Notice to quit, garage rented from local council

[shovelheadrob]

I have been renting a local council garage for the last 5 years, a few months ago we received notification that the garage site was to be redeveloped, a week later another letter to say that it wasn't. Fast forward to this week & another letter giving 2 weeks notice. I only know this because I am on holiday & have someone checking my mail. The letter was not sent recorded (if that makes any difference), we are not due home until after the keys have to be handed back, a friend has spoken to them & they say they only have to give one week notice, basically tough titty, I use it to keep various work related stuff, ladders, scaffold tower, etc & although I can use alternative storage I can't physically do anything until I get home. Can they just do this?

[eybic]

If it says they can in your contract then they can. It does sound about right though. I guess it's billed weekly? (I pay my garage monthly but it's billed weekly) Normal notice periods are 1 payment cycle.

[Riley Blue]

You're lucky, OP. I have a council lock up and my tenancy terms specify nothing may be kept in the garage except a car. When I did, temporarily, put some of my Dad's tool boxes and other odds and ends in there after he died, a kindly neighbour dobbed me in to the council and I received a snotty letter.

ETA - I'm billed monthly too but pay by direct debit. Notice period is a month.

Edited by Riley Blue on Tuesday 11th October 17:11

[shovelheadrob]

I don't have a copy of the agreement to hand as I'm on holiday but the rent is paid monthly by dd in advance. The annoying thing is that they must have decided this along time ago as we've been told that demolition starts on 3rd November, haven't seen any planning application but I suppose they can make it up as they go along!

[Paulm4]

Riley Blue said:

You're lucky, OP. I have a council lock up and my tenancy terms specify nothing may be kept in the garage except a car. When I did, temporarily, put some of my Dad's tool boxes and other odds and ends in there after he died, a kindly neighbour dobbed me in to the council and I received a snotty letter.

ETA - I'm billed monthly too but pay by direct debit. Notice period is a month.

Edited by Riley Blue on Tuesday 11th October 17:11

Buy really stty mot failed car and keep all the tools inside it?

[Olivera]

Riley Blue said:

You're lucky, OP. I have a council lock up and my tenancy terms specify nothing may be kept in the garage except a car.

Edited by Riley Blue on Tuesday 11th October 17:11

What he said. It's likely your rental agreement states cars only in the garage.

[austinsmirk]

Yes. Although whether the period of notice is a week, fortnight or a month will be clearly stated in your tenancy agreement.

It's very common practice to knock old garages down and build on the sites. They're not worth repairing and rent received is usually buttons.

What you store in it is irrelevant to this argument I'm afraid.

[Muncher]

Unless you are occupying it for business purposes and have security of tenure which is a whole different kettle of fish then.

[mcflurry]

If it's going to be knocked down, then I'd move the stuff anyway.
It's not as though the wrecking ball will stop at the garage next door

[Riley Blue]

Paulm4 said:

Riley Blue said:

You're lucky, OP. I have a council lock up and my tenancy terms specify nothing may be kept in the garage except a car. When I did, temporarily, put some of my Dad's tool boxes and other odds and ends in there after he died, a kindly neighbour dobbed me in to the council and I received a snotty letter.

ETA - I'm billed monthly too but pay by direct debit. Notice period is a month.

Edited by Riley Blue on Tuesday 11th October 17:11

Buy really stty mot failed car and keep all the tools inside it?

No need. I phoned the council, explained the situation and they were very understanding. I said I'd move the stuff as soon as possible, they were happy with that.

[shovelheadrob]

Thanks for the replies, my issue is that regardless of what it may or may not say in the contract the only reason I even know is because I have someone checking my mail. If it wasn't for that the first I would know would be when we get home from holiday. Surely that is wrong.
They have now agreed to extend the notice until the end of the week, giving me 3 days to remove my stuff,I'm just hoping that the doors haven't been forcibly opened due to a lack of communication.

[XCP]

2 weeks notice seems reasonable in the circumstances. It's not the fault of the council that you are on holiday.

[Riley Blue]

shovelheadrob said:

Thanks for the replies, my issue is that regardless of what it may or may not say in the contract the only reason I even know is because I have someone checking my mail. If it wasn't for that the first I would know would be when we get home from holiday. Surely that is wrong.
They have now agreed to extend the notice until the end of the week, giving me 3 days to remove my stuff,I'm just hoping that the doors haven't been forcibly opened due to a lack of communication.

Could the council have known or predicted that you wouldn't be at home when they wrote to garage tenants? No.

Have they been helpful and accommodating? Yes.

What more do you want?

[shovelheadrob]

Helpful & accommodating, yes, after spending a couple of hours on the phone getting passed from one department to another before getting to speak to someone who can actually authorise an extension.

[shovelheadrob]

I've just checked my bank account as I wasn't sure what date the dd is for & they took a month's rent on 4th October, I'm sure they'll be refunding the difference!