What can I do about neighbour?

NastyMatt

I am a LL. I have 2 new tennents in a flat. For some unknown reason a neighbour came round to the flat and asked to borrow money. (he never did this to me)

I have a fairly young couple in there and he asked the girl for money when the partner was out. The guy has gone and spoken to him and the neighbour denies it.

Now I beleive the tennent as the neighbour is a bit weird.

The girl does now not feel safe in the flat.. what can I do? Is it even my place to say anything to the beighbour? Personally I would have told him to sod off and thought no more about it.

Can I go round and say "I've had a complaint.. please just steer clear of them in future". What I don't want is for this to snowball into a dispute.

Acc72

Despite your name, you are not very Nasty Matt !!

I would say that it is up to your tennant to report this (plus any other) incident to the Police for harrasment.

A call / visit from the local constabulary might keep the neighbour in line !!

If you go round to "have a word" then the neighbour might report you to the Police !!

maninthestreet

I agree witj acc72 - you, as a landlord, are not responsible for the actions of the neighbour. This is between the tenant and the neighbour. Seems that the tenant has already spoken to the neighbour about this incident, but the neighbour has apparently denied asking for money. Up to the tenant to decide if he wants to take this further with the relevant authorities, i.e the police.

Idiophreak

If it was just a one off, I would just forget about it for now, if it continues, as others say, the tenant should call in the bacon

Cannon_Fodder

don't forget it...document it, even if you take no other action...

then in six months when the psycho thinks its gone quiet and wants to do something else, that, (something else) doesn't become the first documented incident.

PoorDave

Depends on the area you're letting in IMHO.

If the area dictates that the neighbour might cause endless trouble to a succession of tenants in your property, I would document it, as suggested, and do nothing more.

If it's a nicer area then it should be no problem to go round and query it. However, the initial incident implies the former situation.

NastyMatt

Cheers for the replies..

The area is very nice and I feel it is an "every day" neighbourly dispute. But the tenant is making it out to be a pretty big issue.

I know the guy to talk to so was thinking about popping round and asking for his side of the story.. and maybe just drop it into conversation that best they just avoid each other and therefore make out I am not pointing the finger at him

Then do as has been suggested, document the incident with the tenants and take it further if it persists.

It's a one off occurence in 2 months I sort of feel they are being melodramatic!

Debt_Free_Chick

NastyMatt wrote:

I am a LL. I have 2 new tennents in a flat. For some unknown reason a neighbour came round to the flat and asked to borrow money. (he never did this to me)

I have a fairly young couple in there and he asked the girl for money when the partner was out. The guy has gone and spoken to him and the neighbour denies it.

Now I beleive the tennent as the neighbour is a bit weird.

I'm not sure I understand why. Are you sure this wasn't just an innocent "I'm a bit stuck, can you lend me a fiver until tomorrow please?". Personally, I wouldn't ask anyone I didn't know, but many people would ask their neighbour. Is it really any different to "borrowing a cup of sugar"? I guess it depends on the amount involved. Perhaps the neighbour is "overfriendly" or "over-trusting" of other folk. Seriously - unless there is more to this - I really don't see anything wrong.

The girl does now not feel safe in the flat

If this is just based on him asking to borrow some money, it seems a rather extreme reaction. Why would her safety be at risk?

what can I do?

I don't think you are under any obligation, as a landlord, to do anything.

Is it even my place to say anything to the beighbour? Personally I would have told him to sod off and thought no more about it.

Can I go round and say "I've had a complaint.. please just steer clear of them in future". What I don't want is for this to snowball into a dispute.

As above - I would stay out of it as it seems to be a private matter between two neighbours. The fact that they are both tenants of yours is irrelevant. Would you have done anything if the neighbour were a tenant of a different LL?

All this sounds a little hostile, but I really don't mean for it to be. It just seems odd to me that the tenant has even contacted you about this. You're the Landlord - not the Police, a Babysitter, Neighbourhood Watch or any other "guardian".

All very odd .... just MHO

Debt_Free_Chick

NastyMatt wrote:

It's a one off occurence in 2 months I sort of feel they are being melodramatic!

I was typing my previous message as you posted this.

I have to say, that I agree with you entirely.

:beer: