The Tenants Who Built a Rollercoaster in the Back Garden

This piece is part of our International Bizarre Landlord Stories series. Today’s story was first reported in the United Kingdom.

Landlords are often braced for garden neglect, from overgrown grass to abandoned furniture. What one British landlord did not expect to find was a fully functioning rollercoaster winding its way through the back garden of a suburban semi-detached house.

The discovery

Neighbours first raised concerns when they spotted children queuing at the side gate and heard screams of excitement echoing across the street. Upon visiting, the landlord discovered that the tenants had constructed a rollercoaster using scaffolding, wood, and metal piping. The ride included several small dips and a surprisingly steep curve that almost skimmed the roof of a shed.

The aftermath

The makeshift amusement ride left deep holes across the lawn and damaged the property’s fencing. Local authorities soon intervened after complaints from neighbours about noise and safety risks. The rollercoaster was dismantled, and the landlord was left with significant landscaping bills.

Lessons for landlords

• Gardens are not always “low-risk” areas. Tenants can cause as much damage outside as inside.
• Neighbour complaints are early warning signs. When unusual activity is reported, it is rarely exaggerated.
• Insurance may not cover deliberate structural changes by tenants.

Your experience

Have you ever had tenants use your garden in bizarre or unexpected ways? Share your story in the comments below.

Series so far

• The Tenant Who Kept a Tiger in a Harlem Apartment
• The Day a Cow Knocked at a Fourth-Floor Flat
• When a Tenant Found a Python in the Toilet
• The Tenants Who Turned a Flat into a Miniature Zoo
• The Room Filled With 200 Bottles of Urine
• The Tenant Who Took the Roof With Them
• The Apartment That Became a Cat Colony
• The Tenant Who Grew Mushrooms in the Sitting Room
• The Tenant Who Stabled a Horse Indoors
• The Tenants Who Built a Swimming Pool Indoors
• The Tenant Who Raised a Lion Cub at Home
• The Tenant Who Built a Pub in Their Living Room
• The Tenant Who Turned Their Flat into a Chicken Coop
• The Tenant Who Kept a Crocodile in Their Rental Home
• The Tenant Who Turned Their Flat into a Boxing Gym
• The Tenant Who Kept a Pig in Their Apartment
• The Tenant Who Turned Their Flat into a Cannabis Farm
• The Tenants Who Turned Their Rental Into a Roller-Skating Rink

Background coverage: Mirror.