How do you know he is not a model tenant? Because he parks cars where he wants to on his drive?By the sounds of this guy the landlord might be glad of a reason to boot him - it's not all as simple as wanting to keep a tenant just cause they pay.
The landlord may want to do all he can to keep this tenant and go tell the people next door to mind their own business. Stop being so naïve.
I say it again - don't go crying to the landlord, it will backfire.