Council garage conditions of licence

If you rent a council garage, you must read and follow these garage licence conditions.

The licence conditions set out the rights and responsibilities of both you and Oxford City Council.

Our responsibilities

Oxford City Council agree:

1. to give you vacant possession of the garage at the start of this licence
2. to let the garage to you in a clean and tidy condition
3. not to interrupt or interfere with your right to peacefully occupy the garage
4. to repossess your garage if the rent shall be in arrears for more than 1 month after the date payable
5. to keep the structure and exterior of the garage in good repair
6. to give you access to the garage from the public highway across any forecourt area

Your responsibilities

You agree:

1. to pay 1 month rent in advance and £50 as a deposit, to be held until the end of the licence
2. that the deposit will only be reimbursed if no rent arrears, repairs costs or recharges have been incurred
3. to pay your subsequent rent (and VAT, if applicable) every month, in advance by Direct Debit or Standing Order at the rate quoted, and as varied from time to time
4. to keep your rent account in credit at all times
5. to start using the garage from the start of the licence
6. to use the garage only as a domestic garage, to house a private motor vehicle, unless written permission is granted by Oxford City Council to use the garage to store bicycles, personal household items and/or garden items
7. that Oxford City Council shall not be held liable for any loss or damage to property, death or injury to the licensee or any other persons resulting from the licensee’s breach of these terms
8. that Oxford City Council shall not be liable for any loss or damage to property resulting from criminal damage, fire, flood, or theft caused by the licensee or third parties
9. not to use the garage for any commercial purposes and not to carry out any trade or business from the garage
10. not to display on the garage any advertisement, flier or sign
11. not to store any flammable liquids (including petrol, paraffin, or liquid petroleum gas) in the garage, or do anything which constitutes a fire hazard
12. not to store any food or drink in the garage
13. not to do anything (or allow anything to be done) that might affect any insurance policies held by Oxford City Council. You shall be liable to reimburse the Council for any costs arising from a breach of this obligation (such as increased insurance premiums)
14. to keep the garage and forecourt in a clear and tidy state at all times
15. to allow Oxford City Council staff access for any inspection of the garage and for any necessary repairs to be carried out
16. to make good any damage to the garage or forecourt, caused by you, a member of your household or invited guest (if you do not repair the garage, we may carry out the repairs and charge you our reasonable costs in doing this. We will send you a bill, normally within 42 days of repairing the damage)
17. not to assign or sub-let the garage or let others use it
18. not to cause any nuisance or inconvenience to other garage users or nearby residents in any way. You agree that you may be charged for reasonable costs incurred in abating any nuisance
19. to report to us an item of disrepair, graffiti or defect which we are responsible for, by speaking to customer services
20. to observe all statutory provisions and all provisions contained in regulations made by duly constituted authority or in any policy

This licence does not provide any long-term security or tenancy rights.

Terminating and varying the licence

You agree:

1. to give Oxford City Council’s Garages team 1 calendar month’s notice in writing if you wish to end the licence; this notice period must end on a Sunday. All rent/fees due must be paid on the day you give notice to terminate the licence
2. that we can end your licence for any reason as long as we give you at least 1 calendar month’s notice in writing; this notice period will end on a Sunday
3. that for breaches involving serious nuisance or potential danger to members of the public, 7 days notice only may be given to terminate the licence
4. that we can vary the terms of this licence by serving a written Notice of Variation
5. Oxford City Council will inform you in writing of any changes in rent or VAT charges
6. we reserve the write to increase your rent periodically and will inform you with one calendar month’s notice
7. that we can serve notice by writing to you at your last known address, or by fixing the notice to the front door of the garage
8. to give us vacant possession, remove all belongings and return all keys (labelled with the address of the garage) at the end of the licence
9. that you will be liable to pay damages to Oxford City Council (at the same rate as the monthly rent) if you fail to provide vacant possession at the end of your licence
10. that you will be liable for the cost of removing any belongings if these have not been removed from the garage at the end of your licence. Minimum charge for garage clearance is £100 plus VAT
11. that we are not responsible for anything left in the garage at the end of your licence and can dispose of all items remaining in the garage at the end of the licence
12. that you will be liable to pay damages for costs incurred by Oxford City Council in obtaining access to the garage and/or for the cost of lock changes and replacement keys if not returned

In the event of a Notice to Quit being issued for breach of conditions, Oxford City Council will expect you to:

• clear the garage of all items
• post the keys to Oxford City Council, Garage Team, PO Box 10, Oxford, OX1 1EN to be received by 12 noon on the day of the expiry date on the Notice to Quit

Failure to do this will result in Oxford City Council re-charging you for forcing entry and changing locks (approximately £100).