Neighbours having issues with noisy tenant?

Neighbours having issues with noisy tenant?

10:43 AM, 22nd February 2021, About 4 years ago 9

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Hello members, I have let a 3 bedroom mid-terrace house to family of 4. Currently, the neighbours are having issues with the tenant and are saying that the kids make too much noise day and night, and they are unable to sleep.

The tenant is saying that the noise is reasonable and other neighbours do not have issues.

I did my best to resolve the issue, but with no success. I told the neighbours that they can complain to the Council, but expect me to contact the Council and Police to resolve.

Although I would like to help, they are good tenants (pay rent on time and do not have other issues) and do not want to spoil a good relationship with them.

I would appreciate any advice on this and as a landlord what is my responsibility.

Thank you in advance.

Mr Shah


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Smartermind

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11:31 AM, 22nd February 2021, About 4 years ago

The phrase children should be seen and not heard is not to be taken literally. Children will inevitably make some noise, especially if they are cooped up indoors in the lockdown. You could ask the neighbours to keep a log of all noise and to record it and then if it is particularly bad present it as evidence to your tenants. Meanwhile remind your tenants that they have to keep the noise down particularly, say from 10:00pm to 8:00am.

You, yourself, do not need to get the council or the police involved as you would effectively be reporting yourself as a potentially "bad landlord".

Paresh Shah

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11:38 AM, 22nd February 2021, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Smartermind at 22/02/2021 - 11:31
Thank you.

Reluctant Landlord

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11:52 AM, 22nd February 2021, About 4 years ago

I'd just write a polite email/letter to your tenants explaining the situation that as a LL when you receive a complaint you have to at least address it. Make it very clear that you regard them as good tenants and understand completely that in the lockdown situation it is not easy with kids and that perhaps a little bit of extra attention between 10pm - 8am would be gratefully received.
Write to the complaining neighbour tell them you have explained the situation to the tenant and that you are hopeful that the situation will be resolved. You could drop in that if this continues it would be for them to seek further advice if needed.
That way you have done your bit. If the other neighbours have not said anything, then I wouldn't get any more involved.

Amanda GdM

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12:11 PM, 22nd February 2021, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by RL at 22/02/2021 - 11:52
I'd also politely point out to the neighbours that both themselves and the tenants are living in their own homes.
I have sometimes found that neighbours who own their own home do sometimes discriminate against people renting a house next them. As if the renters somehow have to be model neighbours. Or are not entitled to live in the house in the same way. So I try and work on the neighbours too and normally talk in the third person to distance myself from it. At the end of the day, if we were talking about neighbours who each own their homes, they would have to deal with it between each other.

Darren Peters

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12:37 PM, 22nd February 2021, About 4 years ago

I'm always perplexed at the logic behind a landlord, whether the council or a private landlord being responsible for and possibly being punished for another adult's behaviour.

Either tenants are adults responsible for their own actions or they are have their decision-making done for them and aren't allowed to sign contracts.

Tenants seem to be in a grey area though where they can sign tenancy contracts as responsible adults but are not as responsible to wider society for their actions as their home-owning twin next door.

Ann

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12:37 PM, 22nd February 2021, About 4 years ago

The above advice is most certainly sound. It's obviously very delicate as it's a matter of personal tolerance, I know my tolerance of children's noise is most definitely very low and I'd always deliberately avoid the situation where possible.
It may be worth discussing with the other neighbours who haven't complained - is that they are too polite or that it isn't an issue for them.
Polite letters around displays action but as previously stated, in the lockdown climate it's possibly just exacerbated.

DPT

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14:28 PM, 22nd February 2021, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Darren Peters at 22/02/2021 - 12:37
I don't think its a grey area at all. I agree completely with your analysis. This is an issue between the neighbour and the tenant and the landlord should not get involved. The only exception to this would be where there is a clear case of tenant ASB which has not been resolved after several attempts by the neighbour and the landlord may then have to evict the tenant.

Paresh Shah

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20:14 PM, 22nd February 2021, About 4 years ago

Thank you for all of your advice.

Bill Maynard

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17:07 PM, 10th May 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Newcomer BTL at 22/02/2021 - 20:14
I would tend to VERY GENTLY suggest to the neighbour that disagreements between neighbours are normally best sorted amicably between themselves or, if that seems unlikely, that they might consult the Citizens' Advice Bureau for advice. A landlord who gets involved in trying to settle neighbours' disputes could find themselves overwhelmed very quickly if things were to escalate. Don't forget that anything you say to the neighbour might be quoted (or misquoted) to your tenant.

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