Neighbour problem

it's such a self defeating divisive practise. It happens in my neighbourhood too and has caused some division. I am all for getting the whole neighbourhood community together - in this case often students and other transient residents...the others insist on only owner-occupiers. It enrages me. Of course owner-occupiers have strong reasons to protect their neighbourhood - but they don't do it by being in opposition to other residents.

If that was me, l would just go out for the evening /weekend and avoid the whole mean-spirited mess.
You are right to be rattled over this, but unless you can get the backing of all the others involved, methinks you are on a hiding to nowhere....
Just make yourself scarce on the day of the party.

Aww this is awful and so unfair. I think you should all boycott the party. This may make the organisers think twice.

These tenants are your neighbours. Years ago it would of been one big street party for all, no one would of been left out. Very mean of the committee.

Ah, I see.
The owners of flats who don't actually live in them are invited to the party, but the tenants who provide their income are to be excluded! They are happy to accept their money but don't want to mix socially. Are these four families supposed to stand at their windows gazing down at the gentry enjoying themselves in the garden, from which they are banned?
Quite unbelievable.
Presumably it is the residents' committee which is responsible for the maintenance of the property, to which the tenants contribute via their rent. Are they allowed to be on this committee or attend its meetings?
This party has exposed a whole can of very unpleasant worms, or rather, unpleasant people.

The organiser is a resident. DH is on the committee which is the route we are taking with our, so far, polite requests for inclusion for all.
I suspect that it will go ahead as usual (minus us and the tenants ? which is a pity as we always enjoy meeting everyone.) Re the party size: the garden and entrance hall are large. Social distancing is quite possible and in 6 weeks things might have loosened up further.

I'd arrange an alternative party, before the date of the current one, inviting everybody but the organiser.

eazybee some residents actually own 2 flats. So they live in one and rent out the other. Apparently, this is the social problem although one of these landlords is absolutely on our side and keen for her tenant to be invited. She's a nice woman like most of the residents they just don't know that tenants can't come to the party.

Surely, if it's communal grounds then the tenants are entitled to use the space at the same time as the party is happening without permission. I'd encourage them to get a table all together with their own picnic and a big sign saying, 'Beware uninvited tenants, keep clear!'

Where is social distancing in all this?

The big question here is to whom do the tenants pay their rent?—The owners of the flat who pay the maintenance, taxes etc. or the actual central board? If rent is paid to the owners only, then tenants are perceived as transients without an emotional or financial investment in the entire community.
From a social perspective, I agree, what’s the big deal about inviting everyone? However, to others, it might appear that tenants have no investment to the community.

How very stupid and divisive. Presumably the owners of flats only select suitable tenants, and if it's a smart block in a nice part of town the tenants must be professionals/retired on a good income to be able to pay the rent!

As for excuse that an owner would be embarrassed to be in the same social company as tenant - that really is laughable and cringeworthy, as though they are Lords of the Manor mixing with the serfs!

I think that you have to make it public to all neighbours what is going on. You owe it to them. If I was invited to the party and hadn't been told the whole story and how divisive it is, I'd be furious that I'd seemingly coerced in this very spiteful behaviour. The Committee has to get involved. It sounds like one Hyacinth Bouquet is ruling her nasty little roost.

Jane10
When I read your post, 44 Scotland Street sprang to mind.
I can imagine what McCall Smith would make of this scenario....So very Edinburgh.
Good luck...Looks like you could do with it

I've often thought about writing about it GeminiJen and I might yet!

Jane10
Perhaps best to move house before you do

Are you in England? Gatherings of 30 or more not allowed, have you less than this.

Firstly I would like to thank Icanhandthemback for pointing out the pointless comment of "all lives matter" it's a cop out. Of course all lives matter, just that black lives are being discriminated against at best and horrifically killed by law enforcement at the other extreme.
Secondly I don't think with Covid being on the rise in some areas having a party is the best idea at present. Hopefully it will be a better outlook in August but we don't know which way it will go.
Thirdly you cannot ban residents or tenants from a communal area so this individual organising this is skating on very dodgy ground. They pay ground rent and or service charge either directly or through the landlord so the tenants are entitled to be there if it is being held in a communal area.
OP you sound a very decent and intelligent person for taking a stand on this matter. I wish more people could see how damaging discrimination of any kind is for the good of society.

Presumably owners and tenants alike have rights of access to the communal areas, so they cannot stop tenants from being there, party or no. Come and go as you would normally - if it is a sunny day you have every right to sit in the garden and above all, you cannot be denied access to your home

Jane10

I've often thought about writing about it GeminiJen and I might yet!

Oh yes, Jane10 please do!

It has been made very plain by the organiser that there is a 'them' and 'us' situation, made all the more sad because only four of the flats are occupied by tenants.
The person organising this sounds very unpleasant; I have visions of a Mrs Bucket but without the unintentional fun.

I'd be inclined to turn down the invitation and at the same time make it plain to the other owners exactly why.
You could, as has been suggested, sit with your posh picnic on that day and see who else is confident enough to join you and ignore her petty party. The grounds are communal so she can't stop you.

I have assumed the organiser is a she, but, of course, could be a he.

Of course, if lockdown has not eased what she/he is proposing is against the rules at the moment. You could point that out to her/him too.

You are right to be affronted by the lack of community spirit of the organiser in discriminating between neighbours on grounds of their social status. I would decline and make it known why. If the planned organised event will be breaking the law, I would report it to police, if necessary.

While you could organise your own ( lawful) gathering for the tenants on the same day same time, in the communal gardens to make your point more obvious, I doubt any of the tenants would wish to attend, knowing that they were so unwelcome.
I wonder if any of the tenants are key workers. I bet at least some are.

These people are ugly on the inside...I doubt I would go Myself...who owns the land ?

Perhaps the residents could invite the tenants to the party as their guests?

I would ask all the other owner/occupier residents if they are aware of this divisiveness and suggest that you all boycott the party unless the tenants are also invited.

It might mean you don't have a party this year - not so terrible in the current health crisis - and then next year someone else could organise it, properly with everyone included.

Snobbery is alive and well it would seem. I wouldn’t go and I’d give my reasons. Hard to believe anyone can justify such behaviour.

Boycott their party. Organise your own. Communal garden- the committee can’t stop you. I despise this kind of behaviour.