Tenants next door are prostitutes - help please!!

Sagaris

I’m having a few problems with the tenants next door – this will probably be a long post in the wrong place so apologies in advance on both counts.

I bought this house 11 years ago; the house next door was sold and rented out about 7 years ago. Many tenants have been and gone in that time, but the latest lot are horrible.

I didn’t really notice them much at first, then a few neighbours approached me in the street to see if I was aware what was going on next door – all 4 of them on separate occasions said they thought the 2 girls living there were prostitutes!

At that time they used to be fairly quiet, various cars (really tatty old BMW’s and Audi’s, out of date or no tax) would collect then at around 10 am every day and bring them back home around 11 – midnight. After a couple of months of this, various men would visit the house at night, stay for a couple of hours, then leave, shouting across the street at the girls, and the girls shouting back (goodness knows what as they aren't speaking English).

Then they started visiting at all times of the day, stay for a while then drive off – the shouting and door slamming had to be heard to be believed.Now they have gone back to the 'night shift' and it's intolerable. I told the landlord about this, and the fact that the constant shouting, yelling, (both indoors and out) at all times of the day and night was getting us down – we can’t remember the last time we had a decent uninterrupted night’s sleep, last night we slept for 2 hours. He said his hands are tied and there is nothing he can do as tenants have rights and he can’t evict them – he is aware they are working as prostitutes and says the police have searched the house and found nothing.

I have contacted the police myself a few weeks ago before it got really bad, and they seemed to be aware of the problem but were not really interested – they did tell me that as they are eastern European they probably carry knives so not to approach them directly! Not that you would really want to…..

So today I have emailed the police neighbourhood team, the local councillor and the community safety people at the council to see if they can offer any advice, but can anyone tell me if there’s anything else I can do?

I’d love to move house in the next year or so and really didn’t want to do anything ‘official’ as I know you have to declare any sort of neighbour disputes – but I’m finding things increasingly difficult now, I can put up with a lot of things but sleep deprivation isn’t one of them!

Thank you for reading if you’ve got this far!

GDB2222

The landlord does not need to renew the tenancy when it runs out. Also, if they are actually using the place for business, he can evict them. He's probably your best hope.

Liney_2

i don't know what you can do but good luck whatever route you take.

SquatNow

Might be worth mentioning to the landlord that he is commiting a criminal offense by allowing his property to be used for the purposes of prostitution.

He could get a criminal record of even a VERY long spell in the nick.

He needs to give the tennants 2 months notice immediately.

Chances are he doesn't care about what they do as long as they pay the rent.

You need to incentivise him.

Tell him if they arn't gone by the end of October you'll report him to the police for running a brothel and living of the proceeds of prostitution.

clutton_2

the landlord is talking rubbish 'cos he wants to keep his rent.

these neighbours are exhibiting "anti social behaviour" and you can report this behaviour to the Environmental Health Department who will take them to court - but only IF a "body of evidence" can be collected from witnesses.

sadly - you cannot "not get involved" - you are involved just by living next
door. You cannot leave this to other people to fight your battle for you - unfair as that may feel.

i have had disruptive tenants in one house and the neighbours moaned at me - but they would not make statements to the local authority or to the police so i was helpless to act - until their tenancy agreement ran out and i then did not renew it and had to take them to court to get them out.

you can write to the EA and they have a duty to write to the LL of next door (i doubt VERY much if they will reveal their source - other than a "concerned neighbour") telling him to sort it out.


LLs ARE responsible in law for their tenants behaviour

But there is a lot of money in pimping - and they will resist eviction

best of luck


""He needs to give the tennants 2 months notice immediately"" -

he can only do that if they are 2 months from the end of their tenancy agreement, or if he can PROVE antisocial behavour in a court - and as i said above, you need witness statements for that

SquatNow

clutton wrote: »

""He needs to give the tennants 2 months notice immediately"" -

he can only do that if they are 2 months from the end of their tenancy agreement, or if he can PROVE antisocial behavour in a court - and as i said above, you need witness statements for that

Yes I understand that but from the OPs description the girls have been there some time so are probably past the 6 month lockin on the AST.

Sagaris

Wow - thank you vey much for all your replies - very much appreciated!

I've visited the landlord a few times about them, when they first moved in they slung a washing line over my new 6 foot high fence (erected to keep the last lot of unpleasant tenants out). They used to put dripping wet washing on it, and it started to lean over - I phoned him a few times and he said I should knock and tell them to remove it! I was irate so visited him in his shop - he runs the local newsagent/ post office. He sneered at me and said there was nothing he could do - he really doesn't deal with women! So I concocted a letter from my OH threatening him with legal action - and the line was gone by the end of the day!

Back to the topic - the tenants moved in there last February and I thought they might go after 6 months - but they are still there.

I've mentioned to a few neighbours about getting a dossier together but no one seemed interested - I don't think it bothers them as we are the only house joined to the trouble makers. My OH has contacted Environmental Health and downloaded their Diary Form so we are keeping a proper record of the disturbances now.

Should I go and threaten the LL about the living off immoral earnings bit? The other thing is, the police are reluctant to antagonise him, as one of the officers that visited here (the only time they've been out to them and they wouldn't answer the door!) let slip that the LL is the chair of the local Asian race relations group!! So he seems to get 'special treatment' from the local constabulary.

Edit - just seem SquatNow's post - they are just past the 6 months! Wish I'd thought to post on here sooner - it's not usually an area I frequent but you are all really helpful!

SquatNow

Threats appear to be the only thing he responds to.

Sagaris

SquatNow wrote: »

Threats appear to be the only thing he responds to.

So perhaps I should phone or visit him tomorrow and make a few! :rotfl:

Thank you very much to everyone who has posted, I'll keep you informed of what happens - although as someone on here has said, they are paying the rent and that's all he seems to care about.

I'm a bit annoyed though, the department I work for (in the local council) has community police working in it, and I've been telling them about all this for months. All they have said is that they will pass my comments on to their superiors - when I've asked what I can do or what is happening - I just get met with 'we've passed the information on, you'll just have to wait and see if anything happens'. Result so far - nothing! :mad:

do_it_today!

definitely keep a log of all the incidents and try and encourage your neighbours to aswell.

Where there is sex there is usually drugs involved if you can try and highlight get some proof of that aspect then that may help because if illegal drugs are being used on the premesis the landlord can definitely be done for that! especially crack, try and see if your area has a local vice squad as they should take more of an interest.

I really sympathize with you - good luck

chilli_dog

Hey Sagaris,

Sorry to hear of your problems, funny how some people seem to be able to get away with anything.

Have you thought of getting in touch with your paper, anymously (cant spell) to see if they want to shine a light on it, maybe your MP?