Allowing A Homeless Person To Doss Down In Garage - Legal?

[hc4361]

I have an integral garage with a shower and loo which is used for storage, not for garaging a car.
I have been letting a homeless person sleep in it if he rings my bell before 10pm. He has a shower and sleeps on a camp bed, is gone by 9am. No trouble to me or anyone else. He does not give me payment in any form.

A neighbour has threatened to report me to the council for this - am I breaking the law?

[Rockrose]

Apparently he was feeding pigeons and she is worried they will get in her roof!

[ladybirder]

What a spiteful so and so. Tell your neighbour, you go to the council and I go to the newspapers. See how they like their mean spiritedness splashed all over the papers.

[Patsy33]

Probably worried you're making some money! People are funny when it comes to money.
I think that is a very caring & compassionate thing you're doing, by the way hc. Well done.

[ToraToraTora]

well done and no problem legally but your house insurance might use it to welch on a future payout if they get wind of it. Tell the neighbour to go forth and multiply.

[Maydup]

I cant think what law you can possibly be breaking.

If you want to have a mate to stay, you can have a mate to stay. If you or your mate want to sleep in your own garage, you can sleep in your garage surely?

[Peter Pedant]

I wd wait until the council acts on your awful neighbours complaint

where does he go to the bog? if it's in the garage then it counts as a separate dwelling .... and you cd sell it as such.
and then it has to be habitable which you have said it isnt

also you cd ring the council and get an adenoidal school leaver on work experience just making up the regulations ....
I wd not be proactive in this case ....I dont see that charging rent is a decider as you cd be the wrong side of planning law even if you dont take moolah

[Spicerack]

Strange story. How did you and your 'tenant' get together?

[twix123]

I cannot comment on the legalities of the situation, but from my time in an Insurance Brokerage I would definitely check out the insurance angle as you could be considered to have one more bedroom than declared on your proposal forms.

Another insurable consideration would also be whether the homeless person has access into you house via an unlocked internal door or, if locked, a means of exit in the case of fire.

If the situation is legal, then well done and tell the neighbours to suck it !

[Theland]

God bless you.

[Baldric]

PP @ 22:01,
From the OP
/// I have an integral garage with a shower and loo ///

[Eve]

What a lovely thing to do. Do you get any kind of council tax discount for single person occupancy, that might need double-checking if so, to make absolutely sure that it doesn't have any bearing, especially if the council get involved. Does he use your address for any mail or anything like that?

[ladybirder]

hc can you please let us know what the Council say? I'd be interested to know and I'm probably not the only one.
Thanks.

[hc4361]

Thanks for all replies, much appreciated.

I have spoken to the council and luckily he is a very sensible and reasonable man. I told him the truth and as far as he is concerned I occasionally have a friend dossing on my sofa who uses the facilities in the garage. Unless my neighbour can provide proof that he is sleeping in the garage (which she can't) that's the end of it but if she does complain he will have to come out and see me. Fair enough.

He is happy with the situation because my guest can get out of the garage at any time; I have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the garage; I am not charging rent; he doesn't use my address for mail; it's not every night; he is not causing a nuisance and in his words - it gets bloody cold and wet out there.

I had already offered my 'guest' the sofa to sleep on but he refused, he prefers to sleep in the garage. Whether that's to protect him or me, or just his preference, I don't know.

Thank heavens for common sense. :)

[Mamyalynne]

That's a good result Hc, well done.

[marval]

Glad to hear that, at least you can tell your neighbours the council have approved it.

[ummmm]

Very good news indeed.

I can't get my head around the homeless problem.

[TonyV]

If it were me a would let her complain if she wants to and let council explain the rights and wrongs of situation.
However it is a really kind gesture hc. Humanity still exists, not honestly know I could do the same, I know my Mrs would not be so accommodating, we've helped out people in the past and got our fingers burnt.

[Sqad]

"am I breaking the law?"

I have no idea BUT, I wouldn't be happy with the situation and yes, I might report him the situation to the Council.
I agree that not all the homeless are dangerous, but some are and how does one differentiate until a crime has been committed?
Some of thes homeless are druggies, alcoholics, burglars, rapists.......who knows?
Would you be happy to leave your wife alone whuilst you were away on business or in hospital?
I wouldn't.
All is well whilst all is quiet but if trouble ensues, then it is not such a philanthropic situation and may well be too latte to asses the character of your "lodger."

No....I would not be happy with the situation.

[ladybirder]

Nice to hear the good news hc. Thank you for what you do.

[maggiebee]

Thank goodness for common sense hc. You sound a very kind and compassionate person (unlike your neighbour unfortunately).