An English man's home is his castle.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....ing-parents-shed.html

Is it fair that this couple have to move out of this luxurious shed, especially in view of those travellers who are still living in their less luxurious accommodation for 10 years?

[Ankou]

does she pay council tax on it ?

[B00]

Yes.

[Zeuhl]

Yes

Planning Laws are there to stop - for example - our neighbours turning their garden into a shanty town.

That's why the Dale Farm squatters need to be moved.

I wonder if the young couple in the shed would have evaded council regs if they were in a caravan in the garden or on the drive?
.

[B00]

It's hardly a shed, its a one bedroomed flat, albeit a wooden one.

[anotheoldgit]

Yes Boo I agree it is almost a 'granny Flat' of which there are many.

I wonder if Husbands in 'The Dog House' have to gain planning permission?

No seriously though, if the young couple had not said anything, what harm would they have done, the shed is hardly a 'shanty building', more of a summer house.

[Zeuhl]

<what harm would they have done>

it's the same issue as Dale Farm. If they had applied to the council for permission to live at the bottom of the garden it would have been refused.

We can all reasonably expect that when we sit at the bottom of our garden the space over the fence is being put to a similar use.

[B00]

But even for a granny flat, if someone's living in it, you need the appropriate regulations in play.

We were (nearly all anyway) up in arms over the Dale Farm residents. You can't bend the rules just because this couple seem more likeable to us.

[jackthehat]

If she is allowed to stay, it sets a precedent.....and then the Local Authority will have a very difficult job in rejecting similar less 'attractive' proposals.
If you look at the photographs, it also appears that there is a child somewhere in this story and that 'shed' is surely NOT big enough for two adults and a child to live in on a permanent, even if short-term, basis.

[The-HouseHusband]

Seeing as the paper fails to mention the child that lives with them it would appear to be yet more trash news by the mail.
It is illegal and therefore they should move out, why didn't they just stay in the family home as that is where they wash and eat?
Maybe the money spent on the "shed" would have been better off as a gift towards a deposit?

[anotheoldgit]

Boo

/// We were (nearly all anyway) up in arms over the Dale Farm residents. You can't bend the rules just because this couple seem more likeable to us.///

Slight difference, don't you think?

http://i.dailymail.co...00578-984_468x373.jpg

http://static.guim.co...t-Dale-Farm-F-005.jpg

[anotheoldgit]

jackthehat

You seem to be right about the child.

But just looking at the surroundings, I think the accommodation for the child is much better than some of the council run high rise flats that some other children have to live in.

Not only that but the child has a garden to play in and Grandma only lives a short distance down the garden, that has to be a bonus?

[Zeuhl]

The quality of the people's accommodation is not the issue - we are all protected from unscrupulous and inappropriate development by the law.

These people have flouted the law just as the Dale Farm residents have.

I'm still wondering if they'd get away with it if it was a caravan instead of a building.

[The-HouseHusband]

No difference at all, just because it is neat and tidy doesn't make it legal. I have a massive garden so perhaps i should put up lots of "sheds" and allow them to be used by my family instead of them having to pay their way in life as the majority of true Brits have done in the past.

[jackthehat]

If this is 'allowed', AOG.....it is a very short hop to developers chancing their collective arms and building precisely this sort of 'residence' and claiming that it is entirely suitable for habitation thereby driving down 'acceptable' living standards at precisely the time when we ought to be ensuring that they are increased.

[B00]

Can only agree with house husband AOG. As I've said previously, you can't bend the rules just because family A is more likeable than family B.

[anotheoldgit]

Blimey must be careful not to let my great grandchildren 'camp' out in my frame tent in my garden.

Be interesting to know if this couple is also allowed to be there for 10 years, that will give them a good time to save for a deposit.

[B00]

There's a massive difference between kids camping out for a night or two in a tent and a permanent dwelling that's being lived in AOG- stop being obtuse ;-)

[TheTruthHere]

If they can manage to live there for another nine years they will be offered their pick of the best council houses.