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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic · 27/12/2023 22:04

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.

So tell him! Say you had no idea, you're sorry and you'll sort it with the management company. This is on them, that's what they're there for and if they continue to do a shit job then you get another one.

Floopani · 27/12/2023 22:04

You just expected the rental money to come in and not have to take any responsibility? YABU.

Caffeineislife · 27/12/2023 22:05

It sounds like your management company is not doing their job. I imagine the neighbours have reported their concerns to the management company and had no response or nothing done. They are now escalating their complaints to you. What instructions have you given the management company? Is it just find me tenants and deal with them? Or did you ask them to screen tenants and you got final pick?

As the landlord it is your job to deal with any anti social problems. The fact the Tennant is anti- social and causing issues suggests you are going go have a lengthy fight on your hands getting them out and may find there is significant damage after they leave.

theduchessofspork · 27/12/2023 22:05

It’s your job to manage the agency who appear not to be doing theirs.

I’m guessing she’s had more disruption than one evening.

Apologise, get the tenant out, fire the agency.

Beckafett · 27/12/2023 22:05

How do they have your number?

BrainInAJar · 27/12/2023 22:05

Reverse? The landlord has sent the neighbour a shitty text for ruining their evening?

queenofthewild · 27/12/2023 22:05

We had a nightmare neighbour. Several times we complained to the landlord due to regular police presence and other antisocial behaviour.

The landlord shrugged it off because the rent was being paid on time.

Another year we put up with it before forensics ripped the place apart when one of the tenants was arrested.

Get them out before it gets worse.

doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic · 27/12/2023 22:05

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!

This!

You've taken the whole thing from a totally wrong angle. Put your victim card away and pull your big girl boots on and sort it out

JMSA · 27/12/2023 22:07

If this post is even for real - as this level of selfishness surely has to be a wind up - then YABU.

Delassalle · 27/12/2023 22:07

I would think that many an evening for your neighbours is ruined by your revolting tenant.

You must address this with the agency asap and serve notice on the tenant and then use a different agency for acquiring a new tenant.

jasjas3008 · 27/12/2023 22:09

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.

Well you have by having a totally hands off approach to your property and who lives in it, why haven't you kept more of a watchful eye on your investment.

TBH Your decisions are fucking up people lives, not jsut your twee evening.

For context, i had a neighbour and LL like you, we ended up selling for 1000s less than it was worth to be rid of the situation.

CharlieCoCo · 27/12/2023 22:09

how does she know that you arent responsible though? shes reported it multiple times and nothing has happened and now thr police have come round. shes probably terrfied and desperate for you to sort it out. which you now need to.

ActDottie · 27/12/2023 22:10

Your whole post is about you and what impact this is having on you. You, you, you, you.

The neighbour probably reached out to you because they’ve tried other avenues and they’re desperate to be able to feel safe in their own home.

If I received a message like this I would feel so guilty and mortified that my tenant was impacting other’s lives so negatively.

DragonCatcher · 27/12/2023 22:13

You are ridiculous for moaning that they upset your evening. I really hope you've not sent a message back having a go at them!

At current, this is an accusation against your tenant so don't treat it as 100% fact but definitely don't ignore this.

Let them know you will look in to this and question the management company. Ask the neighbour to email you the complaints they've made to the estate agents/police with the dates too so you've got the information you need.

MorningSunshineSparkles · 27/12/2023 22:13

You need to take responsibility for your tenants whether or not you have handed over management of the property to a company.

CwmYoy · 27/12/2023 22:13

You pay the agent to manage your property. No point in having an agent if the neighbours expect you to do something.

Tell the person you'll speak to the agent and that's who they should be dealing with in future.

If they call again block the number.

katepilar · 27/12/2023 22:14

How do you think they should text you? Send a text the day before to warn you that they are sending a text?

