Unruly tenants

[Fubar]

The wife owns a terraced house in town that is let out to a polish couple. Their next door neighbour messages me occasionally to complain that they are parking in his space or they are being noisy. Hes a bit of a wet weekend to be honest and moans about everything. He called the police last week apparently as he reckons they weren't adhering to isolation rules.
He's now gone to his solicitor as he reckons they are being a real nuscience. Are we liable for the behaviour of tenants. I don't want to be running up solicitor bills.
I've got a feeling they have got more people living in the house than are on the tenancy agreement. Seems to be a common practice whereby a couple get the let and then others move in to help subsidise the rent.

 

[Wellytrack]

Your tenants don’t sound to be the problem.

 

[flywheel]

the bad news is yes you can be held liable for the noisy tenants ,, but if they have friends staying in affect breaking tenant agreement you best contact powers to be first cause if they come to your door (not a present time hopefully ) your wife could be held liable . or plead ignorance .....

 

[Forever Fendt]

if they are respectful to your property and looking after it and paying rent on time tell the neighbour to do one

 

[deleted user 837354]

Your tenants don’t sound to be the problem.

Offer to buy the neighbours house out as well? Sounds like he might be a motivated seller!

 

[Wellytrack]

if they are respectful to your property and looking after it and paying rent on time tell the neighbour to do one

Very true, there are so many important busybody c.units out there.

 

[7610 super q]

Hmmm...another case of hearing one side of the story.
One problem with the lockdown for those in urban areas is having to put up with your neighbours 24/7.

 

[How much]

other than courtesy to the next door neighbor you are not liable for your tenants or there behavior, he would really be better taking any issues he has up direct with the polish couple as crying to you is just going to wind them up.
You may have a issues with your tenants especially if they are sub letting or if the house is occupied by more people than it was designed for so if there are 2 double bedrooms but 6 people living there for example both of which would almost certainty be excluded under the tenancy agreement

 

[puppet]

We bought a flat and there was a record of noise abatement order to previous tenants. Does not look good if you are selling.
If there are 6 there then trading standards may think you are aware and taking lots of rent. Can you prove you are not because plenty landlords do.
My experience is that if there are neighbour issues then they are less likely to look after the property.

 

[little_p]

The wife owns a terraced house in town that is let out to a polish couple. Their next door neighbour messages me occasionally to complain that they are parking in his space or they are being noisy. Hes a bit of a wet weekend to be honest and moans about everything. He called the police last week apparently as he reckons they weren't adhering to isolation rules.
He's now gone to his solicitor as he reckons they are being a real nuscience. Are we liable for the behaviour of tenants. I don't want to be running up solicitor bills.
I've got a feeling they have got more people living in the house than are on the tenancy agreement. Seems to be a common practice whereby a couple get the let and then others move in to help subsidise the rent.

It depends on what the nuisance / anti-social behaviour is and how it is caused.
For example, if the nuisance is solely preventing the neighbour from having peaceful enjoyment of their property because the actual tenants themselves are parking there and noise is them being noisy then strictly speaking it isn't your problem (unless you also assume that being a good landlord doesn't mean maintaining good neighbourly and community relations). If the parking space is being taken up by regular visitors because the tenants are using the house as a crack house or the noise is from illegal drugs rave's then a legal responsibility falls on the landlord.

If they are sub / additional letting that is likely to breach your insurance and mortgage policies.
Surely a regular inspection check would establish if they were sub-letting?

 

[betweenthelines]

What does he mean by parking in "his" space? Does he mean they are parking in front of his house? FIL had a rant a few years ago about neighbours with 2 cars parking outside his house. Not happy when I pointed out as long as it's taxed they can park wherever they like on the road. Also, if everyone's in lockdown, why isn't neighbour's car parked in "his" space.

As another poster said, most neighbours in towns are getting on each other's nerves atm. Even more so, if some have kids and some don't. Not helped if one neighbour is a xenophobe.

 

[Fubar]

It's in a cul de sac and he reckons they park outside his window which would be his allocated space. I have asked for photo evidence but apparently his solicitor has advised him not to show me yet!!
He has emailed pictures of the garden which admitted does look a bit unkempt but that's usually the case with let property.
In a new twist I have now had a message from the tenants friend who speaks better English. Apparently they are not happy that he has a camera pointing at the garden and her car. And she has overheard him complaining about her to other neighbours. She wants to report HIM to the police!!
They have said they are not noisy, never park in his space and have her son and friend are currently staying. So 4 people in a 2 bed house is ok.
I'm going to need a mediator.
If only Jeremy Kyle was still on tv!!