Tenant leaving curtains shut

[user1466222549]

I became an accidental landlord about four years ago when we needed to move for work, but couldn't sell the house. We have rented the house to the same person ever since we left.

I keep getting hassled by one of my old neighbours who I have stayed in touch with. She has taken umbrage to the fact that my tenant leaves her lounge curtains closed most of the time. Not quite sure why this is such an issue to our old neighbour. She say that "It makes the road look terrible". I have told her that there is nothing i can do about it as I feel that it is none of my business whether the lady living in our old house opens her curtains or not.

My old neighbour mentions this "Issue" every few months. Although I don't want to fall out with her, surely she is completely unreasonable in moaning about our tenant's behaviour?

My driving instructor was incandescent with rage once as the day before he had returned from a weeks holiday and within minutes his neighbour had knocked on the door and asked him when he was planning on mowing his lawn? as apparently the daisies looked untidy. He ranted for my full 2 hours lesson

I have blinds and a large window. They are very rarely opened. I have no desire to make eye contact with passing public while I watch TV.

SIBVU!

She's mad. When we rented I kept my curtains closed for a few months as I was having massive eye problems and couldn't stand the light coming in. The letting agents got a bunch of calls and we had an extra inspection to check we didn't have a cannabis farm!! I was not happy.

I keep mine shut because of people looking in (anti social) and I had no idea that I was making the road look dreadful. I'm going to personally apologise to all my neighbors tonight.

Oh and I walk about naked a fair bit so leaving them open would make the road look way worse!

As a long term tenant, it never ceases to amaze me the things that owner-occupiers will find to moan to tenants about, or indeed their landlords. These are almost always things that owner-occupiers do as a matter of course, but which, if done by tenants, are fodder for complaint.

My NDN, otherwise lovely, moans at me about my plants, which are in pots in the small gravelled area between our bay window and the hedge bordering the pavement. She feels entitled to comment on what I plant e.g. why all lavender, that's "boring". Or, at the moment, why I haven't planted anything (we're probably moving but that's NOHB). Or, as soon as I've planted, a lecture on looking after them properly, like I'm a 5yr old with a hamster. All this is done at top volume because she's stone deaf, so it sounds like a fight is about to kick off.

The night we moved in her, 12 years ago, three sets of neighbours knocked on the door to lay down the law as to what they would or wouldn't "let us get away with" - because y'know, people who rent are always trying to "get away with" something offensive . As it's turned out, we are by a long stretch, the quietest, tidiest folks in our part of the street. Do we complain? Never.

I have no real idea why the tenant leaves her curtains shut all the time. Probably due to the noseyness of neighbours I imagine. Having visited the house fairly recently to sort out a repair, I know that she is not growing cannabis in the front room! In fact she had recently decorated it, so it looked better than when we lived there!

But did you check the loft?

My old neighbour complains of this too, however she moans about everything. I leave them closed if hot to stop house getting to hot and I'm not in to open windows. Also if I'm rushing out in morning

Please get a proper username, user1466222549. SecretiveTenant maybe?

I have a wooden musical instrument in front of the window, which is a problem in too much sun, so I close mine on really sunny days! I also stay in my pyjamas if I don't have to work, or get into them when work is finished, and I'd rather have the curtains closed for that, too. I don't open the upstairs ones most of the time either, mostly because I come downstairs when it's still dark, usually, and never go back until it's bedtime, so I just don't notice. I suppose someone could complain about me, too, but there's nothing dodgy going on. Tell her to mind her own business!

I'd tell the old neighbour you asked the tenant and they've told you they keep the curtain closed cos they have a really nosey neighbour and they're afraid she so rude she would spy on them.

Like the username suggestion Paxillin! I will need to investigate changing my user name :)

Gabsalot well it seems the cannabis growers in our case were exceptions to the rule because they used every bloody room in the house including the front room!! they just cut massive holes in the ceilings to put up special lighting.......

User, glad your house is fine. We'd just like to warn as many landlords as possible as it's a horrible experience to deal with.

I agree with everyone...this is an odd complaint and I wouldn't entertain it further. The tenant has the right to live how they wish providing they aren't causing a nuisance and are respecting your property.

However our new neighbours two doors down have their lounge curtains and bedrooms curtains (basically all windows on the front of the house) shut all day and night at ALL times. I have in the past wondered why..and thought their house must be incredibly gloomy! But this obviously doesn't offend/affect/concern me I've just noticed it and thought it strange.

Ha she should try living on my street which is about 80% student housing. Curtains shut most of the time although if open only because they're aren't any!

I keep curtains and blinds shut at the front of my house to stop furnishings getting bleached and faded by the sun.
With a few years of living here the carpet, curtains and sofa were all badly faded.

that is unusual kiwi and a bit silly of them

my front curtain and blind in the kitchen is always drawn-i have a nosy neighbour living opposite me that loves to just stand outside his door to see what everyone is up to i dont need him looking in my house gossiping to everyone

highly annoying

I had a landlord who knocked on my door to tell me I had to leave the blinds and curtains open during the day. She was utterly bonkers though.

I can't believe you are even asking this question?

Tell nosey neighbour the tenant has complained because NN keeps looking in all the time....

I kinda get where NN is coming from, it does look a bit down market and shamal to have the Curtiss closed all the time.

Im the opposite.....the only curtains that get drawn here are bedroom ones....i like natural light and fresh air so have curtains and windows open as much as possible x

I know this thread is oldish, but its a fab one and close to my curtained heart. Where I used to live,I had an ultra nosey neighbour who knew everyone's business and spread it all about with abandon. She said 'those people opposite are very, very strange.' Me: 'what makes them strange?' Nosey: 'They keep their curtains closed at the back.'

However a neighbour here now keeps her curtains drawn for days and I do wonder why... people like a puzzle... and she really does have a garlic allergy!

Today, I had a massive lie-in and so the neighbours could cogitate at length but they have busy lives so it would not register.
But I often do leave bedroom window curtains drawn and when I noticed this from the garden, it did look a bit rank due to my rubbish curtains. I just long for my old neighbour to see them, but I moved, so deprived her of the excitement.

[Full and interesting life emoticon]