...or am I being a bitch?

[pinotnoirismyjam]

Around Christmas we got new upstairs neighbours.

In that time our kitchen has flooded significantly three times, and we've had intermittent drips more frequently. We rent, so duly reported to our landlord, but the issue is that the tenants won't give us their landlord's details to confirm the problem has been fixed.

To date, we've had them do the following:

1. hide in the dark and not open the door when we're trying to report a recurrence of the leak.

2. claim they don't have their landlord's contact information, and when pressed, provide a contact number that leads us back to someone claiming to be the tenant.

3. have mysterious visitors who park across the driveway and block us in.

4. coinciding with the mystery visitors, have loud sex for over three hours (!) - female noises only - very audibly in the garden.

5. throw away food waste and non-recyclables in the recyle bin - we're in London, so we have green and black wheely bins - green for recycling. I duly moved the offending items.

6. Dump what appears to be around 6 pineapples' worth of skin and core loose into the black rubbish bin, resulting in flies and maggots thanks to the heat.

7. repeatedly buzz our flat to be let in because one of the occupants has "forgotten" their keys rather than buzzing their actual flat. I'm presuming someone upstairs is present to let them in otherwise buzzing us isn't much use!

All these issues, coupled with ridiculous amounts of banging/thumping on the floor (enough to shake the light fixtures) and endless small child screaming is driving me crazy!

So, after that essay, AIBU to investigate further to try to find their landlord's details and raise these issues with them? We've tried to address the flooding, to no avail, as well as the bin issues, but no improvement. I'm concerned that there's something going on upstairs that's not above board, hence their refusal to give us their landlord's contact details - every time we report the leak and ask for contact information they claim they've got a repairman coming the next day and say they need their landlord's permission to pass on their information. Our letting agent has tried too - no joy! My DP thinks I'm being over-zealous, but I'm fed up with taking annual leave to deal with leaks and absentee landlords!

Does your borough have a scheme to license or register landlords? a few boroughs are doing this now.

If it is a block of flats there will be a managing agent for the building.

Their contact details should be up in the communal area.

The managing agents will have details of all Leaseholders and will be able to contact the owners of the flat above you.

Alternatively, searching for the name of the block of flats on Companies House may give you details of the Directors / Management Company (if Company Secretary) and Freeholder.

Try Google to find the last letting agent - old Rightmove posts are often available that way. From there, you might find the LL.

Also, are any of the flats owner occupied? If so, they'll know who the managing company is. They might even attend the meetings / know the LL.

The easiest route to resolution should be through your LL though. S/he won't want to lose you. Not many TTs would still be there after all that inconvenience - s/he should be showing you lots of appreciation by now.

Any damage done to your property due to the leaks eg. stain blocking and redecoration will be covered under the landlord's insurance.

I own a ground floor flat and this happened above me. In fact the landlord paid himself first time but when it happened again he put it through the insurance the second time as he did have to have his bathroom floor up etc to cure it properly.

I would put a letter through their door explaining that if they do not provide the landlord's details then you will take action against them personally for these damages.

Are there managing agents too for the flats to whom service charge is paid. If so, they will more than likely have the landlord's details too.

Thanks all, especially PeaFace for the link!

We were friends with the old tenants, but it doesn't appear to be the same landlord. Our letting agent and landlord have been trying to find out the details, but the tenants upstairs are being very obstructive. I'll try the letting agent that rented the flat out to see if they can at least pass my details on to the owners.

It's not a block of flats, just a house converted into three flats, and the third tenant doesn't know who the landlord is either. The mysteriousness is driving me mad!

We really don't want to move - we love the flat and have been here for a while. We've also just taken on two new kitties, and they are really settled. I'm very stubborn - I refuse to allow weirdos upstairs to drive me out of my home!

The flooding only started when the new tenants moved in - we never had problems before, so we're still hopeful it can be resolved. When the leaking starts they will eventually come to the door, but won't allow us access to their flat to see what's leaking - they just say that they will call a repairman to come the next day to fix it . The bin thing is disgusting though - I do not enjoy being greeted by a swam of flies when taking out our rubbish!

Just to add, I don't have any concerns about the child upstairs - she's young, and appears happy and well cared for when I see her in the hallway. The screaming doesn't sound distressed or pained either, just standard toddler screaming. It's just unfortunate that it seems to reverberate through our flat (as does their stomping around)!

Unfortunately I think we may be in a situation like you misssmilla1 - I think there's some serious sub-letting (or sub-sub-letting) going on!

I will continue to text the "tenant" complaining about the leaking/noise/bins etc and maybe I'll drive them away !

If it's a converted house, are the flats leasehold? If so, the freeholder must know who has the leaseholds.

I think you should contact the Council. It could be an environmental health issue or something. Your safety could be at stake.

Good point, I have no idea! I'll write to the letting agent and see!

The letting agent is probably being paid a fair amount of money. Now's the time for them to do something to justify what they're being paid.

A terrorist cell will make any and all attempts to look normal and not attract attention. Causing the neighbors to feel distressed is not what they will do. FFS. Go wear a tin foil hat.

Good news - the letting agent and/or landlord has managed to track down the upstairs landlord! A builder is coming in a few weeks to investigate their pipework, so fingers crossed for no further leaks until then!

Well done! Good luck and best wishes.

Hurrah! Hopefully that will sort the situation out, and in future, you'll all know where to go straight away if the tenants start playing up. :)

There we have it ladies ( and gents )
We now know that terrorists eat copious amounts of pineapple, have lots of noisy sex and regularly flood their neighbours while attempting to do the laundry, have a bath or flush their loo.
If you suspect anything of your neighbours doing any of the above, you must phone the police immediately using the code word ' MyPineappleMunchingNeighbour' followed by 2 verses of Kumbaya.

To the OP, have you considered contacting your local council? They have a dept that deals with private renters. They may be able to track the landlord and get it sorted for you.

Apologies, I did not see your last post prior to my posting OP.
Glad you have got it sorted out.

However my terrorist advice still stands

Thanks all! No further flooding as yet... I remain optimistic...

I will continue to be vigilant in monitoring for possible terrorist activities upstairs!