Good news from Buckland, here in Portsmouth (aka Bethlehem), tenant Mary & her new baby are doing
very well and partner Joe has praised their new landlord for finding somewhere
for them to live when others would not help.
Not such good news is the
visitation of 3 wise men from the council.
First, a chap from planning
commented on the change of use from agricultural to residential use and issued
an enforcement notice as it was not within permitted development rights.
Then the chap from
Housing Standards complained about housing animals and people in the same space
and issued a repair order as he considered the straw floor to be a category 1
HHSRS hazard.
Finally, the man from Revenues and Benefits arrived and told the
landlord he was responsible for Council Tax as in his view, this was some odd
form of HMO.
As a result the friendly innkeeper has had to issue a Section 21
to Mary and Joe and they have to find a new home, while the innkeeper faces up
to £20,000 in fines for not having an HMO licence plus other charges for the other
issues.
If only these people would realise that we are offering a public service and
treat us accordingly.
