Yard Damage to Neighbors (by DaveC [GA]) Apr 9, 2014 5:47 AM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Patti [OK]) Apr 9, 2014 6:18 AM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Patti [OK]) Apr 9, 2014 6:19 AM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Tx mike [TX]) Apr 9, 2014 6:28 AM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Patti [OK]) Apr 9, 2014 6:46 AM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by S i d [MO]) Apr 9, 2014 7:00 AM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Robert J [CA]) Apr 9, 2014 7:36 AM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by AllyM [NJ]) Apr 9, 2014 8:57 AM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Patti [OK]) Apr 9, 2014 9:13 AM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Patrick [IL]) Apr 9, 2014 9:19 AM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by patti [OK]) Apr 9, 2014 9:24 AM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by phil [NY]) Apr 9, 2014 9:53 AM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by SRose [CA]) Apr 9, 2014 10:01 AM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Nicole [PA]) Apr 9, 2014 12:13 PM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by James (Mo) [MO]) Apr 9, 2014 12:40 PM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Landlord ofthe Flies [TX]) Apr 9, 2014 1:45 PM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Robin [WI]) Apr 9, 2014 8:57 PM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Gary G [IN]) Apr 9, 2014 10:00 PM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Wilma [PA]) Apr 10, 2014 4:52 AM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Blue [IL]) Apr 10, 2014 5:36 AM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by DaveC [GA]) Apr 10, 2014 6:33 AM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Judy [MI]) Apr 15, 2014 12:14 PM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by DaveC [GA]) Apr 16, 2014 6:57 AM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Heather [IL]) Apr 16, 2014 3:16 PM
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by DaveC [GA]) Posted on: Apr 9, 2014 5:47 AM Message:
Tenants moved in three weeks ago. 8PM on night of move, I got a call from the next door neighbor; all upset. The new tenants had driven the moving truck across her yard and left deep ruts. They had gotten into a yelling match and she also called the police. She wanted me to do something. I called the tenants and advised that if indeed they had damaged neighbors' yard, they should fix it. Next morning I went and verified the damage. I sent a letter to tenants saying that the police had ordered me to have them fix the yard. I advised they could buy 8-10 bags of 'garden soil' from HD or Lowes. That's the last I heard anything.
Yesterday I was there all afternoon installing a new water heater. When finishing up, next door neighbor came over and said tenants hadn't fixed yard yet. I said I'd talk to them. It was now about 7PM and tenants had left; I guess to go eat…or bath or whatever. I'm thinking I'll call them today and advise they have one week to fix the neighbor's yard or I'll hire landscaping people to do it and bill them, the tenants. (Of course I'll just dump the dirt/smooth it out myself; and bill them if it comes to that.)
Some thoughts please? How culpable am I? Should I be involved? Is it just a matter between tenants and neighbor? Am I on the right track? Thanks!
--99.16.xxx.xxx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Patti [OK]) Posted on: Apr 9, 2014 6:18 AM Message:
First, it is not your responsibility for your former tenants actions. Give the neighbor your former tenants name and forwarding address and let them hash it out. --72.198.xx.xx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Patti [OK]) Posted on: Apr 9, 2014 6:19 AM Message:
First, it is not your responsibility for your former tenants actions. Give the neighbor your former tenants name and forwarding address and let them hash it out. --72.198.xx.xx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Tx mike [TX]) Posted on: Apr 9, 2014 6:28 AM Message:
Patty, these are not his past tenants, but his new ones. Even them it isn't in his place to be involved in this dispute --96.40.xx.xx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Patti [OK]) Posted on: Apr 9, 2014 6:46 AM Message:
Tx Mike, I'm sorry I miss understood. It is like you said. It is not LL fault and he is not responsible for his tenants damage. --166.137.xxx.xx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by S i d [MO]) Posted on: Apr 9, 2014 7:00 AM Message:
I agree with Patti. Not your fault so stay out of it. Let the neighbors figure it out.
Btw, was is TRUE that, "the police had ordered me to have them fix the yard."?
