Any landlords, tenants or legal eagles have a view on the following before I challenge my landlord on this issue: Late last year, due to marital breakup, I moved out and into rented accommodation. I'm paying over the odds but for a really nice, secluded, perfectly located, internally modernised and smart period cottage. Quality rental properties, especially ones with all this one has going for it, are very rare in this area. The landlord agreed to my having my two large dogs here too which was also another massive positive. Since moving in I have really been enjoying my time here. This was severely dented yesterday afternoon. The other day I asked if I could place a free-standing concrete bollard/block in the allocated parking space to lock my bike to. I explained that I was conscious of security and and that bikes were generally an easy target for thieves and that I wanted to mitigate this risk by having something solid to chain it to. I must add at this point that my bike has been stored in my sister's barn since I moved out of the family home and I haven't mentioned to the landlord that I ride a one until now for fear, especially before signing the tenancy agreement, of prejudices coming into play in terms of my acceptability as a tenant. The landlord and his wife live in the main house, the cottage I occupy is at the entrance to the grounds with the allocated parking space on the other side of the gravel drive. They are a couple of retirement age but still working, running, albeit behind the scenes, a sizeable shop in the town. In response to my request my landlord's initial response was that he agreed. However, the following day he came to me and said that after talking to his wife they had decided that I couldn't park my bike in the parking spaces at all! I stress that I hadn't asked permission to park my bike, just to place the bollard there. He stated his wife's concern about attracting criminal elements onto the property... He has stated that I can park down the side of the cottage by the wheelie bins (picture on request) but access is too narrow to fit the bike down there. I retreated and have checked the lease, the two relevant parts relating to parking are below. The first is in the main body of the lease provided by the letting agent, something of a generic document. The second is from the closing pages and contains terms relating specifically to the property, I guess written by the landlord himself or his solicitor. The blanking out is just the name of the property. The heading of 'Car Parking' in the first part I take more of a description of the space rather than what I can park there, though I can see that the landlord may use that to argue his point. I don't want to sour my relationship with the landlord but believe that I'm fully within my rights under the tenancy agreement to park a bike in the parking spaces allocated to me. Additionally by effectively deviating from the terms of the tenancy the landlord is impacting on my right of quiet enjoyment of the property which, I believe, is enshrined in law. Granted I probably shot myself in the foot describing my need for the bollard. I obviously need to be tactful in the way that I handle this and, yes, advice on here is no substitute for proper legal advice. Willing to seek that if needs be but that would place the whole thing in a adversarial light. I consider that I've been an exemplary tenant thus far. I've even enhanced the property, with the landlords permission, by this last week having gates installed at my expense, he's pleased with the result. I've also replaced under unit lighting, like for like (but new and working), in the kitchen that wasn't functioning when I moved in, fixed the washing machine drain trap that was leaking like a sieve under the utility room sink. The landlords main fear with my dogs is that they would cause a disturbance by barking, after a month of me being in the property he asked when they were arriving, was surprised when I said they'd been there from day 1. I've cleared snow and leaves from the parking area and their driveway, I put their wheelie bin back if I see it out after the bin men come etc.
You do sound like an exemplary tenant and by taking those jobs in hand I'd like to think has set you a good line of communication between you and your landlord. However it could be your description of your new home, which sounds wonderful by the way, but the suggestion of a concrete block has probably impacted the most for him. Keeping on good talking terms is paramount here and clearly you are allowed the use the allotted parking area for your vehicle. I'd suggest you dropping the idea of a concrete block, like, well a concrete block, and think of alternative means of security. Going down the legal road will only wrangle him more, be expensive and may lead to you losing your tenancy. Keep on good terms and I'm sure it'll work out for you. Good luck.
I don't think you can have them under the quiet enjoyment clause. That's really there to enforce the fact that while the house may be your landlord's property, it is your home and he must afford you the same peace and privacy that any other neighbour would be entitled too. I don't think you can claim that refusing to allow the parking of a motorcycle impinges on this. As far as I can see there is nothing in the tenancy agreement that gives them grounds to stop you parking your bike but be careful about invoking the terms of the lease unless you feel you've exhausted all other avenues because if its a six month renewable lease they can give you notice to leave without giving a reason after the end of that period if you fall out with them. Once you start quoting small print at one another the relationship can be soured. I'd try a friendly personal appeal first, if you haven't done all you can in that direction already. They've probably got all sorts of exaggerated preconceptions about motorcycles - especially now you've told them you're concerned about theft. They probably think the sight of a bike is going to bring gangs of pikies onto the place or that there'll be squads of Hells Angel mates turning up every weekend. Its amazing the daft ideas non-biking folk have about bikes and bikers. Exercise some charm. You could say that the bollard was just a thought because your insurance policy stipulates that the bike is kept under lock and key at night, but really to keep them happy you just need to lock it to something or keep it out of sight. Have you got an accessible garden where you could put a shed?
