AIBU not to say anything to our tenants

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We have a flat that we have rented out to a lovely couple for the last 3 years.

We have had no problems with them what so ever, in fact they are the nicest and tidiest tenants we have ever had.

However, we have just received a complaint about them having a noisy party into the early hours via a facebook account.

Now, this is the first time a complaint has ever been raised about them and people are entitled to have parties in their homes, although preferably not noisy or too late.

AIBU not to raise this directly with our tenant as it is their first offence, (for want of a better word), and actually suggest that the person who raised the complaint should speak to the couple face to face to raise their concerns.

We ourselves have neighbours who on occasion have parties during the summer, which can be a little noisy, and if necessary we would speak to them directly rather than complain straight to the police. This apparently was the first thought of the complainer.

I think it'd be better to tell them you'd had a complaint, but explain you are only passing it on and they seem like great tenants to you.

You will have got the complain because someone thought it mattered enough to tell you. Either they are really annoying (in which case you should tell them), or the neighbour is a bit odd (in which case you should tell them).

You don't know that it is the first time they have had a party. You only know that this is the first time someone has called the police on them.

Either that person called the first time they ever did it, or they do it loads and they finally snapped! And because they called the police - you are hearing about it for the first time!

Unless they actually stated that this was the first time they had ever had a party. Did they?

Either way, I would notify the tenant that this complaint has been received. It's something they need to know.

oh, sorry, a bit confused you didn't find out because they called the police. They messaged you and mentioned the police.

Did they say they had called the police or they wanted you to? or they will if it happens again?

I'd let the tenant know you have received the complaint, so they know that you know and so they know they have upset their neighbours. I would however also let them know you are happy with how clean and tidy they are. I'm a private rental tenant and would be happy with this conversation.

I wouldn't take anything seriously on FB.

IF the complaint is made properly and once you know details I would pass the info on to the tenants.

I think you should tell them. You are their landlord, not their neighbour - it might be the person complaining who is being unreasonable, but you don't know that - your tenants could be the noisy neighbours from hell for all you know. I would speak to the person complaining AND to the tenants. If you want to sell the flat in future, you would have to declare any neighbour disputes so you would be best off to try and keep things pleasant and ensure your tenants aren't causing any problems.

Did the neighbour actually say that this was your tenants' first ever loud party?

I presume the neighbour is assuming there's a no-loud-noises-between-11pm-and-7am type of clause in the tenancy contract, and that may be why they've contacted you.

Definitely, the first time they have a a noisy party, no mention of any other parties from the complainant.

Just wonder what the person complaining would have done if our tenants had actually owned the flat themselves. Find it a little odd that they didn't just speak to the couple face to face.

I would pass it on, but also say that you're happy with them as tenants. I had a neighbour complain to my landlady about a blocked drain that was trickling water onto their property - I hadn't noticed it was blocked and if they'd just said I'd have fixed it immediately (and I did sort it as soon as I was made aware of the problem), there was really no need to complain to my landlady and it really upset me. An indication from my landlady that she also thought it was a bit silly would've made all the difference.

I think it's only fair to the tenants to tell them tbh.

Yes you should tell them so they can bear it in mind in the future but you should also listen to their side and reassure them that you are happy with them as tenants.
I have insane complainy neighbours and both my ll and agent know they are insane. I'd rather know whenever they complain though even if it's for a bonkers made up reason it always is Maybe the neighbours are exaggerating, you don't know, but it's fair to let the tenants know.

I think that if it's a once in a blue moon party then it doesn't constitute a nuisance, just an annoyance, and the complainers need to get a life.

Id let them know that you have had a complaint, just for their information really, bit I'd also let them know that you realise it was a one off and you aren't bothered about it for that reason.

I wouldn't say anything over a one off party. I'm not a LL but surely it's not your job even if they were noisy tenants? Isn't that a job for the environmental noise pollution people at the council?

Schlock

Any decent LL would care about the type of tennants they have in the property. It also takes an age for the noise pollution people to shift someone, where as a decent LL can have them out in 2 months.

Are you friends with anyone in any other of the flats?
Can you ask them for feedback?

I live in a house with two flats rented out, and this is what we do (the freehold is owned by all owners equally)

Twice in the past we have received emails, one from each of the landlords, asking for feedback about their tenants following complaints.

We replied honestly to both, saying one set of renters were a pain in the arse (students, noise in the hall till 3 every morning when they went outside to smoke, lots of parties and daft pranks etc) and the second time, we said they are normally very quiet and literally just held one birthday party that seemed to get out of hand and are generally great.

Other owners would presumably have no problem with telling you truthfully what it is like to live with your tenants.

I'm not au fait with Facebook but did you receive a personal notification of the complaint or was it a public one on Facebook. If it were a public one, I would ignore it. How does the writer know that you are the landlord?

If you had a letter through the door then, yes, do something about it with a friendly attutude. Just a mention rather than a complaint. The complainant might be new to the area and not know your tenants or just someone who complains about everything.

We are in the process of trying to find out who the LLs are of the house that backs on to ours to let them know that if they don't do something about their tenants we are going to EH. We haven't yet contacted them but the dear souls are having a loud gathering at least once a week (always mid-week, never the weekend) that starts after midnight. Last week we were woken at 3.45am. They might be students but we have to go to work.

Why does everyone assume that the complainants are at fault? Would you want to go and knock on the door of people you don't know, when you don't know how many are in the house and what sort of reaction you will get?

As a responsible LL you should investigate the complaint.

THE COMPLAINANTS are only bitching cos a)no doubt sounded like a great party , and b)they were NOT INVITED !) so C)ARE STIRRING IT ! 1 in 3 years , boot the bastards out !!! far too few , are they foreign ? 1 in 3 years ???? there are people who would kill for such neighbours and complaint via Facebook ? well, how terribly "with it " what next ? an invite round to "smooth the waters " "enjoy a canape or three ?" and then! just when you thought it was sorted !!! they will produce a copy of 50 shades of gray and , looking at you both (moodily) ask>>> "wanna play ", do ya????

I wouldn't pass a one-off complaint with no details onto my tenants in circumstances like these. On the basis that on balance, the complainers are more likely to be whingers than have a genuine complaint, and didn't contact their own neighbours themselves in person or by note, first.

Some people just have it in for those who rent. I remember when I was a student, living next to the university, the woman next door used to complain about the noise of our footsteps on the stairs returning home after midnight!

Did the complainer actually specify that they have never spoken directly to the tenants though? It seems the OP has come to that conclusion, but her posts do not say that the complaint states this expressly. I would contact the complainer for more info. I have had horrible experiences of noisy neighbours and it really does take over your life, so I would not dismiss the complaint without investigating further.

Have contacted the complainer - they recognised dh last summer as someone they went to school with 25 years ago and so stalked contacted him privately through Facebook.

They haven't raised any concerns prior to this and neither have any other neighbours. Everyone has the some grounds and maintenance management company so we would be contactable via them.

Turns out complainant isn't 100% sure that it was our tenants and is only going on hearsay as they haven't even contacted them directly. Tenants are not British so don't know if lack of contact was due to assumption they would not understand English.

Once we explained what lovely and approachable people the tenants are and that they would actually be mortified to have caused any upset, the complainant appears to be appeased. Think they just needed to rant.

We suggested that they should have spoken directly to the tenants before contacting us but to feel free to contact us if this situation should occur again.