How to handle a tenant-neighbour dispute
There are neighbours from hell, there are tenants from hell and then throw into the mix a landlord that doesn’t know how to handle the situation and you have a boiling pot of tension and argument brewing. There is a huge potential for fights to break out between the 3 parties, which can easily escalate into a bad situation.
It’s impossible to predict how a prospective renter would act while residing in your home, no matter how well you vet them. As soon as their antisocial behaviour starts to upset the surrounding residents, it will be quite common for disagreements to start taking place.
The issue that has to be answered is whether or not landlords have an obligation to take care of their tenants’ neighbours, and whether or not landlords are accountable for renters that cause a disturbance. Neighbour disagreements may arise for a variety of reasons, such as excessive noise from a tenant’s pets or a border dispute and this will negatively affect The landlord indirectly as well. A common problem for landlords, particularly those with multi-unit properties, is neighbourly disputes between tenants and their next-door neighbours.
The first step a property owner should take when a conflict develops is to gather as much information as possible regarding the nature of the issue. If the dispute involves the property or a tenant’s conduct, the landlord must intervene. Hence, a contract that explicitly states what forms of tenant activity will not be accepted is a property owner’s first safety net against trouble. If a renter violates the contract and a neighbour complains, the property owner must take immediate action to address the issue.
A tenant-caused neighbour disagreement may reflect poorly on you as a landlord and might result in you being liable for your renter’s activities. Once aware of such a conflict, you must not allow it to escalate. In the case of persistent nuisance clause violations within the contract, you may choose to evict the renter for infringing the tenancy agreement and not trying to resolve the situation.
In conclusion, remember to keep a level head in everything that you do. If you’re not calm, you can’t solve renter-neighbour conflicts. Apply diplomacy and remain composed at all times while dealing with an uncomfortable or tense circumstance. Keep in mind that conflicts sparked by rage seldom end well.
