Need advice!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2006
Need advice!
20
Sun, 04-23-2006 - 2:48pm

Morning all!

I've posted before about our obnoxious neighbors - they were the fire under my behind that made me really look at our finances and start saving for a house. They are literally so annoying, I've been begging the DH to just start looking for a new place to rent with me. Unfortunately, rents have skyrocketed around here so he's right that we'll just be hurting ourselves in our saving for a house and we should just deal with it for the next year.

Not only are they loud - we're talking early morning, late at night getting home drunk and obnoxious, fighting outside our window, using power tools and blasting Rick James outside our window in the early morning on the weekend, etc, but they also block me in the driveway with their roommates and friends cars. We have a duplex, with one parking space in the driveway each. If their friends park behind us, I have to go over to their house to ask to get out - its super annoying and has been going on for a year. At least once or twice a week I have to go over there and recently, one of the roommates has been totally rude to me, like I'am putting him out even though they know they are not supposed to be there. I finally broke down and talked to the landlord about the parking issue two weeks ago. Since then, they've been on their best behavior, but then this morning I get up to get a coffee and they are parked behind me again. They are also out on their patio in full view of the friend's car so they totally know they are blocking me in - after I assume the landlord talked to them about it. Do I go to the landlord again, wait to see if it keeps happening, or move? I know there are places out there that we could afford and still save, but I hate to let them win and us throw away money on moving costs. I have a feeling that this is their little game. They were here before us and made a big point of saying how much better they liked it when our unit was empty and they had the whole place to themselves. I also get the feeling that they had problems with previous tenants in our house and maybe misrepresented it to the landlord. When we moved in, he made a big point of saying he didn't want "problem" tenants. We've been totally quiet, never blocked them in, always on time with the rent, and fixed the place up.

Sorry for the long rant!

Thanks for any advice!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2005
In reply to: chloe266
Sun, 04-23-2006 - 6:01pm

You have a right to your parking space (that includes being able to get in and out of it!).

 

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2004
In reply to: chloe266
Sun, 04-23-2006 - 7:10pm

I'm so sorry this is happening to you!

I must say, If it were me and all of this kept happening even after the landlord was informed, I would seriously look into finding something else to rent and continue to save. There must be something out there...this situation sounds so stressful to me, I think I would go crazy and spend more money shopping just to get out of the house!! So what if they win their "game" ~~this is real life, you are a responsible adult and they definately are acting like children. Could they do something violent to your family or property when they are drunk (or sober??) Do you have kids? Do you think they would do something else (besides the parking) if you told the landlord again out of spite? I really wish you the best with what you decide, I've had loud neighbors before, but this sounds really bad.... please keep us informed!

Rick James?!?!? Oh...I feel for you girl...... Nicki

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
In reply to: chloe266
Sun, 04-23-2006 - 9:01pm

Wow, I have so been in your situation! In my second year of University, the neighbours who had the other half of the semi used to play the music so loud that my pictures would fall off the walls. The police were at their house at least once a month if not more, and they had 8 people living in a three bedroom place. Not fun. Unfortunately, being a student, we really couldn't go anywhere because we couldn't afford it. We spoke with the landlord a few times, but he was useless. He actually called the renters and told them the city was coming to inspect the place because they heard to many people lived in the house!!! (although he got his . . . when they moved out they trashed the place and he had to go to court to get damages!!)

I liked the suggestion of just staying in contact with the landlord and politely asking him how you should best resolve the situation. I would also start a notebook to record all of these incidents so that you have proof if you ever need it.

And, if all else fails, earplugs are a wonderful invention!!!

Good Luck to you!

