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Neighbour harmony,
courtesy of Zebras Hate Hail @ Creative Commons
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Like the poor couple who brought their nightmare neighbour to book this week after a five year ordeal, I will do anything to make it stop. I started by building a very high fence, which solves the dog problem and the unsightly garden issue. And my tenant’s started locking her front door when she’s in. But as for Celine Dion, my hands are tied.
I know the neighbour’s son, so I suggested reasoning with him and getting him to have a word. But the tenant is understandably worried it will make the problem worse. The other neighbour complains all the time and the police and council are there regularly, so I know she’s on their radar and wonder if there’s any point in reporting it again.
My main worry is that I will lose a great tenant because of something beyond my control. On the bright side, I’ve had a lucky escape when you consider the other crazy tenants in my neck of the woods; read the unbelievable ‘Northumberland Man smashed neighbour's face because he wouldn't let him watch his cat give birth’
Have you had a problem neighbour and how have you dealt with it? All advice very welcome. Thanks folks.
Alison Doering is a north east landlord who caught the BTL bug three years ago and has againever looked back. Going from zero to six properties in three years and juggling a high pressure job in marketing means every day is a school day; there’s always something new to lock away in that mental filing cabinet marked “Never do that again!"
Landlord insurance - professional rates
I have suffered personally from such a neighbour, the police sent him to court last July 2012, but the CPS were so useless, he got off the charge, but has to pay me over £800 for the damage he did to my car.
ReplyDeleteThe law is extremely slow in such cases, they need cast iron proof before a court case can be considered. We got the local council Antisocial Behaviour Unit involved, and they did their best as well. If noise is a nuisance, also consider contacting the council noise nuisance department, they can monitor the situation by installing microphones and recording equipment, and they are not so slow in prosecuting. Most council department go for an ASBO, but in some cases, they can actually ask for a Class 2 to Class 4 Harrassement charge.
The first thing you need off the police is an Incident Diary, to log meticulously all incidents, and make sure its signed, as that is a statement in the eyes of the law. Then plenty of photographs, dates, times and place, and even witnesses, if they are willing to come forward.
If the person is then arrested and a case considered, please consider hiring your own solicitor to act on your, or your tenants behalf, because I cannot trust the CPS anymore, and from stories I have heard, they are as useless as chocolate fireguards.
I wish you well with your tenants problem, it will not be easy, and there may be the case where your tenants will just up sticks and go, something you have to consider.