Charity Opening up house next door as Temp Housing

[westbrookdiane3]

Hi all,

this was a shock to receive a letter from next door saying they where a charity and wanted access to our property to put new drainage system into our property and tell us they are opening the house up as tempary housing. is this something we can contest, i mean can this impacts our future house price? it is a small terrace row with children living in it so my worry is who will be temapary liiving here and gouidance anyone can offer on my rights would be helpful

[JK0]

I suspect your best weapon is refusing the drainage access.

[Interlaken]

What sort of charity? If 3 or more unrelated people are to live there it could be a House of Mulitple Occupation (HMO) which could require a licence or planning consent from the council.
I have had bad experiences with these types of projects. Often the management is non existant and the tenants are frequently diffucult individuals.
I would refuse the drain access and find out more about the charity and what they do. Have they bought the house or just acquired it under a scheme of some sort?

[DPT57]

It may be exempt from licensing.

[Lawcruncher]

Whether they can renew the drainage system depends on what rights they have over your property. What does your title say?

[theartfullodger]

What sort of charity specialising in what sort of occupants? There might be e.g.disability discrimination issues...

We had people move in as tenants next door strong NI accents I was convinced were on witness protection. He was announced as a plumber, just a young couple in 4 bed house. He later popped round asking if I knew how to relight a boiler... There's a convicted bank robber 4 doors away. We've all got "interesting" neighbours, but don't always realise it.

I saw p**do Andy in Windsor Great park 5th November, sadly not on top of a bonfire. Hailed him with a 2 digit Churchillian salute.

[royw]

I saw p**do Andy in Windsor Great park 5th November, sadly not on top of a bonfire. Hailed him with a 2 digit Churchillian salute.

Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?

[jpkeates]

Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?

Whatever happened to innocent people co-operating with the authorities so that other people aren't abused?

[Hudson01]

You are right to be worried, you have to do all you can to find out what kind of charity they are, anything along the lines of ex offenders, the mentally ill or substance abuse individuals then your house price will drop like a stone, it may need planning permission, ask the council if they have any record of it. I would be finding out very fast indeed.

[Lawcruncher]

I would not worry too much. On the estate I lived on there were plans to set up a home for those needing "care in the community". A few neighbours consulted estate agents who told them that house prices would drop. (They would, wouldn't they.) A petition was drawn up which I declined to sign on the basis that I was no nimby. The project went through and house prices did not drop.

[jpkeates]

I would have thought that the property becoming an HMO or hostel might require planning permission.

Although one thing you can't use as an objection to a planning change is the effect on the value of your property.

[gnvqsos]

Houses are described as small terraces so will not be HMO.

[theartfullodger]

Houses are described as small terraces so will not be HMO.

Depends, probably on local licensing & how charity will use the rooms.

[Interlaken]

I would have thought that the property becoming an HMO or hostel might require planning permission.

Agree, these may require planning consent but I have found that no consent is applied for until the unit is up and running and the complaints start coming in. Even then the service providers try to get a pass without full planning but just a 'Certificate of Lawfullness'.

Currently I have in my area 3 dry houses (not dry at all) 2 unoffcial drug rehabs (dealing as they go) and last month an application for a home for problem teens 14-18 placed from 100 miles away. The applicant there (2 social workers setting up their own business) tried to get that with the lawfulness certificate. The police are at full stretch dealing with the problems to residents these places cause.

It is really important that OP finds out more about the proposed use of the house. It may well be innocent but knowing essential.

[theartfullodger]

A pub we went quite a bit before lockdown was next to a bail hostel. Could have been any offence. Always assumed some of the staff were dodgy...