Girl upstairs

Sparkle78

Hi

I live in a rented flat and the girl upstairs from me lives with her baby and is 16. She stated that the landlord would throw her out if she knew (?) but not only that, she keeps having parties in the flat til all hours and her friends are there and they are all drinking alcohol, making so much noise you cannot sleep and generally being a nuiscence (don't panic, baby is not there when parties happening).

My question is, is there any such law that a) she shouldnt be private renting if 16 even though she gets housing benefit and b) is there a law regarding having a house full of underage drinkers with no adult supervision?

Ta

silvercar

There is a problem with renting to a 16 year old in that you should be 18 to be party to an AST. That doesn't stop a landlord renting to a 16 year old, but it does make it difficult to enforce the contract.

If she is getting HB at 16 there must be some non-standard circumstances as most people wouldn't be eligible at this age.

G_M

Re the noise, the council should have a noise abatement officer.

Re the drinking - I don't believe there is a law against minors drinking, only against selling alcahol to minors.

Re the tenancy - that's between the LL and her. But if she (correctly?) believes the LL would evict her if he knew of the baby, well, maybe he would want to, and maybe he he can. Or maybe he can't.

geri1965_2

I'm pretty sure you can drink in your own home at whatever age you like.

chez000

silvercar wrote: »

There is a problem with renting to a 16 year old in that you should be 18 to be party to an AST. That doesn't stop a landlord renting to a 16 year old, but it does make it difficult to enforce the contract.

Most contracts require you to be over 18 because for most things you can not legally be held to a contract if you are under 18
However there are exceptions for necessities e.g food, housing etc, so the AST will be enforceable.


To the OP have you tried speaking to the girl about the noise

lynzpower

There will be options via anti social behaviour officers, who ( In some areas) are tied to Noise Nuisance teams in Environmental Health. This is likely to be the ultimate step really.

I guess she is ok to share information with you so I wonder if you should just be quite direct and say, listen Im going to have to complain to your landlord if we cant come to some acceptable arrangement re: noise.

If not then maybe take advice from the Noise team and start right away keeping a diary.

puppy999

Think I would go and hav a word with her and tell her how you feel as up setting teenagers is not a good idea when your on the ground floor as if you get the nuisance officers round your windows are more than likely to be put though as teenagers think they are the law and don't seem faced
by the police, I am only going on what I hav seen on tv and what people say on facebook ......

swimsink

I moved out shortly after my 18th birthday, had it been before I would have had to have my parents countersign (not sure of the exact term sorry!) the contract - leaving them liable for any unpaid rent or damages should that have occured. She's probably done that which makes it entirely above board

theartfullodger

Should one not, for the sake of the baby, contact social services???

Caroline73_2

theartfullodger wrote: »

Should one not, for the sake of the baby, contact social services???

Why? The OP stated that the baby isn't there when the parties happen.

Norman_Castle

she keeps having parties in the flat til all hours and her friends are there and they are all drinking alcohol, making so much noise you cannot sleep and generally being a nuiscence

Have you told her this is a problem for you?