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Nightmare neighbour and their landlord isn’t replying to our messages….

24 replies

Lou1913 · 07/08/2025 15:49

Anyone with any ideas, knowledge or experience.

Next door is tenanted. We’ve regularly been denied driveway access and daily denial to the path to our front door. I’ve spoken to her about the path but she was very entitled - told me to walk over her grass and even told me this place costs twice as much as her previous home. The path access is generally better now.

The parking blockages seem to be due to the sheer volume of cars dropping and picking up children from there before and after school.

There have been other niggles too and it’s now exceeded our tolerance due to at least one car being damaged. Recently installed CCTV confirms the second vehicle damage - adults chatting and unsupervised children running a-mock made their car door bounce and take the paint off our car door.

My husband approached her asking for children on the driveway to be supervised. Showed her the footage. Within an hour the driver arrived, she was hostile and threatening. Her husband sent her inside during the exchange. This was followed by teenagers that attend there before and after school coming over the front gardens, mine included, to get to the tenants home and going out of their way to walk by the damaged car, stop by it and stare at the cctv.

We’ve written a letter of concern over nuisance behaviour due to physical damage, harassment and an excessive number of visitors straining the shared access drive for two ‘residential’ properties.

Two agents have refused to be responsible; but have been empathetic and helpful. The second agent said they do know the landlord and if we emailed would pass on. The second agent told us the tenant has been in to see then and tell them she looks after her grandchildren. Also that we have refused to contribute to driveway remodelling costs. The drive hasn’t been remodelled. Though she/landlord has replaced grass for gravel on that property’s front garden.

Turns out the landlord manages his own properties. He, recently, didn’t forewarn us that the fence was being sorted and workmen would need to work from our back garden. I came through my front door and there they were! My rear ground floor windows were open.

The agent good to their word contacted the landlord and he has messaged asking what’s the problem. My husband was at work and sent a brief reply saying there’s been problems and the tenant has become hostile and we need to log a complaint. My husband that evening messaged to say did the agent pass on the emails. The landlord replied to say ‘yes have documents but haven’t looked at them’. Three days on and not heard a dicky bird…..

So I guess what I am getting to….if he is this uninterested where do we stand? Can we do anything else? The agent was very bothered by the footage of the teenagers but can the landlord really ignore it?

We cannot afford another car body shop bill, and with this cake and eat it attitude she has, and the deployment of her visitors and teenagers crusade of antagonism and hostility we, me particularly, are feeling very vulnerable.

I am fully aware there are legal options but all of which I believe black-list the property if we want to sell. Which we weren’t planning on but have to be mindful of. Plus it appears the cost to move is money better spent. I have always loved this house and it’s been my safe space but someone ‘borrowing’ next door seems untouchable….

OP posts:
ByMerryDeer · 07/08/2025 15:55

You simply can’t reason with these sorts of people, it just won’t occur to them to be respectful towards others. Even if the landlord wanted to do something, there isn’t a lot they could do under new legislation. Life is really too short, I’d sell or rent out.

thebraveryofbeingoutofrange · 07/08/2025 15:58

This is so upsetting and frustrating. Would you want to continue living there anyway now OP?

edited to add: I doubt you’d ever be able to relax and that would be a huge thing for me.

AranciataMele · 10/08/2025 07:58

Firstly, there are many good tenants and many good landlords.

Some of my friends are tenants and I wished they lived next door to me.

However, since the house next door became a rental, I've had to deal with low level anti social behaviour: loud music, inconsiderate parking, neglect of the property, and other things.

You say in your post that the cost to move is money better spent. Maybe that is the way forward for you - a detached property if you can afford it.

Wot23 · 10/08/2025 10:12

just because there is a landlord in the background does not fundamentally alter the position regarding neighbour disputes

the LL cannot tell their tenants how to live their lives anymore than the neighbour on your other side can tell you how to live yours.

