Problems with a renter that lives in the building next to mine

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Problems with a renter that lives in the building next to mine

Brenda Reems
Bismarck, ND · Member since 2025 · 39 posts · 10 votes

I own a 4 plex with a large parking area. The parking area is next to a duplex that I do not own. Technically the entrance into the parking lot is owned by me. The tenant next door has been giving my tenants some problems. First off she is a hoarder. She has clothes on a clothes rack sitting next to the house and whole bunch of junk along with a car in the back yard. It is very unsightly for anyone in the area. She also parks her car basically in the front yard and uses my entrance to get in and out. Besides the junk in the yard, the use of the entrance is not the issue. Her next door neighbor (not my tenant) has been parking next to her car and has supposedly been blocking her in. So, now both tenants in the duplex are using my entrance. Technically there is only off street parking for this duplex.

I just received a phone call from my tenant. She said this lady has been giving her problems. The other lady is fired up and wants me to deal with this other tenant since she isn't getting any help from her landlord. I have been wanting to reach out to this landlord anyways to discuss the garbage outside the unit. I have thought about charging her for some of the snow removal and maintenance to the parking area but I didn't know if I should go that far. I also wanted to possibly see if the owner would be interested in selling the property to me so I could manage this unsightly duplex.

I hope this makes sense. How would you manage tenants that aren't yours but causing problems for your tenants and the value of your property? The other property owner owns 10’ away from the building. It is only a small sliver of the actual entrance. 

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Richard F.
Honolulu, HI · Member since 2008 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
7mo

Basically, you don't manage the neighbor Tenants. Detail your concerns and issues, concisely, and send a business letter (Certified, Return Receipt Requested for documentation purposes) to the Owner of the property requesting he take steps.

In the meantime, if you are crystal clear on your lot line, get a written estimate for installing a privacy fence. Depending on how the other Owner responds to your initial letter, approach them with your proposal to share in the cost AND maintenance of the fence, and negotiate something that works for both of you. If they are unwilling, confirm your lot line with a survey, and install the fence anyway.

At a minimum you should be able to install a few bollards or decorative boulders to make it impossible to drive into their yard. You can likely also file a complaint with code enforcement regarding the storage of excess flammable materials in the open, and possibly parking on the grass as well, depending on locale. You could also have police issue a trespass citation for using your driveway (assuming there is no easement) if the tire tracks are clear and/or you take videos on several different days.

Advise YOUR Tenant to call the police if the person is directly harassing her. She should document dates and times of any outbursts. 

Neither you or your Tenant should interact with the neighbor Tenant. Last possibility is to file a claim in Small Claims Court or get a TRO issued.

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  • Richard F.
    Honolulu, HI · Member since 2008 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    7mo

    Basically, you don't manage the neighbor Tenants. Detail your concerns and issues, concisely, and send a business letter (Certified, Return Receipt Requested for documentation purposes) to the Owner of the property requesting he take steps.

    In the meantime, if you are crystal clear on your lot line, get a written estimate for installing a privacy fence. Depending on how the other Owner responds to your initial letter, approach them with your proposal to share in the cost AND maintenance of the fence, and negotiate something that works for both of you. If they are unwilling, confirm your lot line with a survey, and install the fence anyway.

    At a minimum you should be able to install a few bollards or decorative boulders to make it impossible to drive into their yard. You can likely also file a complaint with code enforcement regarding the storage of excess flammable materials in the open, and possibly parking on the grass as well, depending on locale. You could also have police issue a trespass citation for using your driveway (assuming there is no easement) if the tire tracks are clear and/or you take videos on several different days.

    Advise YOUR Tenant to call the police if the person is directly harassing her. She should document dates and times of any outbursts. 

    Neither you or your Tenant should interact with the neighbor Tenant. Last possibility is to file a claim in Small Claims Court or get a TRO issued.

