfreetogoodhome · 31/07/2021 11:16

It sounds as though the work is needed on the house that you live in though?

It’s not as though he’s dumped two skips on the drive for his jollies - it’s literally for the upkeep and betterment of your home?

Can you not negotiate a skip at a time? Tell him you still need place for a car and ask if he can get them one after the other. Beyond that you’re going to have to work something out re the new car - how big is it that it won’t fit in a garage?! Is it a camper van?

RandomMess · 31/07/2021 11:18

He can pay to have a permit for the skip on the road??

Original poster
DeathByWalkies · 31/07/2021 11:18

@AndyMurraysCat

You haven’t answered my question OP. How long have you got to run on this tenancy?

If you refuse to be cooperative the LL might just serve Notice on you and hold off doing the works until you’ve left.

It's a periodic tenancy, but they'd have to give 6 months notice so they couldn't have me out before the works started even if they wanted to.

They could have me out (eventually) on any whim they liked anyway, building works or none, but they won't find a new tenant for a home this damp so they'd lose thousands in the void between tenants.

OP posts:
thecognoscenti · 31/07/2021 11:23

@NannyAndJohn

His house his rules.

Maybe you should have used that money on a house deposit instead of burning it on a new car, eh?

That's so rude.

First, tenants do have rights, including quiet enjoyment of the property they rent.

Second, not everyone can or even wants to buy a property, for a huge variety of reasons. Not everyone has the little Englander obsession with getting on the property ladder.