Obstructive neighbours stopping us from renting flat

Keep on persisting with environmental health. If you can give them enough evidence, they can prosecute the neighbours for causing a statutory nuisance.
It sounds like you're already gathering evidence, but overdo it rather than underdo it, and obviously don't do anything that violates these people's privacy (however obnoxiously they behave).
I would gather witness statements; for example, could some of the prospective tenants who witnessed the performance give you statements? They have nothing to lose and nothing to gain, so ideal. Also, could you find someone to spend some time staying at flat, who will keep a diary of incidents (be careful you don't choose someone who is likely to wangle a tenancy by the backdoor).
As it's a flat, is there a freeholder or if you're involved in managing the freehold, send a warning as a prelude to proceedings for violation of the lease, the ultimate sanction being forfeiture.
As for the work these characters allegedly had done, if they can't produce receipts and can't prove they acted with your agreement, they will not be able to make a claim against you.
Also, there's a term for locking a legal occupier out of their property without good reason (and you are the occupier until another tenant moves in) - it's called illegal eviction and it's a criminal offence. If they don't give you a new set of keys within a reasonable time, you can prosecute. The freeholder will be liable for the cost of the new lock unless there is proof it was a result of the neighbours' negligence.

I have had a number of tenants like this or even worse with graffiti left on walls, windows smashed and leaving owing a lot of money. These were in areas of selective licensing where the council knew there were problems and sought to address them. I have also taken over property where it was being used as a drug den. I am happy to deal with these situations often with help from others.
If this is causing you stress and losing you money could you put it in the hands of a suitably experienced letting agent to sort out? Less hassle for you and with their contacts and knowledge they should be able to resolve the issue. Good luck

Ask yourself Do i need this stress and hassle, I have been in a similar situation quite a few times over the past Thirty Five years of being a landlord and in my experience it rarely gets better. I have sold problem properties and reinvested elsewhere, this might not be your solution but good luck with whatever you do.

I would suggest that your recourse lies under the lease for the flat rather than holding out any hope of a resolution via environmental health. Free feel to email me a copy if you want me to look at it.

You might like to send a copy of this correspondence to your local MP while you are at it, every little helps when it comes to informing our so-called reperesentatives what it is like at the coal-face of running a PRS business!

It’s time to roll up your sleeves and get a bit nasty yourself, by the sound of it.

So Arrange another viewing with a friend and make sure that you pull out your smartphone and video them being prat’s.

Let them see you videoing them, if you feel safe.

They will kick off, but tell them to call the police if they are not happy about it.

Then do it all again

Then do it all again.

Then make an appointment with environmental health and Insist that they act to protect you. Show them the video.

Ask the council to put in writing, why they are not prosecuting, because you intend to complain to the local Authority ombudsman if they don’t.

Call the police and say they are disturbing the peace and you suspect child abuse if they have kids, because of the screaming and shouting.

At the same time ask your local paper to do an article on them explaining that they are a local nuisance, it’s rumoured that they beat their kids and sell drugs via facebook and that your local councillors are shite and pay lip service to the rules.

If you have a freeholder, send them a link to the video and ask them to act.

Report them to the DSS fraud line and tell them you suspect benefit fraud, because they are too wealthy.

Tell environmental health that her partner has piddled out of the window when he is drunk and flashed his bits with kids about.

Take your pick, you are dealing with F*uckwits, so treat them like one.

Reply to the comment left by Gary Dully at 06/10/2017 - 13:43Good advice, Gary, but the poster needs to be careful about what he has published as the neighbours are likely to accuse him of libel. You can say something or even publish accusations or negative statements about people, but if you can't prove these are true you can be prosecuted.

Since you have to tell them that you're recording them for it to be permissible to use in court, I would send them a letter (hand deliver) telling them that activity at your property will be recorded in future as you have received feedback from prospective tenants and you want investigate. You could start on next arrival and leave a digital recorder going at the property to see if the nuisance subsides after the visit is over. I agree with the poster who said to engage a good agent.

Reply to the comment left by Gary Dully at 06/10/2017 - 13:43
Brilliant.

Do it Jimbo.

Don't let anyone think it's you doing it.

Hi All,

Many thanks for taking the time to respond, really appreciated.

Further info on this is that we both own a share of the freehold on the property, but does this mean that we have a leasehold agreement between the 2 flats?

I have asked the agencies trying to let the flat to keep a diary of events, but it looks like I am going to have to go there myself as well to ensure this is permissable if we go legal.

The authorities won't give us an appointment at the flat as they have to respond to a noise, which is very annoying. I will take the advice to push the issue with them though as they need to protect us.

Keep the advice coming though and I'll let you know of any progress!