Caffeineislife · 27/12/2023 22:14

@queenofthewild has a good point. It happened in a block of flats near our uni house. The flat was a growing farm. We had the knock from police asking about comings and goings as it was on our street. 3 days later it was raided. Everything was ripped out by the tenants to make more growing room. There was £££ of damage. It took the owner months and months to sort.

WillowCraft · 27/12/2023 22:15

I think you need to be annoyed with the management company not the neighbour. Find out what's going on and sort it out. As for being shaken up because someone has said you're putting people at risk, I think you need to toughen up a bit. You sound like you don't care about the situation as long as you aren't held responsible. It wasn't your fault before because you didn't know. Now you know so deal with it.

Balloonhearts · 27/12/2023 22:16

The letting agents however have not been doing their job and are acting on your behalf. I'd be thanking the neighbour tbh as you are paying them for a job they aren't doing. Ultimately its your responsibility so if they are letting things slip it's better you know.

Asifiwouldnt · 27/12/2023 22:17

But you did know some of it. Smoking in communal areas puts them at risk. Causing a disturbance at night is a risk to their mental health.
You could have apologised and said you don’t realise it had escalated and thank her for alerting you and assure her you will investigate and act on the information.

Then talk to the agency to get the details of what’s been happening and if appropriate give the tenant notice and /or discuss the concerns with him and give a warning. You can do this via the agency but you have to take change here. And probably accept you might have an empty rent free flat for a bit.

Just sitting back and taking the rent and saying ‘nothing to do with me as I use an agency’ is a bit cowardly tbh OPH and you have to get involved in this one and protect the other people living there from the utter misery of an antisocial neighbour (if that’s what he is- you need all the info first)

PuzzledObserver · 27/12/2023 22:19

Good landlords provide decent quality accommodation, charge a fair rent, and deal with problems promptly once they are made aware of them. That includes problems with the property, and problems caused by the tenant.

Bad landlords fall down on one or more of the above.

You’re not a bad landlord, or a bad person, because someone who passed all the letting criteria turned out to be antisocial. But it IS up to you to deal with it appropriately.

Also perhaps have a word with your agency and find out what sort of references the tenant provided from a previous landlord. You might want to tighten up on process, e.g. ask to see them yourself in future and be more involved in the process of choosing future tenants.

We were once talked (by the agent) into accepting a tenant who was in a new relationship and had failed the credit check - they offered to pay a year’s rent up front. We accepted. At the end of the year, they paid one month’s rent, and that was it. By the time we got them out they had cost us £6K in unpaid rent, £1,500 in legal and court fees, and it cost £4,000 to put right the mess they had made of the property. At least we got to keep the deposit.

After that, we resolved to never again accept a tenant who didn’t pass all the checks and have immaculate references.

LaughingCat · 27/12/2023 22:20

Oh, you poor thing! There you were, having a lovely evening with your family when some heartless randomer destroyed your peace and tranquility by bringing the repeated bad behaviour of your tenant to your attention, behaviour that’s attracted police attention and put other tenants at risk, and let you know that your letting agents are as useful as a chocolate fireguard. How on earth could any of that be your responsibility? It’s just too much for you to bear!

God, woman…I’d have been mortified if any of our tenants in our old flat had so much as crossed building management, never mind the police! I’d have been sending a sternly worded email to the letting company demanding to know the facts and followed it up with a visit in person the next day. And I would have been falling over myself to apologise to the poor person ringing up, promising to look into it immediately and making it absolutely clear that I’d had no idea what was going on but that I’d do everything in my power to get to the bottom of it and resolve the situation.

This person did you a massive favour by cluing you into this (unless it’s malicious, naturally, and untrue). Stop worrying about your fragile bloody sensibilities and sort out your mess.

Gnomegnomegnome · 27/12/2023 22:20

Surely it’s better to know?

Now you can do something about it.

Just reply and explain that you weren’t aware and thanks for letting you know.

NotDoingOk · 27/12/2023 22:21

Have you been carrying out inspections? If not, you need to give notice of an inspection straight away and see what's going on there.

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