{"id":3603,"date":"2018-03-14T10:27:30","date_gmt":"2018-03-14T17:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentecdirect.com\/blog\/?p=3603"},"modified":"2022-06-06T15:50:16","modified_gmt":"2022-06-06T22:50:16","slug":"how-to-deal-with-bad-neighbors-at-your-rental-property","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentecdirect.com\/blog\/how-to-deal-with-bad-neighbors-at-your-rental-property\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Deal with Bad Neighbors at Your Rental Property"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Bad neighbors can bring down a rental property’s desirability<\/a> making it difficult to maintain occupancy.<\/p>\n

Renters today evaluate a potential property by more than just the price point and interior features. \u00a0It even goes beyond amenities to include the property\u2019s community<\/a> and neighborhood. Just as the right price can make or break a signed lease, the right (or wrong) neighbors can mean the difference between rented or vacant!<\/p>\n

This means that even the most beautiful, fairly priced property, managed by the world\u2019s greatest landlord, can be a tough sell if the neighbors are undesirable. \u00a0While a landlord has some degree of control over their own tenants\u2019 behavior, there is little that can be done to control the behaviors of the neighbors around the property.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the most common problematic neighbor behaviors and some remedies for how a landlord can manage them in order to keep the rental unit occupied with great tenants.<\/p>\n

Neighborhood Eyesore<\/h3>\n

Piles of trash, cluttered yards, undrivable cars, unmaintained landscapes – real estate eyesores are one of the most noticeable bad\u00a0neighbor behaviors. \u00a0An unsightly yard or rundown home can really bring down the property value of the whole neighborhood. \u00a0Even if your home is updated and well maintained, you could face a challenge when finding tenants that tolerate living in such an unattractive neighborhood.<\/p>\n

What to Do:<\/em><\/h5>\n

If a neighboring house near your rental property looks like it could drive potential tenants away due to its displeasing curb appeal, you should do your best to minimize its visibility from your property. \u00a0Check with local city codes about fence heights and consider landscaping options that provide some privacy for your tenants that keep the unattractive property out of sight.<\/p>\n

You can also check with your local ordinances about acceptable yard maintenance standards. \u00a0Some cities have regulations about allowable grass height, trash or junk on the property, inoperable cars, outdoor storage rules, maintenance of dead trees or vegetation, etc. \u00a0Report any violations of city codes by the neighbors to help increase your property\u2019s desirability.<\/p>\n

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Excessive Noise<\/h3>\n

Whether it is a band practicing for their next gig, a late night party or working with power tools all day, excessive noise from the neighbors can drive even the most reasonable tenant crazy. \u00a0\u00a0It can be hard for a landlord to discover noisy neighbors since most complaints come from late night disturbances, which may result in a few annoying phone calls from your tenants.<\/p>\n

What to Do:<\/em><\/h5>\n

The best remedy for loud neighbors to familiarize yourself with local noise ordinances<\/a>, which put limitations on hours where noises above certain decibels are allowed. \u00a0A call to the police to report noise violations can result in fines or tickets for the offender. \u00a0If you have issues with noisy neighbors, remind them about the community restrictions and politely inform them that your tenants are encouraged to report excessive violations. \u00a0Give your tenants the information they need to make the reports to the police if and when the neighbor ever generates excessive noise during off hours.<\/p>\n

A landlord can also take certain steps to minimize the effect of outside noise heard from within the rental property. \u00a0Make sure the caulking and weather stripping on windows is intact and creates a tight seal to reduce outside noise. \u00a0You could also consider installing noise reducing window treatments or dual pane windows to reduce the impact of exterior noise for your tenants.<\/p>\n

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Misbehaved Animals<\/h3>\n

Similar to noise complaints, an incessantly barking dog can give the neighbors a bad reputation and scare tenants away. \u00a0Poorly behaved animals also fall into this category if they act menacing to your tenants, destroy any property, or the owners fail to pick up after their pets. \u00a0Dealing with neighbor pets can be one of the most frustrating situations for a landlord who may lose perfectly qualified tenants who are not ok with the neighbor\u2019s animal situation.<\/p>\n

What to Do:<\/em><\/h5>\n

Check with the city\u2019s ordinance in regards to animal behavior, which may\u00a0have specific regulations pertaining to barking dogs and dangerous\u00a0behavior. \u00a0Give your tenants information on who they can contact to report any issues to local authorities.<\/p>\n

Another creative solution for attracting tenants that may be hesitant to live next to a neighbor with an annoying pet is to consider allowing pets at your rental property. \u00a0It can be difficult for renters with pets to find pet-friendly properties, so they may be more accepting of bad neighbors if they need to secure a rental that allows animals. \u00a0\u00a0A dog owning renter may also be more tolerant of a neighbor\u2019s dog because they have one of their own.<\/p>\n

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A Good Landlord-Neighbor Relationship is Key<\/h4>\n

Although you can select the right tenant for your property, can pick your tenant, you usually cannot pick your neighbors. \u00a0Confronting a problem neighbor too often can create an acrimonious situation for your tenants who need to deal with them every day. \u00a0\u00a0A landlord faces further challenges when dealing with bad neighbors because having a good relationship with your neighbors can be one of a landlord\u2019s greatest strengths. \u00a0Strong landlord-neighbor relationships help protect your investment, as they can be your eyes and ears for any lease violating behavior by your tenants and even give you a heads up if there is a maintenance emergency while your tenants are out of town.<\/p>\n

Just as a bad neighbor can drive tenants away, a great neighbor can encourage great tenants to stick around. \u00a0Work towards building a great relationship with the neighbors through a friendly disposition, open communication, and positive interactions. \u00a0If you do need to confront a problem neighbor, approach the conversation rationally with problem-solving goals in mind rather than accusations.<\/p>\n

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Have you ever had to deal with bad neighbors driving tenants away? \u00a0Tell us about your experience and how you handled the situation.<\/em><\/p>\n

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