Sigh... upstairs - advice please

[meriad]

having 'issues' with upstairs; one with the current tennants and one with the owner

Owner
for some reason when the previous owner of my flat put on the extension they moved the gas boxes for both upstairs and my flat to the side of the property; within my boundary. Now my property is fenced and the side gate locked so access to the back is only via the house of if I open the gate from the inside. Owner of upstairs is now saying that the recent gas safety survey he had said it's an issue because there isn't access in an emergency. So I told him that if the top bolt is opened (easily done from outside) then the lock I have is a fairly flimsy one and can be pushed / kicked open in an emergency. Now he's querying if he can gain access that way every time he needs to get to the gas box - eerrrmmm well no of course not - what part of IN AN EMERGENCY ONLY do you not understand? Anything else can be done either by prior arrangement or when I'm home. And now he's getting sh*tty with me about that. Best solution would be for him to pay for the box to be moved so outside by his front door, but that'll cost £1000 and he won't pay that - despite having made so much money on renting out the flat; so no sympathy from me there. I'm so fed up with him. I've had years of nothing but trouble from his previous tenants and now he's trying to throw his weight around. Well tough! I've given access whenever it's been asked in the past (for meter readings and more recently for meter top ups as the meter was changed to pre-pay) and have been more than accommodating.

He's asking for some type of easy access without asking permission, but I'm not happy with that at all, as I have cats that aren't allowed out the garden and I'd have no control if the gate will be kept closed at all times etc and I'd never forgive anyone if a cat got out and lost / injured etc. Besides which I'm not sure it wouldn't be an insurance issue? Or do you think I'm being unreasonable / in the wrong?



Tenants
Lovely lovely people, super friendly and helpful and I really couldn't ask for better. They're a young couple - he puts all the bins out and brings them in, I in turn mow their small bit of front lawn as they don't have a mower (( do), they use my garden bin for the tiny bit of garden rubbish they may have etc so all works out really well. They are super quiet most of the time except (so unlike the previous tenant) but ... and this is where the problem is.... that quiet ends when they are "getting happy" with each other. Man oh man, is she loud - I can hear her over the sound of my TV (my lounge is under their bedroom). Not I'm not a prude at all and what it is to be young and in love, but my - it really is quite off putting (trust me; GBBO and bedroom noises do not mix ). If it were just an occasional thing then OK but as said, they're young and in love and suffice it to say - I don't recall having that much energy when I was their age

So how do you approach them to ask her to tone it down (quite) a bit? I swear the entire street would hear her if they had the window open


Sigh... I need to win the lottery and buy a detached property; I really do

[Ally]

I remember you telling me about the ahem 'noisy neighbour' when we were at the meet.

I really don't know what to suggest..apart from turning your telly up to full volume.

As regards to the owner - stick to your guns on that one!

[JoM]

If he wants access to the meter at anytime then he'll have to cough up to get it moved within the boundaries of his flat. Don't give in.

As for the other problem, like Ally suggests, turn up the TV. They might take the hint. Or bang the ceiling with a broom handle

[jenniren]

Definitely stick to your guns with the owner Ria.

Regarding the young couple, really don't think there's not much you can do apart from turning up the volume as Ally suggests. Any comment from you would probably just cause embarrassment and an uncomfortable atmosphere.

[saundra]

there are a couple on tv now(this morning)who can orgasm for 18hrs by hugging well there's a thought
Don't know the answer
As for the gate agree access as pre arranged or they move the box you can't be more fair than that

[saundra]

:lol: there are a couple on tv now(this morning)who can orgasm for 18hrs by hugging well there's a thought
Don't know the answer
As for the gate agree access as pre arranged or they move the box you can't be more fair than that

Or could you not have your gate moved back a bit at his expense

[meriad]

Or could you not have your gate moved back a bit at his expense

it's something I had looked at Saundra, but it's really difficult to do.

Not only would it mean that I'd have to have a fence panel about 3 or 4ft from my kitchen window which would take away what little day light that I get from there anyway but also I'd that would leave me with no useful space the other side of that fence. Also the other reason is that the gate would have to be set back quite a lot and people would have to walk past my kitchen window to get to the gas box. That means I'd lose quite a bit of privacy which I don't want to lose (I live on my own and often walk around in various states of undress - and I really don't want people peering through my kitchen window). Being at work all day and then commuting for close onto 3 hours a day - I really value my privacy at home

[saundra]

Ho that's not good then ria iv got a side gate for access with next door to our gardens as I'm an end house but the meters are in front of it and none of us use the back way

[Workingman]

Yes, I also remember mention of the "noise" from upstairs.

Ria, when it comes to the meter you might need legal help. From what I understand you allowed the previous owner to move the meters to their current location on your proprty. That might have seemed reasonable at the time and when access was only needed for readings.

However, the new owner has moved the goalposts by changing the meter to pre-paid, which of course needs much more access, access you never agreed to. And I am also pretty sure that the person doing the gas safety check is giving good advice re its location. To me those two things put the onus on the new owner to get his rented accommodation in proper legal order.

I suspect that an independent gas safety check would recommend moving the meter onto his property and that until such time as that is done he is breaking the law. Does the council have a service dealing with private rental problems?

[JanB]

I was just about to suggest advice from t he CAB >Ria, about access. He's changed the goal-post by going to pre-pay so it's his problem not yours. Still to your guns on that.

And as mentioned, loud tv or music when they are being happy together they might just realise how loud they are being, at some stage