Is this you or Birdy/ Exige? It's all getting vey confusing over on the word association channel! It's good to see you X
Yes its lovely to see you out and about DB . Have a word with Elsie. His avatar is making my head hurt.
These were my initial thoughts too. But even my non motorcycling neighbours always talk to me about bikes when I have them out. If your landlords can see you're not a Hell's Angel, hosting wild biker parties and doing burn outs at 3am, they are likely to relax. I'd certainly not go waving the lease under their noses. As you say, your nice rental property sounds like something you'd like the opportunity to stay in. Ween them onto the idea of a bike gradually, and once they realise their preconceptions are unfounded, they will in all likelihood, relax. Then you could maybe disguise your concrete block with garden pots of some description and cover your bike. A good relationship is key to most dynamics. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
I thought you had went all "Ron Burgundy" and returned to the 70's of your youth when you were talking about your new piece of "Crumpet" The reality is disturbing. And I now I have that image in my brain!
It’s a road legal motor vehicle so I really can’t see they can do anything to stop you. If it were some SORN shed of a car you were rebuilding, I can understand. Maybe you could think about replacing your concrete bollard idea with something that may blend in a bit more. Maybe get a wooden barrel or two matching ones, fill 2/3rds with concrete and the top 1/3rd a planter with some nice flowers in. That way you get a nice heavy lump to chain to (drill and put a pipe through the bottom of the barrel before concreting) and they don’t look awful. As for inviting crime, you could explain it’s no worse than having a nice car parked there and that you will of course keep a bike cover on it to keep it out of sight
You may have alarmed them unduly by talking about how your bike would be a toerag magnet, attracting lurkers and skulkers with bad intentions unless it could be anchored to an immovable block. There is nothing to exclude your bike in the agreement, in fact the types of unwelcome vehicles are listed and bikes are not there. As others suggest, you will be best discussing with them, perhaps take the bike, show them it and explain how deeply unattractive it becomes to scrotes once you put its cover on, again showing them before and after, while explaining that your anchoring device is simply for your own peace of mind and that you'd be happy to put the bike by the wheelie bins if it fitted. They don't sound like unreasonable people given they have tried to help with their suggestion of parking at the side, perhaps all you really need to do is allay their fears with a cover and some stats (even if of your own invention) about how very few covered bikes get any unwanted attention. Good luck
I haven't the foggiest idea what you're on about! But I did like Duckbirds inclusion of the long forgotten phrase 'Mofo'
Thank you for your considered replies. Dogs are on one side of the drive, parking on the other. There is a PIR light that illuminates the parking area. A cover is a must anyway as there are conifers over the end of the parking area where the bike would be. I will try to calm their fears. I don't think it's the suggestion of the block/bollard that's really the problem but great idea about the barrel @JH_1986. The tenancy is 12 months, not 6 but I certainly don't want to rock the boat to the extent that they want me out at renewal.
Maybe start introducing them to the bike - still keeping it where it is now - but bring it along and leave it outside - once in a while for a few weeks - taking it back in the evenings - as others have said - i suspect its more a mental concern and image bikes have than the reality. Then if they ask where it is in the night - explain - you are having to ride it xx miles a night to store it.. As others have said - then bring into the conversation - maybe you could add something like a wood pile to shield the bike from the road and barrels as JH said for the security.. But any sort of argument or legal approach will surely end in your lease not being renewed.
A nice aged barrel would look much better and with some thought could be made a very inconspicuous anchor point. I reckon that's definitely worth suggesting Might be worth talking to them upfront about it as well
Filled up with concrete just below the lip, a hole where I’ve put the red blob. Your choice of flower, Ducbird will want red ones.
Park your bike there, you are not breaching your AST. As they have said no to a bollard, leave it at that.
