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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not reply to this letter

45 replies

ThomasinaMouse · 28/07/2018 16:10

Received a letter from a solicitor today saying there was a'dog bite incident' at my (tenanted) house last year and can I provide the tenants details for their client to pursue it.
Rang tenant, he said a takeaway delivery man (delivering to next door to them) fell down the steps outside and accused their dog of biting him. Tenant said dog had ran up to him, he'd called dog back, takeaway guy has been startled and fallen down the steps outside. For clarity he was on the wrong steps, my tenant's steps instead of next door's. Takeaway man went to police and said hed been bitten by a dog. Police dismissed the claim, said the injuries were clearly not from a dog bite.

Tenant was very upset when I phoned. I trust my tenants, they're lovely people. I also don't believe their dog is the type to bite anyone,and the police have apparently already dismissed the claim. What would you do? Not reply? I don't think I'm obligated to provide my tenant's details anyway, aren't they data protected?

I might ring the police and ask but they'd perhaps not be able to tell me anything anyway.

OP posts:
Fattymcfaterson · 28/07/2018 16:30

I would assume that giving out tenant details would breach data protection? But surely they already have the details if police were Involved?!

twoheaped · 28/07/2018 16:31

I'd ignore, obviously a chancer trying to make some money.

Original poster
ThomasinaMouse · 28/07/2018 16:33

That's what I thought fatty. I'm sure if I wrote a letter to the council or another landlord asking for details of a tenant they'd tell me to get lost. And yes, well the police willl have the names etc but I wouldn't assume the man accusing them would be privy to those details. It's just a bit unnerving. Also they must have got my details from the land registry but, I own with a partner not solely and the letter had only my name on it not both, which I find a bit odd too.

OP posts:
UpstartCrow · 28/07/2018 16:33

Tell them to use the police report.

Fatted · 28/07/2018 16:36

I take it he's trying to get compensation for personal injury? His solicitor should be contacting the police and requesting details of the incident if it was reported to them.

I'd reply telling him to speak with police.

Original poster
ThomasinaMouse · 28/07/2018 16:36

Definitely my thoughts too two.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThomasinaMouse · 28/07/2018 16:38

OK, good idea. Surely theyd already know to do that (IF their client's story was true whcih I really don't believe it is).

OP posts:
Sugarpiehoneyeye · 28/07/2018 17:01

Ignore the letter Thomas.

MortyVicar · 28/07/2018 17:17

Don't ignore the letter. It doesn't reflect well on you, suggests you don't care and cba.

Reply saying that the police have all the details of the incident, including those of the parties involved, and the solicitor should ask them.

glintandglide · 28/07/2018 17:20

“Don't ignore the letter. It doesn't reflect well on you, suggests you don't care and cba”

Although I agree you may as well reply referring them to the police, I don’t understand why it matters how this reflects on the OP? It’s only a solictors firm, who cares what their reflection on her is?

user1457017537 · 28/07/2018 17:25

Just because someone writes to you you are under no obligation to reply or furnish them with third party details. I think we are becoming a bit like the US with regard to ambulance chasing solicitors and they may be looking to involve you as the owner of the property. I would recommend any landlord or business owner to have indemnity insurance as well as public liability insurance.

SofiaAmes · 28/07/2018 17:37

I'm confused. Anyone who ought to have the tenants' details already has them. The supposedly injured party knows where they live because in theory that's where he was injured. And the police were involved, so they would have their names and contact information which the injured party should already have since he's the one who made the police report and therefore is entitled to a copy of it.

It sounds to me like a lazy lawyer (who should already have this information in his/her files or know how to obtain it) or someone trying to do something underhand. You have no legal or ethical obligation to answer the letter, so don't. And in fact, as others have said, I don't think that data protection laws allow you to release personal information about your tenants unless an official data protection/police request has been made.

lindalee3 · 28/07/2018 17:43

@MortyVicar

Don't ignore the letter. It doesn't reflect well on you, suggests you don't care and cba.

So? Confused

Why should the OP give a shit about what some random nobody that she doesn't even know, thinks of her? I wouldn't give a shit, and would not even respond.

blacksax · 28/07/2018 17:50

Is it a personal injury claims solicitor by any remote chance?

Just reply saying that the police have already investigated the incident, so the solicitor should contact them.

Jaxhog · 28/07/2018 17:53

I would refer them to the police. Not least because if they are injury lawyers, they may come after you instead. You don't want that hassle.

Anonymumm · 28/07/2018 17:53

Personally, I would ignore it.

AnnieOH1 · 28/07/2018 17:57

I wouldn't confirm or deny anything about the incident. Just a simple letter back stating you can't release the information due to Data Protection. Anything else could (I stress could) be taken as circumstantial evidence against your tenant.

GnotherGnu · 28/07/2018 17:57

They can presumably get the tenants' details from the electoral register and/or council tax records anyway.

AcrossthePond55 · 28/07/2018 18:21

Keeping in mind that I live in the litigious USA, I'd be seeing a solicitor before I made any reply.

Landlords here have been held liable for dog bites. Some courts have held that a landlord can be held liable for pretty much anything that happens on their property, regardless of whether or not they are actually 'at fault' in causing it.

MortyVicar · 28/07/2018 18:22

Sorry for my earlier comment, I couldn't think of how to phrase it and ended up doing it badly.

What I was trying to say (and I may not do it any better this time) is that if the OP replies they're off her back. If they just think she doesn't care, they might get heavier.

I may also be talking out of my arse, in which case I apologise.

GabsAlot · 28/07/2018 18:37

across but the dog didnt bite the dleivery man the plice cinfirmed that already

theres no law here about faling down stairs-thats his own insurance to sort out

perfectstorm · 28/07/2018 18:37

Ignore it. You have no obligation whatsoever to enable an ambulance chaser, and this chancer is just going to cause more drama for the tenants. The solicitors won't have a view of you in any direction - you're no more of interest to them than a database would be.

perfectstorm · 28/07/2018 18:40

Incidentally, people often seem to think solicitors have some sort of official standing, like the police or HMRC or something. They don't. They have a professional qualification, that's all. They have no moe power over you than this bloke's plumber would.

Original poster
ThomasinaMouse · 28/07/2018 18:45

The tenant said one thing the police said was he shouldn't have been on their steps anyway, as a delivery driver he is only insured to be on the land of those he is delivering to so even if the dog had have bitten him , he shouldn't have been there. I don't know. But thanks for the replies anyway and yes perfect that's a good point! Im going to internet search the solicitor, see if they are one of the 'personal injury' types.

OP posts:
glintandglide · 28/07/2018 18:58

? I don’t really understand how insurance is relevant or why the police would be interested in that?

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