Neighbor Sabotage?

Question

Need some advice on how to deal with a neighbor to my SFH rental. It is currently on the market with a PM for its first tenant. A neighbor is telling potential tenants lies about the property. This info is being told to the PM who is telling me. I have asked the neighbor to not have any contact with people looking at the property but it isn't working.

The property was vacant for nearly 2 years before we bought it over 3 years ago. I think the neighbor enjoyed not having any neighbors! He is lying about things that are off putting to renters and we have had no apps in a month on a home that should have rented in a matter of days.

How can I get him to keep his mouth shut or to undo damage that he has already done? The things he is saying would keep most people from renting! At this point he is messing with our livelihood. I would rather not go to war with this guy but will do what I have to do.

Ryan R. · Answer

Tell them that he is going to end up with nasty neighbors if he keeps it up.

Tell him you are going to go out and find the loudest most obnoxious tenants you can find. If he keeps it up, follow through.

Marc Ramsay · Answer

I'll send over my broker's Uncle Frank. Old school Italian type. Won't be any issues after that 'discussion'.

Rob K. · Answer

This is one of those little niches in society that a big ugly biker can fill. Might be worth paying a big guy to go have a discussion with this turd.

Aaron Mazzrillo · Answer

Although I do not have one of those monthly memberships to those lawyer clubs, my former business partner did and I was actually amazed at the wonderful things they would do. In this case, they might send a very strongly worded cease & desist to him on some very nice looking legal like letter head out of a big law firm stating that if he continues, he will find himself in court. A simple letter like that will shut most DBs up.

I don't think it is illegal to record anyone when they are outside. You might try a little sting operation. Have a friend go by and check out the house playing the part of a prospective tenant. He might ask the neighbor what the area is like and if it is quiet at night all the while recording the audio on a cell phone. If you get any juicy stuff of of this jerk, you could then let him know you have evidence and if he does anything further, he might find himself writing out some costly checks for his defense fund. Most people act tough and talk tough, but when it comes time to visit the judge (or even threatened with it), their true colors show and they are just big mouthed idiots. I've filed my share of 3 days, and have yet to have a tenant actually show up in court. Even the ones that file an answer, in the end, don't have the cojones to try to justify their actions to the man in the black dress.

Steve Babiak · Answer

Explain that you are attempting to move in a decent renter, but if he discourages all of them, then you'll end up having to let some less desirable tenant move in.  If that doesn't work, take a dose of @Rob K 's advice and mix it with a dose of @Ryan Richard 's advice - let an undesirable occupant move in for a few days.

Charlie Hampton · Answer

BTW, had I not sold the house I was planning on sticking a section 8 tenant in there for him to deal with.

Charlie Hampton · Answer

I just sold a flip that had a neighbor like that.  The guy put up a big sign that said "do not buy that house" on my open house day.  I called the cops and he took it away only to put up another one saying that the yard floods.  He also started piling branches, leaves and other debris along the property line and there was nothing I could do.  It made me very angry. I caught him outside one day and I told him that he had no idea the can of worms he was opening and that he should expect a letter from my lawyer any day.  After that he kept to himself and left everyone alone.  It was a bluff of course but I am glad that it worked because I had no other recourse.  I hope everything works out for you, I know what your going through.

Sean Kuhn · Answer

@Aaron Mazzrillo is right. If you know a lawyer get him to type up a letter on fancy paper with cease and desist and some other law mumbo jumbo. People get scared of that. Do that and you're idea of being there as a buffer when a tenant comes to look is a great idea and will work the best.

Sam Leon · Answer

Tell him that if he ever decides to sell his house, he should expect the same courtesy extended to him.

Growing up our neighborhood used to have a bully that everyone hated, some of the kids used to wait till he leaves home, then put on vinyl disposable gloves and smear a pile of dog poop all around his front door knob.  They did it several times.

Neighbor Sabotage?

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