Updated 2 days ago on . Most recent reply
Noise and weed
Hello
I am renting a studio in MA. I have two tenants living there. They have been renting for 6 months, and paying on time. This is a yearly lease. The unit is located in a residence managed by a condo association. I only own one unit.
Since they moved in some neighbors have been complaining about marijuana smells supposedly coming from my unit multiple times. This issue never occured before (I have been renting this studio for 8 years). But it is worth noting that another family moved into a neighboring unit around the same time. Both tenants vehemently denied being at the origin of the smell. Their reaction to the accusation was extremely emotional. They said they felt like scapegoats. One of them said he did a drug test for work and can provide the report, which is negative but I have not asked for a copy. In my opinion there is no way to know where the smell is coming from since the unit is right next to an entry point to the building. My gut feeling based on a discussion with my tenant is that they tell the truth, but I have no way to know for sure.
My tenants have also complained about excessive loud noise coming from neighbors. Now recently their neightbors have complained about banging and shouting noise. My guess is that there is a shouting noise going on. The neighbors have called the police, but I do not have any detail on the police visit. All neighbors complaints are channeled through the condo association management, which has sided with the neighbors and is now threatening to fine my unit for violating the smoking and noise ordinance.
I am trying to walk a fine line between my tenants and the condo association. I am planning to write a letter to my tenants about the violation of the noise ordinance, but I do not think blaming them for the smoking violation is justified. If / when I receive the fines, I am planning to backcharge the noise violation to my tenants but challenge the smoking violation. I am not sure how to resolve this issue. I would appreciate any advice.