    3Reply
  • Brenda Reems
    OP
    Bismarck, ND · Member since 2025 · 39 posts · 10 votes
    7mo

    Thank you for your response. There is definitely not an easement. We had the title company check into this when we bought the property. Only a small part of the apron of the drive way is on the other side of the property. A privacy fence might work. But, it will create some issues with how the drive way will look and snow removal. But, that might be the way we have to go. It would be better than the unsightly mess that is already there. 

    0Reply
  • Jim Johnson
    Real Estate Agent · Memphis · Member since 2026 · 614 posts · 356 votes
    7mo

    Situations like this are tricky because the person creating the issue isn’t your tenant, so your leverage is limited. Usually the most effective path is property owner to property owner, not tenant to tenant.

    Since the entrance is technically on your property, you’re within reason to clarify how it’s being used and make sure it isn’t creating problems for your tenants. A calm conversation with the duplex owner about the parking situation, the clutter outside, and general upkeep is a good starting point. Often they may not even realize it’s affecting the neighboring property.

    In the meantime, it’s usually best to advise your tenants not to engage directly with the neighbor. Those conversations tend to escalate quickly and make the situation harder to manage.

    If the clutter becomes a health or code issue, many cities will address it through local code enforcement, which sometimes resolves things faster than neighbor disputes.

    Reaching out to the owner to discuss the situation — and possibly even exploring a purchase if it ever makes sense — is a reasonable step. Keeping it professional and property-focused usually leads to better outcomes than trying to resolve it tenant-to-tenant.

    1Reply
  • Drew SygitBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Royal Oak, MI · Member since 2012 · 13k+ posts · 9k+ votes
    7mo

    Check with the city and police about your options.

    Situations like this can be challenging because tenants expect you to solve their problems (they're tenants for a reason!).

    You want to minimize this because it's often a "no-win" situation. 

    Recommend asking your tenant what they expect you to do? Then follow that up with the most outrageous act you can think of. Like, what do you expect me to do, blow up their car?"

    Like the idea of trying to buy the place. They may have lost control of the place and are a tired landlord looking for a way out.

    [email protected]248-209-6824
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  • Patricia Steiner
    Real Estate Broker · Hyde Park Tampa, FL · Member since 2019 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    7mo

    Agree with all posted above.  And, consider adding some property line marker at the entrance to your driveway that makes it perfectly clear that it belongs to your property - and is not for public use. There are fence stands that allow installation on pavement/concrete; you could use potted plants.  If it were my property - and I have had an unsightly neighboring property before - I would add some privacy to block out that view.  Hopefully the other landlord will act but don't be surprised if he sees this as your problem...if that's the case, then cowboy up and call code enforcement, block the view, more.  Not only is your tenant at risk because of this but your property value as well.  Fun, huh?

    0Reply
  • Henry T.
    Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7mo

    I had a similar problem. I placed private property signs, keep out! And also parked one of my rarely used work vehicles so they couldn't get in.  People never fail to amaze me.

    Sometimes a nice note on he car window works, sometimes it doesn't. Then you need a  "Will be towed" sign.

    0Reply
  • Brenda Reems
    OP
    Bismarck, ND · Member since 2025 · 39 posts · 10 votes
    7mo

    I did have a conversation with the owner of the duplex. Hopefully he will remedy the situation. If he doesn’t we will definitely take all your suggestions into consideration. I think by starting with a private property sign and if I need to have a conversation with the other tenant, I will. 

    0Reply
    • Alex Forest
      Rental Property Investor · Henrico, VA · Member since 2019 · 265 posts · 155 votes
      7mo
      Quote from @Brenda Reems:

      I did have a conversation with the owner of the duplex. Hopefully he will remedy the situation. If he doesn’t we will definitely take all your suggestions into consideration. I think by starting with a private property sign and if I need to have a conversation with the other tenant, I will. 


       Signage, private fencing and/or landscape screening. There is some nice signage you can custom order online that is not ugly.  Also, check with the city which may have a neighborhood enforcement division.  A neighbor one time started making a habit of parking on the grass, after riding up over the curb, in the small space between our brick homes (also right next to lower duplex bedroom window). The city (not police, a city code enforcement employee) followed up on it, and it stopped before it became a new habit thereafter.

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