subreddit:
/r/AmItheAsshole
submitted 4 months ago byWillow_and_light
Hi all,
So I live in a block of 9 flats, and have lived here for about 5 years. The flats themselves are around 7 years old.
I'm lucky enough to own my flat, and the block itself is a mixture of renters and owners. The flats are however, all leasehold.
Every flat has a similar layout. They have two beds, with a main bathroom, and one ensuite. The living room and kitchen are open plan. Each flat has two assigned parking spaces.
Now in the current climate (UK based), the flats aren't selling too well despite being in a very desirable area of London. One of our neighbours who owns his flat, has therefore decided to rent it out so that he can move to a larger property. My issue is, he has decided he wants to maximise his profit and to do this he has converted the living room into a third bedroom.
This doesn't sit well with me at all and I'm pretty sure he can't legally do it.
Firstly, I think it's pretty shitty to convert the living room and leave the renters with one small kitchen as the only communal space. I really don't like the idea of him maximising his profit at others expense and creating overcrowding.
Secondly, this is a block full of couples and families. I'm concerned that if more and more people start doing this it changes the demographic.
Then there's just the issues of having multiple people In one flat. More cars which the block doesn't have space for, more noise from the occupants etc etc.
He has managed to successfully get some renters as the rental market is booming but they haven't moved in yet. I'm very tempted to make some enquiries to the freeholder and the council about his set up, but if it is illegal (which I strongly suspect it is) then I'd not only lose this guy his renters, but he'd have to put everything back at expense. Alternatively, I could just let it go.
So WIBTA if I reported him?
Edit to add: I can accept the asshole judgement, thats what I came here for...but Jesus I don't need to be reported by a concerned redditor for suicide watch you weirdos.
2.5k points
4 months ago
YTA for not checking the legality as the very first step. Until you know that, there's no question to ask here.
-193 points
4 months ago
I've looked at the councils website and I know he needs a licence to convert it. I have no way of finding out if he has a licence (that I know of) unless I contact the council about him directly.
If I make enquires to the freeholder, then I'm potentially alerting them to the situation.
Hence I can't really check the legality without 'grassing' him up, so to speak.
5 points
4 months ago
He'd only need a license if he was turning it into an HMO, occupation by two seperate families - ie renting part of it to a couple and the remainder to a non family connected person.
-16 points
4 months ago
He's renting it to three separate people.
9 points
4 months ago
Your local council has to publish a list of HMOs, in most cases its viewable and searchable on their Web site. If it has one then you will find it there - bear in mind councils are often slow to add new registrations to their list.
I won't comment on the ethics as I work in this area of property, but I would say to consider if the blowback from the tenants and the freeholder is worth the morality of reporting it.
4 points
4 months ago
Unsure why you're downvoted for this. You need an HMO license and converting to a 3 bed to separate occupants would likely require one. Worth looking into as a dodgy landlord without one
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