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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Complaint from neighbour re my tenant

120 replies

Belinda5 · 27/12/2023 21:45

I own an apartment that I let out through an agency. I've just had a message from someone in the block complaining that they've had the police knocking on the door today trying to get in touch with my current tenant and asking questions about his movements. This neighbour is saying he's been a nuisance for a while, is on drugs and they've made several complaints to the management company and I need to be more careful about who I let my property to as I'm putting other tenants at risk. Apart from one communication from the management company saying he was causing disturbance at night time, and smoking in communal areas I knew nothing about this. It's really upset me and has ruined a lovely evening with my extended family.
AIBU to think this neighbour shouldn't have texted me like that out of the blue. I will follow up tomorrow but am really shaken at being accused of putting other people at risk. I have handed the letting out of my apartment to an agency and have no say or decision over who it is let out to.

OP posts:
trippily · 27/12/2023 21:47

He sounds like a nightmsre, of course she should text you if she can! Don't be so self centred. Your business decision is someone else's whole life.

CharlieCoCo · 27/12/2023 21:47

if they have made several complaints to management and now had police around, its good they have messaged you to know, as your managment agency clearly arent being helpful, to your neighbours or you. Now you need to call your managment company and find out whats been going on and what the plan is now.

Bonjovispjs · 27/12/2023 21:50

Ruined your evening? Sounds like he's ruining a lot more for them, you need to sort it.

RatatouillePie · 27/12/2023 21:50

You're the LL. You have an antisocial tenant.
I'd be issuing an S21 to expire at the end of his fixed period and find yourself a better tenant that doesn't annoy the neighbours.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 27/12/2023 21:50

The neighbour clearly aren't getting anywhere with the managing agency and if its escalated to the point of police involvement then I think it's fine to message you. I t might nit be your fault but surely you should be aware and so from that point of view they've done you a favour.

And it's just a message so if course its out of the blue, as most contact is...do you think they should have messaged to say they had something to discuss with you or something?

AuntMarch · 27/12/2023 21:50

Yanbu to be annoyed by the situation as you pay the management company to deal with it, but seeing as they are not doing that well enough, I'd thank the neighbour for filling you in, and reassure them that you'll be taking it up with those responsible.

I'd also be worried about the state of my property now. My friend had to fork out far more than the deposit covered when he had bad tenants!

Divebar2021 · 27/12/2023 21:52

Your poor neighbours sound like they’re living next to a nightmare and you’re worried about your ruined evening.

bluewanda · 27/12/2023 21:52

It's really upset me and has ruined a lovely evening with my extended family.

But it sounds like the people living next to your tenant are having numerous dreadful evenings. Surely you see that?

YireosDodeAver · 27/12/2023 21:54

You are being unreasonable to blame the neighbour for disturbing your peace of mind. They have clealy had a lot more days and evenings ruined due to your decisions. Your agent is acting on your behalf and will follow your instructions and work within the parameters you set. If you tell your agent you don't care how antisocial your tenant is as long as you get your rent, they will act on that. Or you can rake the financial hit of getting rid of the antisocial tenant, which is the right thing to do as long as there is good evidence that the antisocial behaviour is happening and not a mendacious false allegation.

Original poster
Belinda5 · 27/12/2023 21:55

It was the part about putting other people in the building at risk that upset me. I have not knowingly put anyone at risk.

OP posts:
DaftyInTheMiddle · 27/12/2023 21:55

How does the neighbour have your number?

If they have made multiple complaints to your agency but you haven’t receive them you need to be blaming the agency, not some poor neighbour who is having their life blighted by an antisocial prick.

LinnieM · 27/12/2023 21:55

AIBU to think this neighbour shouldn't have texted me like that out of the blue. I will follow up tomorrow but am really shaken at being accused of putting other people at risk.

Shaken up? Be serious here.

Your neighbour of the property you own has done the right thing. It seems that they’ve gone through the EA each time instead of coming to you directly. It seems that the company have done fuck all and now that she has police knocking on her door, she ought to let you know about it.

Forget about your evening being ruined, what so you plan to do about it?

Peoplemakemedespair · 27/12/2023 21:55

Yabu. When someone’s complaining about a nuisance neighbour on here, the advice is always to alert the landlord. This is not the management companies responsibility. They deal with letting/checks/contracts etc. They are not the police and they are not the home owner, they do not deal with anti social behaviour or the activities of the tenant outside of anything that’s causing damage to the property. Their responsibility is to alert the owner of complaints, which is exactly what they’ve done. You’ve been told he’s causing a disturbance at night and in the communal areas. That’s on YOU to deal with and sort out!

Ohmylovejune · 27/12/2023 21:55

At least you understand how they've probably been feeling night in, night out, whilst your management agent hasn't been doing their job properly

AnyFucker · 27/12/2023 21:56

Hmm

DaftyInTheMiddle · 27/12/2023 21:57

Belinda5 · 27/12/2023 21:55

It was the part about putting other people in the building at risk that upset me. I have not knowingly put anyone at risk.

But it’s still true. You might not have intentionally done that but you have done by selecting a terrible tenant and by the sounds of it a terrible agency.

LinnieM · 27/12/2023 21:57

Belinda5 · 27/12/2023 21:55

It was the part about putting other people in the building at risk that upset me. I have not knowingly put anyone at risk.

Does anyone knowingly put other people at risk (unless they’re some sort of nutcase)?

Regardless of whether you’ve knowingly done this or not. It’s your property so it’s your responsibility

missmollygreen · 27/12/2023 21:59

Im so sorry you are going through this, it must be so difficult for you.
Im saying that to the neighbour, not you, OP

You did not know about it, now you do. You chose to be a landlord. You take the money, now take the responsibilty.

Mrsgreen100 · 27/12/2023 22:01

Welcome to the real world of being a landlord
it goes with the territory,
get on to your agency and ask for copies of all complaints communication, et cetera
you my need to kick him out , get advice

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 27/12/2023 22:01

I hope you have arranged to visit the neighbour tomorrow - your property, your problem, and thank the neighbour upon arrival for alerting you to the issue and thank them again at the end of your visit.

HP89 · 27/12/2023 22:01

I think the neighbour must be pretty desperate to message you if it’s been going on a while. I think your ruined evening is the least of all this. Hope you get it sorted / get him out!

Whiskerson · 27/12/2023 22:02

Belinda5 · 27/12/2023 21:55

It was the part about putting other people in the building at risk that upset me. I have not knowingly put anyone at risk.

This isn't about you. You're focusing on the wrong things - your feelings and self-image. It's only about you insofar as you're the only one with the authority to evict this man. So please take responsibility and do it.

Have you ever had a neighbour like this? If you have, you'll know how urgently you need to sort this out. Just get the job done and don't get caught up in what the other tenants think of you. They don't think about you at all except as their last chance of getting rid of this man.

Toottooot · 27/12/2023 22:02

Shamezies for you.

BooBooBaloo · 27/12/2023 22:02

As the owner and landlord the ultimate responsibility for your property and the person in it lies with you, you can't just take the money and shrug your shoulders abdicating any sort of responsibility!

Clearly if they have made multiple complaints to the letting agency and you a) don't know there is an issue b) nothing has been done, then you have an issue with your letting agency as well as your tenant.

You need to get a thicker skin as a landlord if this has 'shaken' you. Your neighbour has every right to contact you about issues at your property

HP89 · 27/12/2023 22:04

ps. I actually think you should THANK your neighbour you claim to be unreasonable for messaging. Now you are aware of what is going on in your property!