My neighbour is renting out his garage to ‘illegal tenants who are making life hell’ – but I’m fighting to get them out
A RETIRED homeowner has accused a neighbour of illegally subletting his garage to "nightmare tenants" who are making life "hell" for him and his wife.
Simon Saul, 77, has lived on the same street in Hendon in north London for 50 years - but says he's been having problems with people next door causing him undue stress.
Simon says his neighbour's garage is being rented out - despite the local council Barnet ruling the sublet was unauthorised.
Documents show an appeal over a decision to ban the sublet was turned down in 2016.
But Simon says this has been ignored and people are still living in the garage - almost seven years later.
The London borough council said it was aware of the matter and in the process of "undertaking legal action".
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Simon said: "It is stressful - we don't know the people who are living next to us.
"We are afraid as we don't know where they have come from - they come and go as they please.
"It is making our life hell, especially for my wife. She is very frightened as she doesn't know who lives next door."
Simon has lived on the road since 1973 and said he first noticed people living in the garage next door in 2010.
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After complaining to the council, he claims it wasn't until years later that action was taken.
An initial enforcement decision was made in December 2015, which said an outbuilding had been used as a dwelling without planning permission.
A site visit was then made in September 2016 to assess the situation and an enquiry was opened, Simon says.
The occupants of the garage were then told they had to vacate the property, Simon claims.
And he said: "When I first noticed people were living there, I did complain to the council but no action was taken.
"After years, I got a knock on my door from the council. They said they were investigating the issue.
"The residents were given an eviction notice but it has not been adhered to.
"The landlord appealed the decision and his appeal was rejected but people are still living there.
"The council haven't done anything; the enforcement officer is not enforcing.
"It makes you think that the landlord is untouchable.
"They are using my address for deliveries and late-night takeaways. They knock on my door and there is nothing I can do about it."
Despite living there for 50 years, Simon said he doesn't see the landlord very often but his wife Irit, 55, has spoken to him.
The pair say they are scared in their own home and are being woken up in the middle of the night by junk food deliveries.
Simon said: "Just last week there were people knocking on our door at 11pm to deliver food.
"The stress is keeping us awake - we were also being woken up at night with deliveries.
"My wife has had a few words with the landlord, she was telling him what he is doing is wrong.
"Nothing has come of it - he is making money."
Cllr Ross Houston. deputy leader of Barnet council and cabinet member for housing and regeneration, said: "The council is aware of the matter relating to the use of the outbuilding.
"Our planning enforcement team is currently undertaking legal action to ensure that unauthorised residential use is ceased, and fixtures and fittings are removed from the outbuilding."
The owner of the property was approached for comment but did not respond.
Other recent neighbour disputes include locals in Bournemouth saying an 8ft privacy fence blocks their view, while residents in Gloucestershire have been angered by what was dubbed Britain's "biggest mancave".
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Meanwhile, homeowners in Hampshire have hit back at a high-flying lawyer who wants to build a helipad in the garden of his £1.3million mansion.
But a defiant dad is refusing to demolish his illegal half-built dream home dubbed "Monster Mansion" by neighbours, in Willenhall in the West Midlands.
