Neighbour has complained about my tenants!

archie9uk

notlongnow wrote: »

my 2 boys can make a horrendous amount of noise when they are racing around. If these two boys are running around all the time with shoes on then I can imagine it to be very noisy.

Wouldn't that be an issue for the tenants and the neighbour, rather than me?

And the neighbour chose to live in a downstairs flat - you have to expect noise from above.

Gorgeous_George

I understand your reluctance to spend money on a flat that is costing you money every month but the problem needs to be solved.

You need to ask EH if they can prove that your tenants are noisy. If your neighbour is making a malicious claim, you could face accusations of harrassment.

Once proven, you need to fix the problem. You can:
1. ask your tenants to be better neighbours (no shoes for a start)
2. fit carpet and underlay

I fear this may be the first of many problems for reluctant LLs who are waiting for the market to improve. It isn't going to happen any time soon. You cannot afford to lose your tenants over this

poppysarah

The landlord is responsible for making sure the tenants don't cause a nuisance or disturbance.

archie9uk

Gorgeous_George wrote: »

Laminate floors are awful and so last century.

Thanks for the tip. I'll bear that in mind when I can afford to do the place up (when I start to make a profit in about 50 years time).

Gorgeous_George wrote: »

We all need to be able to live together in this world of ours. As a LL, I would be asking my tenants to choose some carpets and quality underlay if they were on a 12 months AST. Otherwise, I would choose some myself.

They are only on a 6 month AST, which runs out in April. I don't expect them to be staying.

Gorgeous_George wrote: »

I'd listen to EH and ask what you can do if the tenant does not agree. You're probably limited to servig notice to quit at the end of the AST but I don't know (my BTL is an end-of-terrace and I do not have similar issues).

As I say, I think they're going to leave so this wouldn't be an issue. I will wait and see what Environmental Health say. But, sorry to repeat myself - if this has suddenly become a problem when children move in, then surely the problem is with the tenants' children, not with my floors??

Gorgeous_George wrote: »

Happy neighbours = happy tenants = happy landlord.

If only! Don't think I'll ever be a happy landlord! You should see my accounts!

Alias_Omega

I would remove the laminate, and have the floor boards sanded / painted.

Id like to see them complain then.

I think this should be between the letting agency, the neighbour and the tenants.

They rented the house out, and should look for a answer to the problem, after all thats what you pay them for.

poppysarah

Laminate is awful stuff. It makes so much more noise than carpeting. neighbours had their entire downstairs done. Good stuff too and then 5 months later ripped it all out cos the dog and kids drove them mad running round on it.

Gorgeous_George

But is the LL's problem. His tenants are (allegedly) causing a nuisance to a neighbour. ASTs usually include a clause for the tenant not to cause a nuisance to their neighbours.

EH will advise.

The problem has manifested itself because the tenants are noisier than previous occupants (or neighbour has new hearing aid).

GG

barnaby-bear

naijapower wrote: »

You dont have to put carpet down instantly.

Very possible it was put down illegimately though. The majority of flat leases forbid hard floors and stipulate carpet for this very reason. Can the OP confirm the lease is free of such stipulations. Carpet is very cheap and to be honest laminate is really unattractive to buyers so covering it up may well be an investment if they want to shift it.

oldone_2

archie9uk wrote: »

I know who the neighbour is, but I would rather eat my own eyeballs than ask to visit his property. I despise him with a passion. He is the reason we moved out of the flat in the first place. He is a rude, ignorant bully. Obviously I wouldn't say this to Environmental Health, but I hope the tenants keep him awake at night, like he did to us.

I am wondering if there is a racist element in this. If he is as ignorant as you say, he could be objecting to the fact that they are Polish and don't speak English, and is using this to engage in some ugly bullying.

barnaby-bear

archie9uk wrote: »

I agree - I'm not prepared to carpet the property without hard evidence of noise pollution (which I don't really believe anyway).
No - the property is not a new build. It is 1960s. The sound insulation is not brilliant, but sound travels both ways. We could hear our neighbour having a wee, and the bathroom is the only room that is carpeted, so that obviously really helps with sound insulation! Not to mention the fact that you can hear their TV from the street...

Anyway, why suddenly does the floor become an issue after the laminate has been there for years?

If you can hear some one pee downstairs - imagining how noisy two kids are on laminate makes me shudder.It doesn't sound a very good idea to have two kids running around but that's the LLs problem, they knew there was laminate and chose to rent to a family with kids. Kids trotting around is normal behaviour for them - did the OP expect them to be in a cage all day? The OP has a lot to lose through this - an unresolved (And it's on record now) neighbour dispute seriously devalues a property and makes it nigh on impossible to sell, the disclosure forms for sale mean even forgeting about this makes them liable. The cheapest way to resolve is to stick some carpet down - bingo resolved - flat saleable.