To contact their landlord?

[AGirlsNameIsAryaStark]

Not sure if this is more a WWYD, but this is my first time posting here so be gentle!

Myself and DP live in a ground floor flat with a private driveway. Bricked walls either side leading straight to our front door, with no other flats that open onto the drive, so there's no confusion over which flat the drive belongs to.

We have Polish neighbours next door who don't speak much English. No bother to me, they generally seem pretty nice but there are about 10 of them cramped in a tiny studio flat (including a little girl about 3YO).

We've had problems in the past of some of them coming down the driveway and just staring through our front window, most of the time they're on the phone and just wandering around. I complained to my landlord before who spoke to their landlord/the council. Last week I came home from work and one of them was sitting on my driveway as I reversed my car in, didn't move, and when I tried to tell him to move ignored me. Bearing in mind the drive is bricked up either side, so he's basically sitting in front of my front door. We have a couple of tomato plants on our driveway as we don't have a garden, and today DP has gone to work, walked past their drive and there are some of our tomatoes on their driveway. I'm getting fed up with strangers on my property (well rented property but you know what I mean), staring through my windows and now stealing from us.

What can I do? I don't want to contact their landlord/council directly but AIBU to get my landlord to make a complaint on my behalf?

Sorry it was a long one!

[Missgraeme]

Google 'keep the fuck off my path /drive' in Polish and make a placard for your gate.

[Foslady]

Definately sounds like an unlicenced HMO, your council will be very interested.

[Mummyoflittledragon]

There will be a housing enforcement officer appointed by the council. So yes, contact the council. It sounds most likely that the landlord is unaware tbh because who would risk renting a 1 bed to that many people? More commonly unauthorised hmo's are illegally split into tiny bedrooms. I would also contact social services. This sounds like a highly inappropriate environment for a child. I'd also call non emergency police line to get further advice.

[Dontyoulovecalpol]

Exactly, landlords can't police he behaviour of their tenants. How could they? Why would
The tenants do what they say?

And if they are supposed to in Scotland what does that actually mean? That a landlord can evict you for behaviour they don't like? What does that mean practically? A court eviction, behaviour demonstrably bad enough to warrent the courts agreeing an eviction order? That costs money and takes time. You have to wonder what a landlord motive would be to take that hassle and expense on themselves.

[AbyssinianBanana]

Banana their landlord has a responsibility to ensure his or her tenants are not causing a nuisance or being socially irresponsible.

No they really don't because they are just private citizens themselves. That's not what right to quiet enjoyment in common law means. If the neighbours are causing a nuisance, she needs to contact the police or the council's environmental team (to monitor noise.).

[specialsubject]

I think first job is to contact their landlord. If he doesn't know there are 10 people in the property he needs a chance to sort it out. If he does know, he's a beds in sheds crook and the council can go after him.

Either way, this starts off the process to get something done. Eventually.

[TroysMammy]

Use Google translate to write a letter. You can copy and paste to a word document and print it out.

[scaryteacher]

I think they've nicked the tomato plants as opposed to the fruits, which they would presumably have scoffed. I'd be pissed off if my plants went walkies, especially edible ones.

[Dontyoulovecalpol]

They're not council tenants, the council wouldn't house 10 people in a studio. Most likely, they have rented it privately under one name then moved everyone else in without the landlords knowledge.

I can't believe anyone would report the (possible) theft of tomatoes from their tomato plant. What a waste of time. And there hasn't been anything like ASB reported here.

Sometimes people need to deal with these things themselves rather than running off to the authorities to do it for them. I do agree however, that if it's as overcrowded as OP says its needs sorting.

[Finola1step]

Hold the phone...a 3 year old child in a studio flat with 10 adults? And people are posting about tomatoes, cctv and writing to the landlord.

Good grief. Call the housing office, environmental health and most importantly, social services.

[Sunnymeg]

Can you find out the house owners details via a land registry search and contact them directly? We have done this before when the letting agent wasn't very proactive in sorting out the problems we were having with their client. The house owner had no idea what was going on, but was very sympathetic and gave their agent a kick up the backside to get things sorted.

[AGirlsNameIsAryaStark]

I really wish I could go round and say just that Yello, but my DP has said it's not a good idea as most of the occupants are men and could end up nasty.

I wouldn't think they are private tenants, would any respectable landlord really take them on? I've had an issue with them in the past and their... erm... waste disposal, and my landlord contacted the council on my behalf.

[Eatthecake]

The 10+ people living in the 1 property would be enough for me to contact the landlord.

If they cause any actual damage, always call the police to have it logged. If they were to cause any damage I Imagine your landlord would want to know too.

Look in to a cheap camera for your property? Or ask your landlord about getting one? Then I'd write a note a stick in the neighbours letterbox saying I now a have a camera up and if they continue to be a pain in the arse I will be contacting landlords/ council etc

[gobbynorthernbird]

Dont, I'm actually more the go round and shout at them type, but yes. I'd ask to talk to the community liaison officer (or equivalent) because why should I put up with anti social behaviour, theft, or vandalism of my property? The OP shouldn't have to deal with this shit.

[Pinkheart5915]

I am a Landlandy and I would like to be contacted if possible over crowding in one of my properties and also the way they are behaving isn't great.

I have been contacted for an awful lot less In the past.

You could look in to a cheap camera on the front of your property? Any actually damage cause you should always contact the police.

[molyholy]

Definitely report for over occupation. if there are actually 10 people, including a yound child, this un unacceptable and the landlord is unscrupulous. He will be probably be getting rent per person. Stuff like this makes me so angry.

But I wouldn't report the tomatoes to the police.

[Dontyoulovecalpol]

Let me just check- you would phone the police and tell them that someone had stolen your tomatoes from your tomato plant?

[gobbynorthernbird]

If someone was vandalising or stealing from my garden, I'd report it to the police? Why not? It's illegal.

[OhWotIsItThisTime]

Report to council. Suggest cctv or a gate to your landlord.

[Dontyoulovecalpol]

Violet a landlord isn't responsible for their tenants behaviour.

I would report them for over occupation to the council- if you can't talk to them doubt the landlord can. Is it the same landlord as yours?

[YelloDraw]

Have you said "OI, get OFF MY PROPERTY! What are you doing here??? This is PRIVATE LAND"

[nc060]

In Scotland landlords have a responsibility under their Anti Social Behaviour Act to ensure their tenants are not being a nuisance! If you are j. scotland contact your local landlord registration team!!

[scaryteacher]

It's theft is it not? If the OP gets into a tit for tat, and the ante gets upped with damage to car etc, then best to have it documented early.

[DeathStare]

I'd write them a letter and see if you can get it translated.

[LIZS]

House of Multiple Occupancy. Basically more than 3 adult sharers, or more than be household in a single property. There are strict additional rules about fire and safety plus it would be overcrowded. Council will investigate especially if Housing Benefit is being claimed.