Bad relations with neighbours

Aug 31, 2021.

Do you live in a nice, lovingly furnished home that you feel comfortable in? The only problem is an unfriendly neighbour, or a hypersensitive neighbour who cannot tolerate the slightest noise. At Fortuna, we know that a neighbour can sometimes make your life difficult and ruin your day-to-day life as a tenant. There are plenty of examples of this.

DISPUTES BETWEEN NEIGHBOURS

 

EXAMPLES

  • A neighbour does not respect the house rules, behaves inconsiderately, puts rubbish in the communal areas, does not keep to the laundry schedule, or even insults and threatens you.
  • They disregard the quiet hours and regularly make a lot of noise late at night.
  • Or your neighbours keep overreacting to your slightest movement. They might also complain about your children sometimes crying or running around the apartment.

 

WHAT TO DO

TALK

It is best to speak directly to the neighbour concerned at an early stage. Try to resolve the situation by approaching the neighbour with an open-minded and understanding attitude. You can also inform the property management company. In this case, a phone call or an e-mail will suffice to let them know.

 

WRITE A LETTER

If talking to your neighbour does not work, we recommend writing to the property management company using our template letter. This is because the above examples indicate a problem with your rented property, and you might be able to claim a rent reduction in some cases. You should therefore let the management company know the circumstances at an early stage.

 

You can also cite evidence to support your argument. However, caution is advised here. To avoid making hasty and unfounded accusations, you should always stick to the facts. You might also be able to provide written statements from other neighbours or mention any police involvement.

 

NO IMPROVEMENT IN SIGHT

If there is no improvement in sight, we recommend using our second template letter. In this letter, you will mention that there is a problem with the rented property and that you will demand a rent reduction if no concrete measures are taken within a set period.

 

LEGAL ACTION AS A LAST RESORT

If the property management company still takes no action after your second letter, or even terminates your tenancy wrongfully, then a judge will have to rule on the matter. If the facts are proven, you can get a rent reduction and, if applicable, have the termination reversed or the notice period extended.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

“Disputes between neighbours can be very stressful. However, it is important that the property management company does not see you as a difficult neighbour. Tenants should therefore always be friendly and communicate respectfully with neighbours and the management.” 

 

Mélanie Guerra, Senior Lawyer at Fortuna Legal Protection

Mélanie Guerra has been working at Fortuna for eight years. As a senior lawyer, she heads the “First Touch Customer Experience” team at the Nyon site. Mélanie has extensive experience in various fields of law, especially tenancy law.

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