I don't know anything about your police dept, but I have never heard of such a thing. Police usually just take reports and/or arrest people. They leave it up to courts to give restitution orders. --108.250.xxx.xxx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: Apr 9, 2014 7:36 AM Message:
If the shoe was on the other foot, your neighbors wouldn't compensate you for something their tenant did to your property. So why should you? Give them your tenants contact information and that's it. --98.119.x.xxx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by AllyM [NJ]) Posted on: Apr 9, 2014 8:57 AM Message:
I have to take another view of this. Rentals are often not welcome in family neighborhoods. Rentals tend to contain a slightly higher percentage of idiots and uncaring people possibly.
I would take an active part is seeing that this neighbor is fully compensated and that their lawn is restored in order to keep them as friends and not make enemies.
Otherwise there will be a neverending stream of complaints from them and possible retribution. You don't want to find your porch on fire one night do you? or your vehicle keyed? They can find your home via public records unless you are a corporation.
Olde Miss Ally --69.141.xxx.xxx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Patti [OK]) Posted on: Apr 9, 2014 9:13 AM Message:
this is not the business of LL. The LL did not do this damage, the tenant did. Not the LL. If something happens to the tenants personal property then it on them and if the Neightbor does damage to the LL property, in our lease the tenants are responsible any damages during their tenancy. End of story.
--72.198.xx.xx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Patrick [IL]) Posted on: Apr 9, 2014 9:19 AM Message:
Who are your neighbors? If they're a home owner, most likely they will be around for a long time. I would get involve and smooth things out. It's not fun having enemies next door. However the neighbor is another renters, I would leave them figure things out. They probably wouldn't be there for long.
Also I never hard of police "order". Since when do they have the authority to order people around. Strange.
Good luck, --198.29.xxx.xxx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by patti [OK]) Posted on: Apr 9, 2014 9:24 AM Message:
Patrick, the tenant just need to step up and fix the damage they did and then the problem is solved. --72.198.xx.xx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by phil [NY]) Posted on: Apr 9, 2014 9:53 AM Message:
While legally you are probably not liable, the fact “They had gotten into a yelling match and she also called the police.” My bet the tension will only escalate not deescalate if the tenant will not step up and you will be pulled in at some point in the future
With single families, I like to try and keep a certain Goodwill with my owner occupied neighbors (not always possible) , so I wouldn’t hesitate to have a calm/professional discussion with my tenants about the damage,
--68.39.xx.xx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by SRose [CA]) Posted on: Apr 9, 2014 10:01 AM Message:
I have found my neighbors by my rentals as assets through out the years. They have contacted me with real pertinent information about tenants where I was able to deal with a problems before things got bad.
I would not be impressed with a new tenant that didn't take care of repairing his damage. I would write him that what happened and mention the Police and give him 7 days to fill in the ruts or you will charge him for a yard service to do it. I am sure a Judge would support you especially since the Police were called. --75.247.xxx.xx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Nicole [PA]) Posted on: Apr 9, 2014 12:13 PM Message:
several have said the police can't "order" anyone to do anything and they are right. BUT what they are really saying, without verbalizing it, is ... if this isn't taken care of and we get called back in the 7 days or whatever, we will be filing a criminal mischief (or whatever it's called in your area) complaint.
--174.55.xxx.xxx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by James (Mo) [MO]) Posted on: Apr 9, 2014 12:40 PM Message:
I doubt that your lease would allow you to fix the neighbors yard yourself and then bill the tenant. I'd say the lease covers you and tenant, and YOUR property.
Like the others, I don't think this is your responsibility either. That said though, I wouldn't just stick my head in the sand. I would tell the neighbor you'll try to help them, but in the end, if the tenant refuses to address this problem that you will be powerless to require it. And that the neighbor at that point should file a small claims action. --65.27.xx.xxx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Landlord ofthe Flies [TX]) Posted on: Apr 9, 2014 1:45 PM Message:
Let me give a different opinion. You should pay someone to fix it, then bill the tenant.
Sure, you're all correct that this isn't your problem, but what is your problem is getting along with your neighbors. Long after this tenant is gone, you'll still be neighbors. Don't upset your neighbors over such a small problem. Through some sod on there too to go the extra mile.
