Drunken neighbour harassing threatening and frightening off my tenants!

Drunken neighbour harassing threatening and frightening off my tenants!

10:39 AM, 1st June 2016, About 8 years ago 14

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Nuisance drunken neighbour is harassing, threatening and frightening off my tenants which is costing me a lot of money.rab c

Can you please help?

I have two flats in a block of 8 flats. Directly above one of my flats is a person that owns his own flat. He doesn’t work and sits at home getting drunk. Over the years he has been responsible for losing me a number of very good tenants because of his behavior. When he is drunk, which is most of the time he is abusive and is threatening and intimidates my tenants.

My letting agent has also witnessed this and has reported it to the police. I have also reported this to the police. However I am told that unless it is reported by the ‘victims’ i.e. the tenants themselves then there is very little action the police can take.

The problem is that the tenants just don’t want to go down this route as they feel it can make it worse. They feel it is easier for them to give notice and to move on.

This nuisance has fallen out with everyone in the block, but specifically seems to target my tenants as he lives directly above mine.

My present tenant loves the flat, but feels that he is being victimised and is nervous. He suffers with anxiety issues and this is not helping him. He has already suggested to the letting agent that if this continues he will have to give notice.

As the nuisance neighbour owns his property I feel I am limited to what action I can take.

Can anyone please advise?

Thanks in advance.

Tony


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Comments

Badger

11:15 AM, 4th June 2016, About 8 years ago

I have this problem with one of my properties in Cleethorpes.

The additional dimension to the problem is that the person causing all the trouble is not a tenant but a freeholder of the next door terraced house, so there is no landlord to write to and complain.

Apart from all of the issues above he also engages in the endearing habit of hopping over the back garden wall and leaving dog faeces in my tenant's garden.

This has been going on for years and we have just lost yet another tenant as a result of it. She has called the police on numerous occasions (as have previous tenants) to no avail whatsoever, so now she is moving out.

We are at our wits end as to what to do about this and would welcome any advice.

Mandy Thomson

12:27 PM, 4th June 2016, About 8 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Badger " at "04/06/2016 - 11:15":

Unfortunately, in that case I think your, or more likely, your tenant's only recourse is to take out an injunction against this person, either under the Housing Act or the Protection from Harassment Act.

More information here: http://www.saferhouses.co.uk/your-rights-troublesome-neighbours.html

Badger

19:22 PM, 4th June 2016, About 8 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Mandy Thomson" at "04/06/2016 - 12:27":

Thanks Mandy, but the truth of the matter is that it always easier for the tenant to move rather than go legal.

Naturally, this costs us a fortune as we have to find a new tenant each time.

I must say that I despair of a solution bar selling the property - which I really don't want to do.

I have spent some time looking into harassment and injunctions (with the help of Mr. Google) this afternoon and I cannot find a single crumb of comfort in what I have learned.

Mandy Thomson

9:10 AM, 5th June 2016, About 8 years ago

Hi Badger

Unfortunately, yes, but have your tenants gathered lots of hard evidence against this person, for example, do you have a CCTV camera? If you can gather enough evidence to bring an injunction, and the neighbour breaches that he could go to prison.

It might also be worth suing him (for your loss of rental income), as he owns at least one property. Get some legal advice. Many barristers and some solicitors will give you a free consultation .

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