Neighbour at war with us - interfering with property sale

We live in small block of apartments, recently our neighbours (who are investors) got some less than ideal tenants who have 2 dogs which they allow to crap and piss on the balcony, leaving it for days. Our front door is very close to the balcony and it stinks.

As our apartment (which is vacant) has recently gone on the market we emailed the landlord letting them know and asking them to ask the tenant to clean up after the dog. This caused a massive drama as the tenant wasn't supposed to have dogs and lied on the lease. They're attempting to evict her but she's digging in and taking it out on us. She's let the crap and urine pile up even more and it's becoming really gross.

We then wrote a polite letter asking them to please clean it up and maybe take them out to the street - we noted that had a dog when we were living there (we're animal lovers and we personally have no problem with them having dogs) and we took it out to the street twice a day. They responded by scrunching the letter up and putting it back in our letterbox. A week later we went over to the property to find that the tenant is now deliberately parking over our space - making it impossible for us to park.

Obviously the smell, the pile of crap and the obstructed car park will look really bad on open house inspections. We've spoken to the landlord today and whilst super apologetic they don't know what to do. They said one of the two tenants is attempting to get the one who owns the dogs to move out but she's refusing to - not sure how true this is.

What do you we do? Selling a property is stressful enough without having to deal with literal crap.

Update: Got an email from the landlord saying they've spoken to the tenant who has agreed to move out asap. In the meantime they've promised to clean up after the dogs and will stop parking over our spot. Hopefully they'll follow through with it.

Comments

    • Pretty sure this is what the landlord's doing as part of the "trying to evict them" process. But tenants' laws being what they are, even a straight forward, black and white eviction can take months - if the tenant becomes uncooperative, will take longer.

    • The landlord also doesn't have much motivation to remedy the situation, if the rent is paid on time and the property is not actually damaged (hope agents are conducting proper inspections).

  • drop nails, glue letter box, etc

    • +2

      Turn off their water main tap - frequently.

      • pull a breaker on their mains power…

  • I'll take care of them. I have an incredible disdain for people like your neighbors.

    PM me.

  • This is a public health issue. Suggest going to council. Remember: you (or they) cannot fight city hall. Also consider RSPCA for advice and possible action.

  • +5

    One day you'll be telling your grandkids about how you survived the passive-aggressive neighbour war of '18.

    • +2

      Where's my parade damnit!?

  • throw buckets of soapy water onto their balcony

  • jack their car and wheel it elsewhere.

    • jack their car

      Why? Is ebay having 20% off the automotive category?

  • Grab some dog $hit and put it in a paper bag. When you know they are home, light the paper bag at the front door and ring the door bell…. then see what happens lol. I saw it in a movie and it worked.

  • Better yet go get some more dog shit like a tonnes of the crap and throw it on the verandah till it,s literally rolling off the sides and take photo of it.
    Shit stinks the same no mater how little or how much you have so you may as well take it to the next level.

  • Our apartment fines people for staying in visitors parking for $200. I'm assuming there's room in strata laws to fine people who park in your spot as well. Take photos. Even without strata there might be something the police can do.

    It's pretty shitty of the landlord to sublet the landlord to sublet the apartment to 3 different people to increase their rent earned. Even though its perfectly legal. Maybe subletting is something the strata committee can have a say in?

    Anyway, best of luck with everything. I'm furious with the other dog owner reading your post.

  • For the crap on the balcony, just get a hose and spray it off. If the stream from the hose wont reach their balcony, then get a high pressure hose like a Karcher or Gerni. If they don't want to clean up their balcony then you just have to do it for them (at least until the sale go through, then its no longer your problem)

  • +1

    Just use the standard real estate agent's trick on 'open for inspection' day. Burn some incense, bake some cookies, light some vanilla candles etc to mask any smells. Saves a lot of hassle.

  • Marry the neighbor :) make LOVE not WAR

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