Can i report a neighbours landlord?

Dhind91840

We live in a terrace house that we own - the three houses down from ours are all rented out from the same landlord.

Our direct neighbour grows cannabis in the house, which we can smell in our wardrobe sometimes as he also smokes it.

All three houses are in appaling condition, their window ledges (all wood) are all falling off. Also only 1/3 of the properties has a front door, 2 only have 1 entrance around the back - is this against fire safety? 

One house has giant piles of rubbish that stink in the back garden that i have seen rats around multiple times - they also have small children playing in the garden of the property near this. This includes general waste, garden waste and electricals.

Our direct neighbouring house internally is covered in animal faces on the floors.

One property stinks when you walk past on the street. You actually have to hold your breath if their windows are open.

One of them has also recently been reported to the fire department for having giant fires in the garden near tall trees and the rubbish heaps.

Apparently our neighbour has no contact details for the landlord, he just turns up once a year and doesn't do anything. The properties are horrendous and not maintained.

Are we on grounds to report the above issues to anywhere? 

Thank you

MaryNB

Usually the advice is for a tenant to report the issue to the local council's environmental health officer. I don't know if they take complaints from neighbours, the tenant certainly won't complain if they have a cannabis farm. 

Section62

MaryNB said:

Usually the advice is for a tenant to report the issue to the local council's environmental health officer. I don't know if they take complaints from neighbours, the tenant certainly won't complain if they have a cannabis farm. 

If there is a public health issue they will take reports/complaints from anyone.  Piles of rubbish/rats in the garden may be enough of a public health issue for them to take an interest in the report.  If so, whilst inspecting that, they may notice some of the other issues.  Pictures of the issue often help get the EH's attention.

The issue for the OP is possibly making sure they make the report/complaint in a way so the landlord and tenants don't find out it was them that did it.

user1977

Dhind91840 said:

only 1/3 of the properties has a front door, 2 only have 1 entrance around the back - is this against fire safety? 

Not necessarily, lots of properties only have one exit.

Apart from the state of repair of the properties, everything else sounds like the behaviour of the tenants, so that's what you complain about.

GDB2222

I would cut the complaint down to the rubbish in the gardens, and speak to environmental health.

Smoking cannabis- that would be the police, but they have given up on chasing end users and people growing for their own use. 

You can speak to social services if you are worried about the kids ….

dimbo61

The Landlord cannot rent out a property if the EPC is F or G.
Wooden front door and single glazed windows ?
Now if the property has housing benefit tenants then the local council are paying the rent ! 
They can claim back all rents paid if the properties have NO EPC !
You can check this in 2 minutes !
https://www.gov.uk/buy-sell-your-home/energy-performance-certificates.

All you need is the post code and number.
Are the electrics safe EICR ?

canaldumidi

* cannabis - police

* rubbish, smell, rats etc - council's Environmental Health

* check EPC online. If F or G with no exemption - local council.

* children - social services

* check if properties are in an area of compulsory landlord registration - relevant authority (Scot, Eng Wales etc) if not registered

p00hsticks

dimbo61 said:

The Landlord cannot rent out a property if the EPC is F or G.

Not true. If a property has an EPC of F or G, the landlord can file an exemption (for example, if the suggested improvements are too costly) and then rent it.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-private-rented-property-minimum-energy-efficiency-standard-landlord-guidance

theartfullodger

In Scotland a landlord has responsibilities over anti-social behaviour by tenants in & around the property  Can end up with court action - see eg
https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/neighbourhood_issues/antisocial_behaviour/private_landlords_and_antisocial_behaviour

In England, less so, but some.  Come on England, catch up!

Spend £3 (England) with Land Registry and find name & address of owner (owner not always landlord) and write/email him with your concerns.

No sensible landlord wants this in their property. Sadly there is no requirement to be sensible in being a landlord

GDB2222

theartfullodger said:

In Scotland a landlord has responsibilities over anti-social behaviour by tenants in & around the property  Can end up with court action - see eg
https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/neighbourhood_issues/antisocial_behaviour/private_landlords_and_antisocial_behaviour

In England, less so, but some.  Come on England, catch up!

Spend £3 (England) with Land Registry and find name & address of owner (owner not always landlord) and write/email him with your concerns.

No sensible landlord wants this in their property. Sadly there is no requirement to be sensible in being a landlord

Clearly, a landlord should issue a S21 notice in the circumstances, which you have argued against previously.

Given the state of the law currently, and the backlog in the courts, there’s nothing at all a landlord can do about antisocial behaviour by tenants. Well, nothing legal.

canaldumidi

theartfullodger said:

In Scotland a landlord has responsibilities over anti-social behaviour by tenants in & around the property  Can end up with court action - see eg
https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/neighbourhood_issues/antisocial_behaviour/private_landlords_and_antisocial_behaviour

In England, less so, but some.  Come on England, catch up!

Not in this case artful. Not a road England should follow Scotland down. What tenants do in their home is beyond a LL's control - quite rightly. Antisocial behaviour by tenants should be dealt with in exactly the same wasy as antisocial behavious by others, home-owners, the homeless, licencees, whoever.

Landlords are not police and should not be expected to act as such.