Advice regarding rental property

ding1981

I am afraid this might turn into a long post/rant.

We have been living in a property for almost a year rented through an estate agents. 3 - 4 times a week we have people parking outside our bedroom windown taking drugs/ drug dealing and...erm...engaging in rumpy pumpy!! When my partner is away I am scared to stay in the house on my own as the "visitors" like to occasionally wander around.

We have contacted the police on many occasions, however they always turned up too late to catch them in the act so to speak.

We live next door to an office coplex, and we realised after a while that if we set their alam off via motion sensors outside the building (large tanoy announcement stating that they are being montiored on CCTV) they go away. This way we take action ourselves, and don't have to get the police involved.

We were given notification this week that there would be white line painting in the car park (saturday 7:00 - 17:00) and could we move the car in the car parking space that comes with the house (owned by the landlord, not the office complex). Fair enough, its SORN, won't start without being jumped so I will arrange for someone to help me.

Friday comes along, and I get threatened with tow truck charges, 16 emails and 4 phone calls from the letting agents and general harrassment from the owners of the office/landlord.

Called the owners of the land, said yes it will be moved tonight. The owners then threaten me with a large bill for setting off the alarm as it costs him money. This guy was generally disrespectful, and down right rude. Mentioned that my partner was assualted by one of these druggies, he didn't care. We just haven't to set the alarm off again, otherwise we will be responsible for his "substantial costs". Also, I had a chat with his handyman on Wednesday - he admitted to picking up used condoms and drug parafinalia on a daily basis.

The police are coming over today as a follow up visit to my partners assualt to discuss what we can do about the situation in the area.

What would people on here do next - we have been told by friends/family members to move, but its not our landlords fault, and other than the night time activites the house is perfect.

Does anyone know the law relating to what a landowners responsibilies are e.g. if they fail to recognise and deal with illegal activites taking place on their land are they not in effect authorising the use of their land for these activities and are they therefore a responsible party? We don't want to take legal action due to the costs involved, but it maybe the only option we have further down the line.

Sorry for the long post!!

motherofstudents

Sorry, I would move. I can understand your friends and family being concerned about you. It sounds awful. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will come along with more helpful advice but that's just my opinion. I have to say that I don't think you should have to move. The people causing the anti-social behaviour should be made to move but unfortunately, it doesn't always work that way.

phill99

Write to the Chief Constable of your police force saying that nothing is being done to aleviate the anti-social behaviour in your area and why isn't he dealing with it. Copy this to your local councillor and this should get results.

If ther is an open car park in front of the office building, its very difficult for the landpwner to do anything. its not like he is opening the building up and let them shoot up inside the offices.

Cazza

In your situation, I'd move. You're renting so you can give your notice and get out, just be glad you didn't buy it. For me, the amount of time, hassle and stress it will take to "fix" this just wouldn't be worth it and probably won't last long term either.

BitterAndTwisted

Some of the problems have been imposed on you and another you have made for yourselves. !!!!!! are you doing setting off a business's alarm-system and why would you think that this would go unnoticed? Every time it's activated, someone has to be paid to go round and de-activate it. I'd be slapping you with a huge bill for that as well.

How about trying to be decent and asking if it would possible for some bright outside lighting on a timer to be installed? If you're thinking about speaking the the business next door for their co-operation, I wouldn't bother as you've probably completely alienated them by now.

Or move.

ding1981

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Some of the problems have been imposed on you and another you have made for yourselves. !!!!!! are you doing setting off a business's alarm-system and why would you think that this would go unnoticed? Every time it's activated, someone has to be paid to go round and de-activate it. I'd be slapping you with a huge bill for that as well.

How about trying to be decent and asking if it would possible for some bright outside lighting on a timer to be installed? If you're thinking about speaking the the business next door for their co-operation, I wouldn't bother as you've probably completely alienated them by now.

Or move.

We've spoken to the business several times. The landlord has spoken to the business. The people who live down the lane have spoken to the biusiness. The cricket club up the road have spoken to the business. This is not an isolated incident. A couple of years ago there were major problems - raves in the car park, windows in properties being broken by "youths", the area being a dogging hotspot. With help from the police, they calmed things down, however speaking to local people who have lived here for 20 years plus, the problems calm down for a month or so, and flares up again, but as long as they are not affected, they don't seem to be bothered.

We have spoken to the landlord on several occasions, the last time we advise him that it is becoming a major problem. he advised he would "lean" on a few people to see what could be done.

Please note that the said alarm has gone off 6 times this morning. alone. Nosy dog walkers looking in the office windows. I can honestly say that we have set it 4 times in the last 3 months. This is when the police have advised that they are on their way, and an hour later the people are still walking round, have the woman bent over the bonnet of their car or snorting something off a tray in the front of their car.

We have rung the number on the signs for the cctv company several times (after ringing the police). They have advised us every single time that they cannot see the cars/people walking about.

When you have this problem on an almost daily basis, and you can see people wandering around in the dark, or your bedroom is starting to smell like a cannabis den, you become desperate to find a solution, and something that is meant to be a deterrant is not working

Annisele

ding1981 wrote: »

Speaking to local people who have lived here for 20 years plus, the problems calm down for a month or so, and flares up again

Move.

I don't know what you think the business can do - but if the police can't sort the anti social behaviour, I can't see any business being able to wave a magic want to get it sorted.

BitterAndTwisted

If your own landlord gave a monkey's they would have got together with the freeholder and arranged to have some decent lighting installed outside, so they obviously don't. And they won't until they get sick of either losing good tenants or keep getting phone calls and letters about it.

Vote with your feet rather than having strangers shagging and taking drugs in full view. Never mind being assaulted! I can't imagine why staying would cross your mind. Good rental properties aren't that hard to find.

G_M

When did your tenancy start?
How long was the original tenancy agreement?
Have you signed any subsequent TA?
Is this Eng/Wales?

You can see where I'm going here.... like others, best solution is to move - this issue will never go away. You may get temporary action/solution like a few rapid police responses but this will only last till the next complainant with a problem elsewhere kicks up a stink and resources move on.

What are rents like locally compared to yours? Can you afford to move?