nuisance neighbours renting adjacent properties - Help!

spage10

Hi,

I’m hoping someone here can help

We live in one of 7 detached houses on a lovely cul-de-sac in a pleasant village that once upon a time was quiet, that is when the row of 5 dilapidated terraced houses at the end of our street where either not occupied or occupied by respectable people, however as the increased number of rented properties has become available I guess the landlord is struggling to fill these rundown houses so is happy to take whoever he can.

This row of 5, 2 bedroom terraced houses have been a pain on the street now for the last 4 years with tenants appearing, upsetting the whole street for a few months then leaving again we have had alcoholics, drugies , boy racers gangs of youths you name it they have been there.

Last night we had cars revving up and music playing past 10.00pm (some may think this is not late, but for those down the street with young kids it is) from 2 of the houses who seem to be competing on who has the biggest car exhaust, not to mention the revving up of cars at 3.00am and 5.00am when they seem to come and go all night could mention the dogs but I’m sure you get the picture.
We know that 2 of these households have drug users, I would have said 3 however the police kicked in their door the other week and they have not returned since , another of the tenants is buying and selling cars and another is claiming housing benefit but has her partner living with her who works.

Before anyone suggest we confront these tenants we like our pets, cars doors etc. the way they are, these tenants only stay a matter of months and don’t care about what damage they do or who they upset as they can just up sticks and move on whenever they want unlike the rest of us who have been paying mortgages for many years.

The problem is how the hell do we stop the landlord from renting out these properties as he has little or no consideration for who he puts in them

The only thing we know of that we can use as ammunition is the land beside the houses was designated as parking space for the 5 houses and was supposed to be converted to a car park before he could rent out the properties (the road is too narrow to park cars along not as though it stops them) however he never did this and the end house has gradually put claim to the land by covering it with old mattress, old cars etc. you get the idea.

Any advice appreciated ?

Also I believe in Scotland they have they landlord registration to make sure that all private landlords in Scotland are 'fit and proper' people to be letting, does anyone know if the UK has something similar ?

Thanks

Stef.

mcjordi

you could speak to the local council and see what they have to say..

poppysarah

Police. Council. Local councillors.

spage10

thx for the replies

We have contacted the police on several occasions though sadly they are slow to respond so any illegal activities are usually passed by the time they arrive also they are unwilling to intervene on any noise matter

The council have been informed on numerous occasions and simply say they will have words with the landlord though nothing has ever come of it apart from the occasional rubbish pile at the side of the houses being removed

RAS

Have you contacted Environmentla Health about the noise and rubbish?

is there an anti-social behaviour officer on the Council?

dancingfairy

I'm not sure the landlord is the person you should be taking issue with- they may not care as long as they get some rent. Then again they may be bothered but unable to help.
I think you really need to start keeping a diary of all antisocial behaviour/noise late at night etc so you can't be fobbed off as easily. I don't know whether you are able to get a video camera or anything to record their behaviour (without them seeing obviously) to add weight to your case (presuming it is on public land of course - not sure that you would be allowed to film them in their own garden/house as that would be very dodgy) - I'm sure environmental health (as Ras said) etc can advise further on what you can and can't do
df

geoffky

Imagine what they have done to the value of your house..you must get rid of them at all costs..dont worry about the drugs though as they are everywhere if you look and know what to look for.have a word with your neighbours and see if you can all get together to be a group...maybe call it owners versus renters action group.

"as they can just up sticks and move on whenever they want unlike the rest of us who have been paying mortgages for many years"

This is the joy of renting.
but why the fact that they rent was ever brought into the post i am at a loss...i suppose you should be thankful they have not all bought

Pinkypants

geoffky wrote: »

This is the joy of renting.[/SIZE][/FONT]
but why the fact that they rent was ever brought into the post i am at a loss...i suppose you should be thankful they have not all bought

Because people who buy their homes usually care for them much more then those who rent.

Also those who rent can up sticks and move on much quicker, so I feel it's a valid comment.

Slinky

Try speaking with your local councillor. We had a problem with a house down our street being rented out as a HIMO about 4 years ago. The councillor was very sympathetic, the council were also right behind us. The landlord had not applied for permission to rent as a HIMO, the council put pressure on him. Along with the aggro he was getting with unruly tenants, complaining neighbours, final straw was a police raid complete with helicopter circling overhead in the middle of the night. The landlord decided sensibly to opt for the easy life, kicked out all the tenants, changed it back to the 3 bedroom family home it had been before and rented it out to decent tenants at presumably a lesser rent and we've had no problems since.

Make a nuisance of yourselves with the landlord, report everything you can to the council and police and hope the landlord will see it makes more sense and probably more money for him if he rents his properties to decent people.

Jeffrey_Shaw

Focus on the property's owner. Can you or anyone get him/her on breach of covenant, perhaps?

Yorkie1

As others have said, contact the council - EH / ASBO / planning.

Also report suspected tax / benefit fraud to the appropriate authorities - there are anonymous hotlines.