One owner occupier in block harassing my tenants!

One owner occupier in block harassing my tenants!

13:33 PM, 1st August 2016, About 8 years ago 5

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In London, we are in a small block of flats all with share of freehold that share a garden with some private and communal areas. We own all the flats bar one and usually rent those out, but do occasionally return to live there. harassment

The one flat we do not own contains a 30-40-something couple who inherited the flat some years ago and we got on with initially (not close but respectful) but who suddenly became quite aggressive and from nowhere, kicked off a dispute about ownership of the garden as they claimed to own most of it, but in an initial round of solicitors talks, they got nowhere as most of it, it seems, is owned by our leases.

Our relationship grew frostier, but we kept our distance as we still needed to communicate over freehold matters and things remained calm.

However, this year, they seem determined to upset our otherwise very happy tenants and I am viewing this as harassment or antisocial behaviour and wonder if you can suggest some action as my tenants are upset and I am worried some are thinking of leaving.

Here are examples of what the couple have done:

  • They have laid out unnecessary objects in the garden like random boxes and builders equipment which they do not use or need.
  • They play music more loudly than they used to, shout a lot, stamp their feet hard so the noise upsets the tenants on the floor below and slam the front door so hard that the door is broken.
  • Then they put up an awkward washing line that blocks everyone’s way.
  • They do not have children or pets, but our other tenants do and the couple decided to cover the garden with toxic slug killer and one of the tenant’s children almost consumed it.
  • The final straw was they also decided to do some slapdash painting of joint property off their own backs without consulting us and did not give our tenants any notice so now the tenants’ garden property, toys, bikes etc. are covered in paint as well as it splashed carelessly all over nice walls. Both our tenants and myself are fuming.

I cannot speak directly to the couple as I am very angry. I would like to do the right thing through the law.

What do you suggest? Is this harassment? Antisocial behaviour order? Can we claim damages for the property damaged?

Thanks

OHL


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Comments

Neil Patterson

13:35 PM, 1st August 2016, About 8 years ago

Hi Hugh,

Have you spoken with the Council about this yet?

Ravi gupta

11:24 AM, 2nd August 2016, About 8 years ago

Hi,
See the council, they have a community safety department, and tell your problems to them. They will then investigate it and will tell what action if any they will take.
In my they are very very helpful
Good Luck

terry sullivan

12:11 PM, 2nd August 2016, About 8 years ago

local police may help--i had antisocial neighbor at one property who called the police on my tenant. i was there when police arrived--i explained and the neighbor was given "advice"--never a problem after that

micky alderson

13:49 PM, 2nd August 2016, About 8 years ago

Keep a log of events in case it goes to court with piccies as well ,anything toxic must be dealt with an iron fist if pets or kids are involved you could end-up with problems like " duty of care " blah blah blah!!!

Now the nice weather is here why not do a Naturist Bar-B? invite all the tenants plus. Mr and Mrs G with a few members of the local chapter of the demented bikers club will shut them up!!.

I'm free for the five or six weekend's if you need help just contact me here, good thing about summer is most of my family are on home leave from HMP so they can come too.

S.E. Landlord

18:08 PM, 2nd August 2016, About 8 years ago

I suggest the first thing you do is to check the lease and see if any of the above are breaches of the terms of the lease.

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