New Landlord Tenancy Agrement

[Wildling 520]

Gents,

 

I'm after some helpful advice regarding a upcoming issue I have with a new Landlord Tenacy Agrement that's due to take effect from the middle of next month.

 

Basically I live in Social Housing in a three story block of flats that obviously has shared access points and corridors and have lived there for the last seven or so years now.

 

I have my licences as approved by my local FO and store all my kit in be it Sub 12ft lb Air Rifle or Shotgun in an approved cabinet and have done for some time.

 

Recently the Landlords have decided to issue the Tenants with new Tenacy Agrements which arrived in the post yesterday due to issues with unsocial and problematic Tenants.

 

One of the new clauses stated in this new Tenacy Agrement is the prohibition of owning wepons ether legal or illegal.

 

My old Tenacy Agreement had no such clause mentioned in it and I'm now feeling quite lost and fed up as I don't know what I can do or where I stand?!

 

Does anyone have any insight or advice on something like this or has experianced it themselves?

[air gun ant 1,666]

doesnt sound good mate? not sure what your legal options are but surely they cant force you to get rid of your guns or move! have you spoken to the landlord about your concerns? maybe worth giving your FEO a call aswell? BASC could probably give you some good advice?

[Cedric 132]

I believe there should be a clause in the agreement about retrospective effects. I've just got my new rules and it included the following.

 

"None of these rules is to have retrospective effect. Accordingly:

they are only to apply from the date on which they take effect; and

no occupier who is in occupation on that date will be treated as being in breach due to circumstances which were in existance on that date and which would not have been in breach of the rules in existance before that date."

 

You might need to take some advice as there are clearly defined goverment rules as to what conditions landlords/owners are allowed to impose on tenants. I believe ther should also have been a consultation period with tenants before the rules come into effect.

 

However, mine is a privately owned site, it might be different for local authority/housing assosiation sites.

 

You might also want to take them up on the wording - you do not own any "weapons" (look up the definition) but have legally held sporting rifles - there is a lot of difference!

[taz2010 1,297]

yes i had the same thing 6 years ago,but when i contacted them they said it was only taking affect from the date stated and that if i already had a licence and guns were already granted i need not worry which they confirmed in writing to me,id contact them and let them know your situation and im sure you will find you will be fine as these were already in place before they changed there agreement mate

[Wildling 520]

Cheers for the advice so far lads it's appreciated.

I've decided to emailed BASC with my issues and I'm waiting for a response from them so will keep you posted when I hear from them.

 

F.Y.I

I've quoted the clause as it is written on my new Tenancy Agreement below.

 

Weapons

 

The Tenant must not allow any weapons to be kept at the Premises, weather legal or not. This includes all weapons that are classified as offensive weapons, firearms, knives, machetes, but may also include other weapons or any item which appear to be weapons of this type. The Tenant must not allow people to use these weapons at the premises or in the local area. This includes using them in any threatening or aggressive way.

[abarrett 462]

The landlord is just covering him self

I bet it doesn't say on the letter that regular checks will be carried out

Because he can't

Take no notice what he don't know won't hurt him

Good luck

[air gun ant 1,666]

The landlord is just covering him self

I bet it doesn't say on the letter that regular checks will be carried out

Because he can't

Take no notice what he don't know won't hurt him

Good luck

probably not the best idea, if his neighbours have also read and sighned the same agreement, and see him leaving/returning with a gun slip on his shoulder and phone the landlord or police it could open a big can of worms.

[Alsone 789]

The BASC really need to get a grip on this and push for new legislation to protect shooters.

 

This really is discrimination against a minority group and personally I think shooters should get the same protection as ethnic minorities or people of alternative sexual persuasion.

 

Whatever, way you look at this, it's spreading and making gun ownership illegal through the back door eg the Royal Mail won't carry them, many magazines won't advertise them, now landlords won't let you own them.... This really needs to be stopped.

 

What other legal activity is there where it's users are allowed to be persecuted for doing something completely legal.

[Cedric 132]

Weapons

 

The Tenant must not allow any weapons to be kept at the Premises, weather legal or not. This includes all weapons that are classified as offensive weapons, firearms, knives, machetes, but may also include other weapons or any item which appear to be weapons of this type. The Tenant must not allow people to use these weapons at the premises or in the local area. This includes using them in any threatening or aggressive way.

 

The landlord has obviously not taken any legal advise before issueing this poorly worded clause. You can not possibly have any control over what occurs "in the local area". I don't suppose they are intending searching the entire block for baseball bats and kitched knives.

 

I sincerely hope that BASC take some action to support you and others who may have secure, legally held sporting items.

 

It seems to be aimed at the group of Samurai sword, machete owning macho individuals and the illegal users of air rifles/pistols, a group which, unfortunatly. seem to permeate our society. Having said that, there are many people who like to collect and dispay decorative knives, swords, etc. in their homes perfectly legally.

[CharlieT 32]

A quick google shows that many councils and the like use the following wording.............

This example is from the Camden Council tenancy agreement.

 

You must not keep any firearms unless you are legally entitled to hold

them. Examples of firearms include air-weapons, shotguns, replicas and

de-activated weapons. If you have a legal firearm you must use and store

it only in ways the law allows.

Personally, I would contact your housing provider and point out that all councils/housing associations, if they have such a "ban", use the above wording and get them to agree that the above is what they really mean.