Neighbors from Hell scaring away my tenants

Neighbors from Hell scaring away my tenants

Investor · Evans Mills, NY · Member since 2015 · 28 posts · 5 votes

Hey all,

  So I need some advice on what to do regarding some terrible neighbors that live next to my 4 unit property.  Basically they are harassing my tenants by calling the police on them nearly every day for various completely made up reasons, such as drug use, shouting, disturbing the peace, public drunkenness etc.  These are all completely false claims as my property manager has interviewed other neighbors as well as talked to the police who have never seen any evidence of ANY of the reported offenses. It has gotten to the point where the police are apologizing to my tenants every time they are called out, but they have to respond regardless.  This is an ongoing thing with every tenant, in fact we have lost 3 tenants in the last 6 months because of it, they could not live with the stress and so we let them leave.

So my question is what is my recourse as the owner?  I realize my tenants could file restraining orders for being harassed, but none of them want that hassle when they can just leave, even if it is breaking their lease and we withhold their deposit.  My property manager has spoken with the owner of the neighbors building and he is just as bad as his tenants, who are his longtime friends who could do no wrong. 

What to do?

0Reply
116 views

Most Popular Reply

Ned J.Pro Member
Investor · Manteca, CA · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
8y

Tough spot....no way in hell would I let them help me pick the new tenants. Time for you to talk to a lawyer about getting a formal restraining order. If the police are being called out repeatedly and they are finding nothing, then the neighbors are making false calls and the police should have some recourse to force them to stop....you may just need to push them harder as they will take the easy road as long as you let it slide and don't make it a big deal.

Time to talk to a lawyer.......

See this reply in the discussion

31 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Ned J.Pro Member
    Investor · Manteca, CA · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    8y

    The fact that the issues has continued over multiples of your tenants speaks volumes.....unless you are placing a bunch of loser tenants over and over, then the issue is with the neighbors.

    I like the idea of cameras.....and a fence never hurt either. I would gather the police reports and consult an attorney.

  • Investor · Evans Mills, NY · Member since 2015 · 28 posts · 5 votes
    8y

    @Matt K.  Polka dot detail work would be a higher end finish, possibly a value-add.  I will look into that but I must say the LED idea would certainly keep the neighbors awake all night - I like it.

  • Investor · Evans Mills, NY · Member since 2015 · 28 posts · 5 votes
    8y

    The lot is mixed as city property as well, so no tenant on any side really uses a majority of it, so no real reason for them to want to keep my people out of it.  It really seems to be just some sort of power trip thing, where they just like to bully people.  I will be doing lawyer letters direct to the tenants ordering a cease and desist with the threat of a lawsuit for lost rents to follow if nothing changes.  Try the least expensive fix first and then maybe a fence if they still keep at it while I pursue a lawsuit.  Hopefully it wont get that far.

  • Rental Property Investor · Michigan City, IN · Member since 2015 · 530 posts · 741 votes
    8y

    @Greg M. I am not sure if anyone has recommended this, but you should talk to a lawyer....haha

    Regardless it is a tough situation. I had a similar situation(yours is still far worse) but was able to talk through a compromise with our issue. My two cents are as follows. 

    - Like every other person, talk with a lawyer and see what they say. I wouldn't open my wallet up to let them deal with it though. I would start with a 20min conversation to get the basics figured out as to how they might remedy the situation.

    - Buying their place would be great but sounds like that isnt an option

    - Maybe there is something the neighbors want, in return for not calling the police. Could you buy them a TV, stereo, or something else for $500 or less to get a handshake that says they wont mess with your tenants or call the police for nuisance things. Have the deal be they always call you as opposed to the police.  Worst case they say great deal and then dont follow it and your out some time and $500 or so. 

    - Sell your property. Almost everywhere the market is very hot right now especially for multi family. Hopefully you can get a better price for the property then what you bought it for. Sounds like this has been a recurring pain in your ***. Rentals dont have to be. Your happiness and sanity are more important then a few hundred our thousand dollars each month. But hopefully you can turn your cash around to buy another property that does just as well if not better then what this one is doing for you and you wont have neighbors from hell. 

    Im sorry I dont have any silver bullets for you but I would like to think of this as either a bump in the road, or a divine push to get you to make some sort of adjustment or change in your investing that will be for the better. 

  • Walnut Creek, CA · Member since 2015 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    8y

    You should just buy the neighboring lot and don't let them park there, problem solved.

  • Investor · Saint Charles, MO · Member since 2016 · 118 posts · 91 votes
    8y

    Talk to the city aldermen/women, cops, admin, whoever it may be and I would get them to send a letter to these people stating that if they continue calling for false reasons that they will be billed for the expenses by the city.  They are probably as sick of them as you are and I bet they'd stop if it cost them anything.  

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.