What is h's responsibility in this case?

[Bernadine]

He rents out his townhouse.  Apparently, the renters sometimes throw parties, maybe once a month?  And we then get nasty Facebook messages/texts from the one neighbor, because it wakes up their grandson.  We have told them to address the issue with the renters directly, and if it's not taken care of, they should call the police for a noise complaint.

Do we have responsibility beyond that?

[orangeblossom]

Yes, you should talk to the renters and reiterate that they need to be courteous and observant of noise laws. It may help if you send a copy if the lease and/pr noise ordinances.

ETA: the neighbors should talk to them as they have been, but you as the landlord need to address it too. 

ETA2: I would find out more details. Is the neighbor complaining at 8pm or is she complaining at 2am. There's a difference, and I wouldn't go in guns blazing for a party that's happening at a reasonable hour, just because it's working up her grandson. 

[Bernadine]

Dec 21, 2014 8:41:57 GMT -5 orangeblossom said:

Yes, you should talk to the renters and reiterate that they need to be courteous and observant of noise laws. It may help if you send a copy if the lease and/pr noise ordinances.

ETA: the neighbors should talk to them as they have been, but you as the landlord need to address it too. 

I should have added that we have done this, and of course, they claim to not be that loud.

We have someone interested in buying the house, I hope to hell it goes through, lol.

[whiskeyandwine]

Yes, the owner bears responsibility in this case. He needs to talk to his renters immediately. He should document it, and let them know he will evict if there is another complaint.

In Chicago if the police get more than 2 calls on a property (nuisance calls, like this) they declare the owner similar to a slum lord and come after her/him before the renter.

[ralphlauren]

Dec 21, 2014 8:45:57 GMT -5 whiskeyandwine said:

Yes, the owner bears responsibility in this case. He needs to talk to his renters immediately. He should document it, and let them know he will evict if there is another complaint.

In Chicago if the police get more than 2 calls on a property (nuisance calls, like this) they declare the owner similar to a slum lord and come after her/him before the renter.

Since when?!

[whiskeyandwine]

Dec 21, 2014 13:58:52 GMT -5 ralphlauren said:

Dec 21, 2014 8:45:57 GMT -5 whiskeyandwine said:

Yes, the owner bears responsibility in this case. He needs to talk to his renters immediately. He should document it, and let them know he will evict if there is another complaint.

In Chicago if the police get more than 2 calls on a property (nuisance calls, like this) they declare the owner similar to a slum lord and come after her/him before the renter.

Since when?!

Ugh, it's relatively new. It's supposed to encourage owners to call on nuisance tenants themselves, and prevent the neighbors from having to do it. If you call yourself, you're fine. But if not, after the 2nd call they declare your property a nuisance property which is a damn nightmare. 

ETA - I mean, call on them, and then evict them. Not just report them to the police over and over. Of course. 

[readyin07]

Do you all live nearby or have friends on the street or nearby? Is there an HOA? I would be driving over there to see wtf is going on personally. In my friend's neighborhood the are super BEC about renters and ever little perceived infraction gets reported. I would want to see firsthand what was going on. If in fact they are being loud, then he needs to put them on warning.

[sapphireblue]

If the parties really are excessively loud and/or late at night I (and I am not a landlord) believe it is absolutely your H's responsibility to do something about it.

I'd be kind of pissed if my neighbor/owner of the house told me to talk to the renters and then call the police. It makes it sound like your H is washing his hands of the situation.