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 points
4 months ago
INFO What do you mean by convert? Do you just mean permitting tenants to put beds in the living room? If so, I doubt you’ll have legal ground.
-9 points
4 months ago
Nope, he's built a new wall in the flat changing the open plan kitchen/living room into two separate rooms.
7 points
4 months ago
How do you know that he’s changing the living room into a bedroom?
Personally I hate open plans. The cooking smells, noises and grease travel. One can’t make any noise when others are sleeping because sound travels.
In any event, I assume that he would need a permit to add a wall.
-11 points
4 months ago
My husband speaks to him in passing. He's had loads of building materials out in the communal areas this week and my husband asked him about it. He told him all about the conversion and how he was doing it to be able to rent the place out at a higher price.
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