That my neighbour’s paranoia is not my problem.

[Libertylawn]

I have lived in my house for 20 years and it’s got a loft conversion which was done originally as a granny flat, so little kitchen and bathroom, 2 bedrooms. We are semi rural but near a couple of major employers and a business park and so I started letting out the annex to contractors. They are all fully vetted and usually just down for a couple of weeks or so. The rooms overlook farmland and my garden and also my neighbour’s garden.

My neighbour when she found out about the lodgers went bananas and has tried to report me to anyone that will listen, because she firmly believes it isn’t safe and as a consequence she and her children won’t go in the garden AT ALL, in case my lodgers are watching her. Why the hell they would want to watch her or her kids is beyond me.

The neighbour has kids the same age as mine, and we have mutual friends. She has cried - tears crying - saying how worried she is and that I’m ruining her dream house. The houses are detached, there’s no shared drive etc so this is all on the basis of the chances of nutters watching her put her washing on the line. I’ve ignored her so far but this morning I got a card through the door from her begging that I stop letting out the annex to anyone “except maybe relatives.” I’ve tried talking to her but am getting nowhere. She’s crackers isn’t she?

Fuck me, this thread is bananas.

It’s getting steadily more bananaser. Next door asked me if I’d got her card. I said yes I had, thank you but I really think she’s worrying about nothing. She said she didn’t like it because it “dragged the area down” but couldn’t explain how/why and said that I have no idea of the background of “those people.” There was no reassuring her, she was full on Stranger Danger mode and got really upset and walked off and slammed the front door.
So it went as well as expected.

"Random men" can move next door to you any time they like, why should the OP take a financial hit because her neighbour is paranoid, anyone could move into the house the other side at any time, it's just not reasonable to expect this not to happen- it's a free country.

She isn’t!

No difference to doing air bnb, like many 100s of people do

Yep, when batshit people do batshit things, the question to ask is what need are they trying to fulfil? But whatever it is, you are not the one who has the obligation to fulfil it and completely not engaging with her is the only solution.

Read the post.

You have done your best.

All you can do now is, in the words of the penguins of Madagascar...."Smile and wave boys, smile and wave"

Ignore the crazy.

I have read the post thank you, all of them. First OP says that these random men have no contact with these strangers, two locked doors etc. Then she says that her kids have ‘minimal’ contact with them. So which is it?

Oh and “Strapping teens” can still be victims of crimes.

If you've read all the posts then you already know the answer - having short term tenants allows the OP to pay her mortgage. I guess with two locked doors between them and her teens she is happy with the risk minimisation.

I'd suggest you ignore her from here on in. (Granted., I am seeing this through the prism of my neighbour who has form for similar nuts behaviour and who shoves notes through our door).

Also- just because she sees fit to shove notes through your door does not mean you have to read them. I'd ignore entirely. Of course people who are wholly self absorbed and like to draw others into their dramas respond- badly- to that but by not engaging you are actually protecting yourself to a certain extent.

From someone who has also experienced batshit neighbours, the only things that made a difference were:

• getting a ring doorbell (amazing how people are able to modify their behaviour when they know they are being recorded)
• blocking phone numbers and emails

It didn't stop the notes through the door sadly.

Two locked doors and minimal contact - the contact being (if at all) pulling on to the drive at the same time and muttering “hi.”

I kinda think you're a being a bit risky having lots of random lodgers in your granny flat when you have no idea who they are - you sound a bit sheltered to not realise the dangers - but do agree your neighbour is a bit weird with HER REACTION for herself and her kids.

If anyone is gonna be in danger, it'll be you and your kids if you do accidentally lodge a psycho. They probably wouldn't bother with her with you guys so close by.

OP, the only thing I'd be concerned about is if phsyco neighbour reports you to council, would you get put onto business rates. Iam no expert but is it down as running a business from home. These vindictive old f***s will go to any lengths to cause a bit of agro unfortunately 😕

There are rental sites for lodging and other rental types which offer a vetting service. Potential renters have to fill in a questionnaire giving personal details and a lot ask for references from previous landlords

So literally no different to you and them living in flats one above the other, or in the other side of a semi detached house with adjacent drives, @Libertylawn. It doesn’t sound unsafe to me - if anything, it is a bit safer because you do get to select these lodgers, and have their employer’s details - you wouldn’t have that if they were just neighbours.

It sounds to me as if your neighbour’s fears are pretty irrational, and as such, there isn’t much you can do- or should - do to placate her fears.

This is what l’d be concerned about. If the loft conversion is self contained it could potentially be classed as a separate dwelling so would impact council tax and possibly attract business rates.

I think if OP doesn’t want to fall foul of her OTT neighbour she needs to make sure she’s on top of a few things:

That the building work is up to code - it’s unlawful to rent out a property that is potentially unsafe. If it was an existing conversion when she bought the house a quick check of the surveyors report might be in order.

Check with the council re- any permissions that might be needed and double check the council tax position.

Check with her home insurer to make sure they are aware she is renting out a portion of her home, so that there are no breaches of terms and conditions.

OP obviously knows to declare the rental income for tax purposes and the tax implications for claiming associated expenses. Isn’t there a scheme which allows the first £7,500 of rental income to be tax free ?

And l hate to say this but a quick check on my local council website advises that renting out a loft can lead to increased foot traffic, noise, or other disruptions to your primary residence, and that immediate neighbours should be informed of the intention beforehand. Mrs OTT may well have cause for complaint if there is excessive noise as a result of the extra comings and goings.

I’m wondering if the few who also see these lodgers as a threat also avoid hotels as possibly dangerous environments?
There seems to be similar levels of security (lockable doors) and even more opportunity to interact (shared entrance & restaurant) in hotels.
This level of anxiety must be very restrictive.

Pretty irrational is putting it very mildly, to be fair.

Dragging the area down? So she's worried about her house price should she decide to sell? Even with that argument it wouldn't affect her house price.

You've tried OP you cannot do anymore. There is no reasoning with her.