If you have evidence of criminal damage by an identifiable person then sue them. Clearly there is now a bad relationship between you and the tenant, so and further action you take is unlikely to improve the situation.

as for the LL's responsibility, read this:
Landlord's Duty to Neighbours | No Letting Go

Landlord's Duty to Neighbours | No Letting Go

If neighbours complain, are landlords liable for the actions of their tenants? Time to settle this once and for all! Read on for more.

https://nolettinggo.co.uk/blog/do-landlords-have-a-duty-of-care-to-neighbours/

SunnySideDeepDown · 10/08/2025 10:18

ByMerryDeer · 07/08/2025 15:55

You simply can’t reason with these sorts of people, it just won’t occur to them to be respectful towards others. Even if the landlord wanted to do something, there isn’t a lot they could do under new legislation. Life is really too short, I’d sell or rent out.

Edited

This. They simply don’t care, selfish f**ers.

Either give up and move (not that you should have to) or bombard the landlord with every single incident until he’s had enough.

I feel for you, idiot neighbours are the worst.

anniegun · 10/08/2025 10:21

Landlords cant control poor behaviour, your dispute is with the neighbour not them. Report to the police

BondAway25 · 10/08/2025 10:25

Council? Police?

do whatever you'd do if they owned it.

if you can afford to move & can logistically move (jobs/schools/available houses) then do that if you want to, but no guarantee new neighbours will be any different.

Internaut · 10/08/2025 10:32

I'd be wondering about whether neighbour is running a childminding business, and whether she is licensed to do so. Can you check that out?

Fenellasbum · 10/08/2025 10:41

Internaut · 10/08/2025 10:32

I'd be wondering about whether neighbour is running a childminding business, and whether she is licensed to do so. Can you check that out?

I should think no licence, no tax, no anything. She sounds like she doesn’t pay attention to social norms

Lurkingandlearning · 10/08/2025 10:56

Landlords in England are required to buy licenses from the council before they can rent out property. The licences were supposed to reduce anti social behaviour (can’t think how). So maybe write to the landlord again advising him if he doesn’t deal with the issues within 14 days you will refer the matter to the council. If he doesn’t have a licence he will probably deal with it before the 14 days. Even if he does have a license, he is unlikely to want to deal with the council so will probably act quickly

latetothefisting · 10/08/2025 11:36

honestly I'd forget about the landlord and do as pp said and act if they were also owners and do whatever you'd do in those circumstances.

I used to live next door to a nightmare family but there was no way of finding out who their landlord was.

Had another neighbour who was fine but who didn't have their landlord's details themselves - it all went via an agency who said they were passing messages on but couldn't make the landlord respond - so when trying to arrange stuff like a new fence there was nothing I could do.

tbh why would the landlord want to get involved? they aren't affected by your neighbours. as long as they keep getting paid every month it's more beneficial to them to keep them there.

canyon2000 · 10/08/2025 12:44

Lurkingandlearning · 10/08/2025 10:56

Landlords in England are required to buy licenses from the council before they can rent out property. The licences were supposed to reduce anti social behaviour (can’t think how). So maybe write to the landlord again advising him if he doesn’t deal with the issues within 14 days you will refer the matter to the council. If he doesn’t have a licence he will probably deal with it before the 14 days. Even if he does have a license, he is unlikely to want to deal with the council so will probably act quickly

Could you tell me the name of this licence please? I have been renting a house out for the last 9 years but have never heard of this. Thanks!

thecatneuterer · 10/08/2025 12:46

Lurkingandlearning · 10/08/2025 10:56

Landlords in England are required to buy licenses from the council before they can rent out property. The licences were supposed to reduce anti social behaviour (can’t think how). So maybe write to the landlord again advising him if he doesn’t deal with the issues within 14 days you will refer the matter to the council. If he doesn’t have a licence he will probably deal with it before the 14 days. Even if he does have a license, he is unlikely to want to deal with the council so will probably act quickly

Not true. Some areas have licensing. Lots don't.

thecatneuterer · 10/08/2025 12:51

SunnySideDeepDown · 10/08/2025 10:18

This. They simply don’t care, selfish f**ers.

Either give up and move (not that you should have to) or bombard the landlord with every single incident until he’s had enough.

I feel for you, idiot neighbours are the worst.

And what do you think the landlord will be able to do about it? He/she won't be able to evict as Section 21 is about to be abolished. And the bar and standard of proof for evicting on the grounds of antisocial behaviour will almost certainly be very high. The landlord has no power to do anything and will just block anyone who decides to bombard him with messages.

