Sometimes no matter how thoroughly you vet your tenants, they can become the tenants from hell.

Sometimes no matter how thoroughly you vet your tenants, they can become the tenants from hell.

One of the biggest gripes landlords have is when their tenants start to annoy their often long-established neighbours. Whilst landlords aren’t actually responsible for the noise their tenants make, it’s always a good idea to try and keep the peace.

What can you do if your tenants are disturbing the neighbours?

Firstly, include in your tenancy agreements a clause that your tenants must agree not to make unnecessary noise or nuisance that may result in stress being caused to neighbouring residents.

Tenancy Agreement Service has compiled a list of best practices when it comes to advising your tenants about noise:

  • Monitor the level of sound emitted from radios, televisions and stereos at all times of the day.
  • Place music systems and televisions on rubber mats or carpet to help absorb sound.
  • Avoid placing sound emitting appliances next to shared walls.
  • Consider the time of day chosen to carry out housework, DIY and gardening.
  • Limit noise at inconvenient hours.
  • Look after any pets properly and clean up after them.
  • Avoid leaving dogs barking and disturbing the neighbours.
  • Inform neighbours if they are to carry out disruptive DIY work such as drilling, hammering etc.
  • Let neighbours know if they intend to have a party or bonfire.
  • If going out or returning home late at night, avoid disturbing neighbours through loud voices and slamming car doors.
  • Ensure their children are playing in a way that is considerate to neighbours and does not cause a disturbance.

If your neighbours have complained about your tenants being too noisy

Initially, always encourage your neighbour to take it up with your tenant, you are not legally liable for your tenant’s noise. If they have tried this approach or are unwilling to try, you should try and communicate with your tenant regarding the noise complaint.

Approach the tenant concerning the noise complaint and ask them what activities caused the disturbance. Be understanding, listen to their story, and try to help them come up with a solution.

If this hasn’t made a difference, send them a copy of the tenancy agreement highlighting the noise clause (if included) and the repercussions if they breach that clause (possible eviction).

If they persist, enlist the neighbour’s help. They will need to keep a diary of days and times that the noise is occurring, any patterns and what they feel is the main cause of the noise. If they are willing to use audio recording equipment to build evidence, they should do this to help their argument in the long run.

The next step is to present all the evidence to the Environmental Health Department (EHD) in the Local Authority. By law, the local authorities must deal with any noise they consider to be what’s known as a ‘statutory nuisance’. The EHD is obliged to keep your/your neighbour’s identity confidential.

The EHD will then assess the situation with all the proper evidence to hand, if they too decide the noise is too loud and the tenants aren’t willing to do anything about it, you can take the necessary steps to terminate the tenancy. That will involve serving notice on the grounds of too much noise and anti-social behaviour.

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