Clause in Land Certificate

[Hastler]

I have just looked at my Land Certificate and it says the house must be used as a private dwelling house for occupation by one single family.
The close contains 15 houses all 4 and 5 bedroom detached and 8 of them are occupied by widowers / widows who live on their own but they had a family when they moved in.
Can they be forced to leave?.
I presume the council will know as they will be claiming single occupation council tax discount.

[sandyRoe]

One person on their own is a family, albeit a small one.

[pretty_snowdrop]

The clause is there to prevent landlords renting rooms in the house to several families. It is ok for one person/family to live there.

[factor-fiction]

May be a similar issue to this case
http://www.theanswerb.../Question1107348.html

[Hastler]

I have been having a clear out since I wrote this and I came across a copy land certificate for my previous house and it has the same clause on the land certificate so this clause may apply to a lot of houses in the country.
Another thought I have had there are 2 ladies living in the same bungalow in the next street for 10 years plus. I thought they were sisters for a long time but I found out a few years ago this was not the case so they are not a single family. As the bungalow was built at the same time as our house by the same builder I presume it will have the same clause
I think it would cause a lot of problems if these clauses were enforced and I think a review is needed to reflect today's society.

[murraymints]

it is to stop houses of multiple occupation springing up !!

[Mark1520]

Hi Hastler

I would not worry.
In addition to the single family clause there is a clause on my land certificate saying my window frames have to be painted every 4 years.
Everybody in our road has UPVC window frames and I can not think of any house on the estate which has wooden frames but factor30 may prove me wrong.
There is also a clause giving my neighbours the right to have a telephone wire running over my land and all the telephone wires are now underground in our road.
I would doubt if any court would enforce these clauses.

Mark

[bednobs]

i seriously still don't see what you get out of coming on in a different name to answer your own questions!

[bushbaby_de]

a single family dwelling house is now a planning term meaning that the house is one property, not lots of flats or a HMO. The covenant you refer to has the same intention and is only enforceable by the party in whose favour it was first imposed. It does not prevent a single person living in the house alone.