Lurkingandlearning · 10/08/2025 13:10

canyon2000 · 10/08/2025 12:44

Could you tell me the name of this licence please? I have been renting a house out for the last 9 years but have never heard of this. Thanks!

It is actually called a Landlord license. Your local council probably has information on their website. Hope that helps

Dstoat · 10/08/2025 13:10

Landlords have been made ineffective by the government. There’s really nothing he can do.

canyon2000 · 10/08/2025 13:14

Lurkingandlearning · 10/08/2025 13:10

It is actually called a Landlord license. Your local council probably has information on their website. Hope that helps

Thanks, I just looked and we don't have that here.I guess it isn't a national requirement but depends on your council. You only need a licence for an HMO here.

Wot23 · 10/08/2025 18:37

Lurkingandlearning · 10/08/2025 10:56

Landlords in England are required to buy licenses from the council before they can rent out property. The licences were supposed to reduce anti social behaviour (can’t think how). So maybe write to the landlord again advising him if he doesn’t deal with the issues within 14 days you will refer the matter to the council. If he doesn’t have a licence he will probably deal with it before the 14 days. Even if he does have a license, he is unlikely to want to deal with the council so will probably act quickly

that is not true
landlord licencing is not a universal requirement in England, it applies to certain types of tenancy (large HMO) or in certain areas (selective licensing), but there are loads of LL who do not require to be licenced. (yet)

SunnySideDeepDown · 10/08/2025 19:04

thecatneuterer · 10/08/2025 12:51

And what do you think the landlord will be able to do about it? He/she won't be able to evict as Section 21 is about to be abolished. And the bar and standard of proof for evicting on the grounds of antisocial behaviour will almost certainly be very high. The landlord has no power to do anything and will just block anyone who decides to bombard him with messages.

Perhaps. When does section 21 get demolished?

thecatneuterer · 10/08/2025 19:44

SunnySideDeepDown · 10/08/2025 19:04

Perhaps. When does section 21 get demolished?

Probably this Autumn, and it will be immediate. Assuming the tenants are still in contract then that's not likely to end for a few more months, by then it will almost certainly be too late.

SunnySideDeepDown · 10/08/2025 19:54

thecatneuterer · 10/08/2025 19:44

Probably this Autumn, and it will be immediate. Assuming the tenants are still in contract then that's not likely to end for a few more months, by then it will almost certainly be too late.

If a change in policy isn’t definite then I don’t think OP should be basing her plan around it. As it stands, with the information we have today, her best bet is to keep complaining and logging each incident with the landlord.

thecatneuterer · 10/08/2025 19:58

SunnySideDeepDown · 10/08/2025 19:54

If a change in policy isn’t definite then I don’t think OP should be basing her plan around it. As it stands, with the information we have today, her best bet is to keep complaining and logging each incident with the landlord.

It's definite. It's just going through the Lords and the proposed implementation will be some time in the Autumn.

Lurkingandlearning · 10/08/2025 22:18

Wot23 · 10/08/2025 18:37

that is not true
landlord licencing is not a universal requirement in England, it applies to certain types of tenancy (large HMO) or in certain areas (selective licensing), but there are loads of LL who do not require to be licenced. (yet)

Thank you. I didn’t know that. I assumed all LLs would be treated equally.

Lou1913 · 11/08/2025 12:29

Thanks all. I fear the ride is bumpy whatever we choose to do to protect our investment and sanity. Whilst not being paranoid, we are a mid terrace and yesterday, house full next door and a large stone/small rock hit our open French doors - like the stones on their frontage. Their door was shut but they have side access to the garden so don’t have to use the back door. Nothing from our driveway cctv or Ring. Stones don’t fly alone….

Whilst it’s a private landlord I am going to ring the council to speak through with them about the situation. We have asked the landlord if he’s had sight of the documents. His response a week ago was ‘yeah, just not looked at them’. Haven’t heard anything since…… though the tenant has weeded front drive, mown the grass, and tidied the hedge and also reminded us for a few days that she can and will block the pathway! It’s so pathetic. I don’t need a ‘relationship’ with her I just want to come and go freely from my home without the need for Kevlar, and know cars and property is all safe. Life itself is difficult enough.

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