Batshit Neighbours - how would you respond to this message?

[carolinesfrog]

This message is from the neighbours of a rental property my Mum has.

Neighbours HATE the tenants, who are perfectly lovely people. Neighbours like to complain a lot. Neighbours have sent this message.

How would you reply?!

I think your original instinct was correct. Not least because if any of the theoretical visitors for the theoretical business do damage his car and drive off, the tenant will have their contact details to pass on. Ditto with their metal basket. Arguably if a visitor does damage his car he's in a much better position than if it was a passing stranger.

It's not generally illegal to run a business from a domestic dwelling, so no-one is going to be in trouble.

That depends entirely on the business. From what the texts say, there are a lot of visitors coming to the property which means they may need planning permission.

www.daslaw.co.uk/blog/4-things-you-need-running-a-business-from-home

I think you first need to check whether the business being run invalidates your buildings insurance. Maybe your neighbour is trying to let you know there’s an issue without being too direct…. If they’ve already felt concerned enough to put in a gabion, which has now been hit, without having moaned to you beforehand, maybe this time there’s a justifiable reason?

The only response you can give is to thank them for their interest but point out your mum is not responsible for the actions of her tenants, and they are not responsible for the actions of thir visitors. Check as well whether there are shared rights over the other's drive, and if the rocks are obstructing that they can be asked to remove them.

the issue of whether the tenants are running a business is between your mother and her tenants.

the issue of the neighbours property being damaged is between them and whoever damaged their property and nothing to do with your mom.

I mean it could just be they've sold a lot of stuff on a market place and a few people have come to pick things up.

It could be they have a lot of friends and family and the neighbour is shit Stirring.

I'd just reply saying you'd look into it, maybe have a chat with the tenants if you feel inclined.

She needs to talk to her tenants are they running a business or do they just have lots of guests

Nice diagram! Somebody must be an absolutely shit driver to have hit that gabion.

However - apart from checking out the business/legals/insurance - your mother is no more responsible for other people's driving than her tenant is.

If a visitor/customer damages neighbour's property, it's neighbour's responsibility to take it up with whoever the driver was.
So it makes more sense for the neighbour to invest in cameras, if the tenant's legitimate (?) business is worrying him.
It's really not down to your mother to do so, & pandering to unreasonable people only increases their entitlement & demands.

Yes, it doesn't sound batshit to me. If I had neighbours who had cars constantly coming and going, driving dangerously, I'd also be worried about my car. If the tenants are indeed running a business from the home and thereby creating an unusual amount of traffic, I'd be seriously annoyed with the property's owner for renting it to them instead of a "normal" family/couple that wouldn't create such an inconvenience and extra stress.

Can we have some guesses at what the business is please?

My guess is a brothel

The neighbors gave

1. sent a message complaining about your tenants running a business out of the house.
2. followed the time honored mumsnet tradition of placing a barrier on a shared drive when there is a dispute.

I would check on the rules of your tenant running a business and replace or repair the divider the neighbor placed on the drive.

I might take 'a lot' with a pinch of salt from these people. For all we know it's not many visitors at all but they're annoyed because of one incident.

The batshit thing is contacting the landlord. It sounds to me like they got no joy complaining to the tenants, so are now trying it on with the landlord.

I would reply saying thank you for your message, pointing out that I am not responsible for the behaviour of visitors and saying that if their property has been damaged I suggest they contact their insurance company.

I think you need to check it out. Bat shit neighbour in your eyes or not.

If they are running a company from the house you mum needs to find out it could affect her insurance. Also depending on what it is if they are the council may need to be involved. It would appear if they are it is bringing extra people onto a shared drive and we all know the council love parking arguments over companies bringing in too much traffic. Also I’d advice bat shit to get cctv and report every bit of Damage committed by the tenant/their friends/customers to the police for insurance claims.

If lots of strangers are parking in that driveway because of the tenant''s business, I think the neighbor is entitled to feel very upset. It looks as if your mother's tenant is using the very convenient parking in an inconsiderate way. I have no problem with the bag of rocks, either.

Exactly this.
Not quite sure what's batshit about the message?!

the batshittery (and snobbishness re tenants) is the fear that because they're tenants obviously everyone who visits will be lawless scum. I'd point that out to the batshit neighbours and tell them to pack in the fear-mongering divisive language.

I'd point out to the tenants that there are rumblings and to make sure they have all permissions needed and to tell their clients to be observant and careful

If wfh means ringing your clients, booking appointments and going to them then that is one thing.
But if your clients are coming to your house to receive services then permission and insurances are needed.
If a client of the tenant fell downstairs because of faulty carpet fixing etc, then the landlord could theoretically be sued for damages.
First you need to find out whether there is a business, and what sort of business, and how many visiting cars that business generates.
Only then can you judge whether NDN's concerns are valid.

I’d respond with “thank you for letting me know”, and if inclined to be nice she could add “I’ll look into it”.

Thats enough to shut down the discussion for now. No need for apologies, arguments etc. brief and brisk.

I would reply “Hi, sorry to hear that there are traffic issues with the road. You may wish to speak to the local council as they may have ideas and options to increase road safety.”

BUT if the tenant is running a business from home then your mum should check whether that’s allowed under (a) local council rules and (b) any mortgage/insurance on the property.

If for example the house burns down and the insurance company finds out that there was a business there, your mum could find that the insurer will not pay out.

i’d just add… don’t assume they are running a business. People who are close to their more extended family (which can be cultural) can generate 5 plus cars a day of just extending family dropping off/picking up in laws/ aunts/uncles /cousins / grand parents/ food. All in and out in less than an hour. Throw in a bit of wilful ignorance on recognising the car due to not enjoying the disturbance and there’s your “business.”

2 options
"Go away and mind your own business."
or
"Hopefully your heap of rocks isn't encroaching on our drive, other than that, go away and mind your own business."

If their cage is encroaching/blocking the drive get your solicitor to write to them telling them to shift it (and to mind their own business).

You've never worked for the local council, have you?
The number of random "who deals with this shit? I know Pussycat can answer" calls I used to get was amazing.
They will take the complaining neighbours name and number and promise a call back from the person "in charge of random shit", then hang up and carry on with their day.

I'd have a word with the tenants -see if they are running a business as PP say it could be just visitors and the neighbours making assumptions.

If they are - check what rental agreement says and try and work out if you have any liability or need to do anything.

Then I'd get in touch - say any property damage is between them and the person who caused it and say you have looked into the business situation.

As you've drawn the rocks, can I assume you've been and had a look recently?