Older lady who lives across the street from one of my rentals left a message for me to call her right away. She left a long message, that the single mom with three kids that rent the house across the street from her had, gasp, a garage sale last week and a graduation party for her son this weekend. There were cars, and noise, and some cars parked on “her” side of the street.

This renter has caused me no trouble, the house looks great.

This woman spied on me so often during the rehab last year, driving by at 2 miles an hour, that I ran out into the street and asked her in to look around, which she did.

I absolutely am going to do nothing to mollify her, but would you even call her back?

Nope.

Unless garage sales or graduation parties are prohibited in your neighborhood, your tenant did absolutely nothing wrong. In fact, garage sales clear a lot of clutter out of the house, and kids who graduate high school are less likely to cause trouble than those who don't.

I would call, listen, and make noncommittal noises. Sometimes the busy-body neighbors can be really helpful.

Say something like, “well, garage sales are a normal thing for most people. I wouldn’t expect another one until next year.”

Also, “isn’t is wonderful that she has been able to support her children sufficiently to encourage the oldest to finish high school? I’m thrilled she encouraged him and set a good example for the younger ones how important an education is!”

When I first started, I called my local mentor here about something I was super worried about. Can't remember what it was. All he said was, "Well, you can't govern the street."

He was right. I still hear him saying that sometimes.

Busybodies!!! Ignore them...

Unlike most, I will respond to every communication from another tenant or neighbor about a valid issue. Why? Because when it escalates into a fight, stabbing or shooting, I want to be able to prove I listened and responded appropriately.

Here is one example. A upstairs tenant allowed their 1-1/2 year old child to jump for a long time after 10 PM and the tenant living underneath could get enough sleep that affected their work. I asked the downstairs tenant to keep a long on their wall calendar of dates, time and length of each occurrence. My downstairs tenant did not keep a record.

Then I asked the downstairs tenant to talk to the upstairs tenant in the parking lot, not approach them at night when the jumping is going on. The tenant again did not take my advice and said nothing.

Then the downstairs tenant started to knock on the ceiling with a broom handle to alert them that their child is making too much noise.

The law/code in my City states that when one tenant is affecting only on other tenant, not two or more, they need to try to work things out for themselves.

So when my downstairs tenant was away on a trip, I got permission to enter their unit to make repairs. I came to the unit at 8PM, came in the back door and slept on the floor, waiting to be woken up by jumping from upstairs. And wow, what a racket. For 20 minutes the kid had a temper tantrum.

The next day I approached the upstairs tenants and explained that allowing a tenant to disturb another tenant after 10 PM isn't acceptable. I asked this new couple with their first child to ask the tenants mother, she had 4 children, for advice on how to handle the issue. I followed up with a letter.

The downstairs tenant didn't know that I stayed in her unit to witness the noise and filed a report with Housing that I took no action and allowed one race to victimize her race.

Since the downstairs tenant never kept records or talked with the upstairs tenants and I have Proof that I Did tack action and advised both the upstairs tenants and downstairs tenants -- Housing let me off the hook. I am not of the same race as those tenants and this way I couldn't be accused once again of playing favorites.

Statement on call back we've used many times. We are not the police - DO NOT CALL US FOR THESE TYPES OF CALLS.

Two sides to every issue. We must examine the evidence and see which is compelling.

You described your tenants as "no problems" and one who "keep the house great". Sounds like a trustworthy person who may (emphasis on it being only a possible issue) have had a garage sale that got busier than anticipated. Such things happen. It's not an issue and as others have said often the sales only happen 1 or 2 times per year.

You described the neighbor lady as a busy body who stalked you during the rehab. She is also territorial about places that are not her territory (streets are public space). I also have to ask, what in the world would you or could you even do other than listen to her complain?

I find no compelling evidence to contact the neighbor, nor of anything you can do to "improve" a situation that is normal par for the course during summer living. Fretting about what "could" happen is useless, and in a situation like this...what's going to happen? She's going to sit at home and fume, sort of like the old guy who yells at kids to "get off my lawn" rather than going out and engaging the people in a useful dialoge.

People don't know how to deal with people any more. I blame the internet and TV. ;-)

Yes. You call her back, you gave her your number for this reason. Thank her for letting you know. Let her know that you were aware and have good communication with the family there. Appreciate her watching and reaching out.

I would call back and document. If it escalates you will have a paper trail.

I have tried to maintain good relations w a couple of "nosy neighbors" over the years. Sure, what they complain about now is minuscule, but they are the first to tell you when someone is sneaking out and about that new pit-bull chained in the backyard. I like having allies in the neighborhood.

I have often described this behavior, to my younger friends as the ever expanding personal bubble.

Bare w me....

When we are kids, our personal bubble is practically non existent. By first grade, our bubble has grown to the distance of our outstretched arm. By middle age, the distance of a front yard. By retirement, it has grown to enormous proportions and often covers an entire town, but definitely a neighborhood size. :)

Call her. Just listen and thank her for her "help". Then program her number into your phone and only answer when it's convenient.

Best of luck.

Uggh … no I wouldn't call her back. I just ran into this a few weeks ago while I was at one of my rentals. The next door neighbors (older couple) came out to see how I was (the husband usually does just to "chat" and see how I'm doing, etc).

This time BOTH the husband and wife came out to tell me that one of my tenants is just plain "bad". Can't believe what he's doing: having friends over and they are parking in the street (not overnight mind you, just the fact that when someone comes over to visit - they park in the street which is lawful). That was about the worst part of it (other than they felt that "something must be up because he's a young guy and all of the friends are also guys … never girls. He's just a bad thing for this neighborhood." They mentioned the "guy friends" many times.

We had one of those ladies across from a sfh. She was especially touchy about people parking in front of her house. We were prepping the empty sfh when a wedding photographer arrived for the lady's neighbor. He had to wait a bit and parked in front of her house. I walked over and told him the situation, and said that he could park in the sfh driveway, as we weren't using it. He said e he'd take his chances over a short wait. Two minutes later, Ms. Territorial came out and yelled and spewed vile things. He quickly backed into our driveway. My hubby's comment, "Told you."

I would return the call. I try to keep good relations with the neighbors, because sometimes, it is important.

I would thank her for her concern, but tell her that garage sales and graduation parties are legal, and that there is nothing I can do about the tenant having these legal affairs.

I would also tell her that if the tenant gets too loud, she can call the police to report the disturbance.

I have had neighbors call me about tenants moving out (midnight sneaks!), and I like encouraging them to report odd things to me!

When we bought a single family house, I introduced myself to the direct neighbors and gave them my phone number.

I wanted them to know that I was a good landlord, and wanted them to let me know if there were any problems.