Bex


Bex -

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2006
In reply to: chloe266
Sun, 04-23-2006 - 10:00pm

Hi all,

Thanks so much for your posts! We are really considerate people so it would never even occur to me to let a situation with a neighbor get so far that they are literally at my house over 50 times to request something so ordinary as getting out of the driveway to run to the grocery store or go to work. The woman who's name is on the lease next door is 40+ so she clearly knows better. I've seriously considered that they are doing this on purpose to get us to move. I honestly can't think of a better reason for them to even put themselves in a position that they'd have a neighbor constantly over there asking for something. I think I am going to call the landlord tomorrow and ask if he has had a chance to talk to her, then let him know that I'am asking because the problem continues. I also feel like I should tell him that we are considering our options if he doesn't feel he can change the situation. He just bought a big new house and I'am sure would like a full return on his rental investment. We can definately afford something else, it's just the money and hassle of finding a new place. In OC, CA rents on just something vaguely decent are $1400 to $2000.

P.S. I agree Rick Jame "White Lines" at 7am on Saturday after a long work week is too much!

Avatar for 2locachicas
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2003
In reply to: chloe266
Mon, 04-24-2006 - 8:53am
Have you considered calling the police for disturbing the peace? I know it seems rash but maybe it would help. I have never been in this position so I am not much help...
Avatar for cl_beckymk
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: chloe266
Mon, 04-24-2006 - 9:43am

I'm so sorry you are having to deal with this.


My thought is could you call the police to have them tow the car out of the way or at least ask them what to do if someone is blocking your legal right of way?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2004
In reply to: chloe266
Mon, 04-24-2006 - 2:26pm

I would call the landlord, definitely. In fact, I'd call the landlord every single time your car is blocked in. Eventually, the landlord will get sick of the phonecalls and do something about the other tenants. I know it's best to be nice to neighbors and try to keep the peace, but sometimes that doesn't work, and you just have to put your foot down.

Wishing you luck. I sure hope you don't have to move because of them.

Pat :-D

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2006
In reply to: chloe266
Mon, 04-24-2006 - 3:47pm

Thanks Pat!

I really hate confrontation and don't want to get on the landlord's bad side, but I really think this is getting ridiculous. I don't really care if the woman next door likes me and I'am sure that she is going to wage war on me now, but luckily, we are super quiet and never bother them so she'll have a hard time coming up with anything to complain about. I'am going to call right now and let him know that they were parking behind me again.

It's great to have such awesome women to get support from, thanks all!

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-02-2004
In reply to: chloe266
Mon, 04-24-2006 - 5:20pm

I think Pat's got the right idea...squeaky wheel approach, so to speak. The devil on my shoulder is suggesting that you play a 70's classic country station early in the mornings--if their choice is Rick James, that'll drive 'em nutso.

Is there a way to park at the end of the driveway so they can't block you in? I had this situation at a college apt.--where neighbors would block us in by parking behind us in the stall late at night. I often didn't know whose car it was to get them to move next morning. My roomies and I started parking well back from the front of the space so that literally there was no room for anybody to "double park". Solved that problem. And we put plants and lawnchairs out in the wasted space--it was allocated to our unit, so nobody could get in there anyway while we were gone.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2006
In reply to: chloe266
Mon, 04-24-2006 - 6:00pm

Good suggestions! Unfortunately, the driveway is shaped oddly. There is one space for her at the end of the drive and I kind of pull in at an angle. There is no other way to park without blocking her it, which I don't want to do since she'll have a right to complain to the landlord about me. I have a feeling she did this before since he wrote into my rental agreement that I get one space without blocking the neighbor. Of course they have done all kinds of wierd things, from jamming a boat in between our cars (inches from mine) to setting up a pingpong table next to my car, to jamming their guests cars in the few feet between us. That little stunt caused her to hit the side of her house and then dent the fender of her Lexus. I was dying laughing that day!

We have considered having the DH park in the driveway since he gets up for work at 4 am, would be great to go wake them up!

I just emailed the landlord again to let him know they parked behind me again. I'am worried that the squeeky wheel will get asked to leave, but I can't let them walk on me anymore. You know the kind of person who just does that until you stand up for yourself? I get the feeling its gonna be a constant battle with this nut.

Thanks again for the advice!

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