Tenant Harmony Solutions

[Kristen Williams]

Greetings BP pros! Normally I like to share our expertise but as a continuous learner, I’d like your perspective to create a solution. 

We recently had two new leases at the same time in a fairly new duplex located in a residential area.

Side 1 is 4 male older college roommates who play baseball for their college and some work as well as go to school and practice. They were a good risk as each parent consented to add their names and background checks to each one. Lease rules, peace issues and communication guidelines were established in person and we worked extra hard to move them in smoothly. 

Days later, a wonderful family with teenagers moved in next door. Duplexes are attached at garages and one bedroom. We did warn them beforehand that it will be young males and they assured us it would be fine. They all met the parents and tenants on move in day and they all exchanged numbers.

30 days in, mom feels that the guys are too loud. She runs a business from home during the day. The guys of course have much different schedules. 

First they worked it out. New and exciting adjustments for both sides are occurring and they haven’t found a workable pace yet. 

Now, I am getting texts at different times from the mom complaining about noise again. However, even though I have a verbal warning the first time to the guys, they truly were having fun playing video games just after dinner and not being unreasonable. 

Both sides have different lifestyles, both follow the lease rules, and both need to find a way to live in harmony before it all deteriorates. 

Last night she contacted me again, asking if she should call the police. I told her it may not hurt so she can find out their take and help determine if this is truly a nuisance. 

Well I get a 4 way text from the guys, saying I told her to do it and how it wasn’t fair. 

I responded to them and to her, that they must find a workable solution, and that we would see if there’s anything we can provide to assist. 

Logically, it’s a no brained to remind them that the move is new, excitement is high, and a pattern will emerge. However, they both deserve a quality of life where they live. 

Thoughts? 

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Kristen Williams:

You can spend a lot of time trying to make this work, or you can cut your losses and have a life. I opt for the latter.

Contact the mom and let her know that it's clearly not working out, despite you warning her up front. Give her a written notice of termination and tell her to move out. If she wants to stay, tell her - in writing - that she was offered the opportunity to leave and insisted on staying, therefore she needs to accept the noise and you won't accept further complaints.

In the future, I would be very, very clear about noise traveling between units. I post a written reminder on a door or inside a kitchen cabinet with some basic rules, including quiet hours (mine are 9pm - 7am), and that Tenants should talk to each other to handle noise issues or they can file a complaint with the police.