31 July 2023 , 11:15
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After retiring you'll likely hope to find yourself living the quiet life, with little stress as you go about your day.
But one retiree has claimed his life has become 'hell' with his wife left 'frightened' - all because of his next-door neighbour who is reportedly subletting his garage to nightmare tenants.
Simon Saul, 77, has lived on Vaughan Avenue in Barnet, north London, since 1973 and while his home used to offer respite, it's now causing him undue stress.
He claims that his neighbour's garage is being rented out, and has been since 2010, despite the local council ruling the sublet was unauthorised. Documents show that an appeal over a decision to ban the sublet was turned down in 2016, but Simon says this has been ignored.
Simon and his wife say they are 'frightened' in their own home (Simon Saul / SWNS)An initial enforcement decision was made by Barnet Council in December 2015, which said an outbuilding had been used as a dwelling without planning permission. This was followed by a site visit in September 2016 to assess the situation and an enquiry was opened, Simon says.
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The occupants of the garage were then told they had to vacate the property, but people are reportedly still living there nearly seven years on. Simon said: "It is stressful - we don't know the people who are living next to us.
"We are afraid as we don't know where they have come from - they come and go as they please. It is making our life hell, especially for my wife. She is very frightened as she doesn't know who lives next door.
"When I first noticed people were living there, I did complain to the council but no action was taken. After years, I got a knock on my door from the council. They said they were investigating the issue. The residents were given an eviction notice but it has not been adhered to.
"The landlord appealed the decision and his appeal was rejected but people are still living there. The council haven't done anything; the enforcement officer is not enforcing. It makes you think that the landlord is untouchable."
The retiree says he's complained to the local council about the issue (Simon Saul / SWNS)He went on to share some of the ways the tenants are making his life miserable, including constantly having things delivered to his address at all hours of the day. The pair say they are scared to be in their own home and are being woken up in the middle of the night.
"They are using my address for deliveries and late-night takeaways. They knock on my door and there is nothing I can do about it," he explained.
"Just last week there were people knocking on our door at 11pm to deliver food. The stress is keeping us awake, we were also being woken up at night with deliveries.
"My wife has had a few words with the landlord, she was telling him what he is doing is wrong. Nothing has come of it, he is making money." Barnet council said it was aware of the matter and in the process of "undertaking legal action".
Cllr Ross Houston is deputy leader of Barnet council and cabinet member for housing and regeneration. He said: "The council is aware of the matter relating to the use of the outbuilding... Our planning enforcement team is currently undertaking legal action to ensure that unauthorised residential use is ceased, and fixtures and fittings are removed from the outbuilding."
The owner of the property was approached for comment but did not respond.
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