Don't do it because you have to, do it because you need to maintain good relations with your rental's neighbors. --99.125.xxx.xxx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Robin [WI]) Posted on: Apr 9, 2014 8:57 PM Message:
Amen to the importance of goodwill with the neighbors. I had one neighbor of my first rental property call me when a windstorm took down a tree in the front yard. The neighbor on the other side saw a guy peeking in the windows while it was still being rehabbed and, because I'd made the effort to introduce myself and chat a little, knew that his story of "looking to buy it" was bogus. He ran him off. That kind of goodwill is worth far more than the cost of a few bags of soil. --99.20.xxx.xxx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Gary G [IN]) Posted on: Apr 9, 2014 10:00 PM Message:
Aggravating isn't it? We all know what the right thing is to do and all in our own way try to coax the tenant into doing it and they don't.
Just when I saw Patrick write "Who are your neighbors?" I thought he was going to quote some scripture and then he didn't. like Mat 19:19 or 22:39 or Rom 13:9-10 maybe Jam 2:8 or --99.132.xxx.xx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Wilma [PA]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2014 4:52 AM Message:
I agree with cultivating good will in a neighborhood that is largely owner-occupied. I would have given the tenants 7 days to do the work, then paid to get it done and done well, then billed the tenant (remember that amounts owed for damages or late fees are applied to the accounts payable first, THEN rent - put that in your lease).
I do have a lease clause for sfhs about move-in and move-out, which clearly states that moving trucks are to be parked in the street or driveway only, and the same goes for any vehicles of tenants, delivery persons, or visitors during the course of the tenancy. (You guessed it, I have created that after the fact.) --71.175.xxx.xx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Blue [IL]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2014 5:36 AM Message:
I have this included in my lease." No driving/parking on grass, this includes move in and mive out"
I agree, it's not your problem, technically. I would give the 10 day to cure, if they did not repair, I would fix and bill tenant.
It is a goodwill issue. That neighbor gets a bad opinion of your property, they can make your life h:ll. --66.87.xx.xxx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by DaveC [GA]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2014 6:33 AM Message:
Update: 1.The next door neighbor is a long-time owner. I'm on pretty friendly terms with the neighbors on both sides of this house. That's why I'm getting involved. Otherwise, yes, I tell her that it's strictly between her and my tenants. I kinda hinted at that when she first called; but then I told her I'd see what I can do. 2. No, the police didn't order me. These tenants are the type that I'm almost certain they believe me about the "police order"; especially since they were talked to by the police that night. The husband tenant downplayed how much damage there was; but didn't call me out on the police order part.
So, I'm just trying to impress on them that there is indeed damage that needs to be corrected.
"...billing them not enforceable..." Probably true; but no harm in trying. If they don't fix the problem, I'll just do it myself and try to collect. The neighbor's yard is weed-infested; not well-maintained, etc. So, adding sod is questionable. If I do it myself, I'll just get a bag of that Scotts "lawn patch seed" stuff, with built-in mulch etc. Probably gonna cost about $40-$50 bucks DYI. These "trashy" tenants need to learn from their mistakes. So, I'll bill them maybe $80 bucks...IF they don't take care of the problem. I told them it'd be WAY cheaper just to buy some bags of soil...as opposed to me hiring a landscape outfit. It might work. If not, oh well.
Thanks for all the replies! --99.16.xxx.xxx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Judy [MI]) Posted on: Apr 15, 2014 12:14 PM Message:
New tenants? And already showing their true colors. Sounds like PITA tenants. --76.255.xxx.xxx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by DaveC [GA]) Posted on: Apr 16, 2014 6:57 AM Message:
Actually, they are pretty nice people. He just doesn't see the problem with the neighbors yard; doesn't think ruts are a big deal. Just ignorant about what a nice yard should look like. And, just made a mistake driving the truck across the neighbors' yard. Otherwise, pretty nice people...stated they don't want to get into a shouting match with neighbors...their side is that the neighbors are confrontational; as opposed to calmly trying to work it out. That's the latest message he left on my cell phone after my latest 'warning' to them to get it fixed. --99.16.xxx.xxx |
Yard Damage to Neighbors (by Heather [IL]) Posted on: Apr 16, 2014 3:16 PM Message:
They are pretty nice people??? Sorry, but I don't agree with you. Those tenants are going to give you a lot of problems in the future because they don't have any respect for private property, I can imagine how they are going to treat your property.
Tell your next door neighbors to take pictures of the damage, give them your tenants name, and phone number and advice them to take them to small court. With tenants like yours I would inspect my property more often. --66.87.xx.xxx |
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