Neighbours - report or just grit my teeth?

To reverse onto their drive, the Rational Neighbours don't need to reverse all the way up the road. They can drive up the T, turn right instead of left and just reverse past Headcase Neighbours' house.

Report report all day long. I dont understand the mentality of people advising you to put up with this. Its exactly why the carry on doing it. Keep a diary and ring door bell clips etc. If necessary depending on the incidents it can go for harassment and be a police matter but definitely report to HA. ASB is something they will deal with.

Believe me we had neighbours similar and we left it to long to do anything about whilst it caused me no end of stress and illness etc

as It’s private land get a small car and park it up -sorn it so you don’t have to tax and insure it on private land - little tidy but old car and just park it up as a permanent blockage. If not get a retractable bollard fitted and give nice neighbor a fob for it - or I think you just install an app on your phone these days.

As for the mother you’ll have to log everything- it’s infuriating. I know they might be there a long time but children grow fast - sort the parking asap - the teenagers will soon have cars themselves and will be moving out. X

God your neighbours sound awful! I would get CCTV for the front and back of the house and record everything they do on your land, It's also worth looking at getting some of those little plastic spikes that go along the top of fences and gates.

For the dog issue... There are a few scents that deter dogs. Citrus, chilli, vinegar, coffee to name a few.

Coffee grounds are actually a great dog deterrent and it's good for plants and lawns as well. Cafes will usually give coffee grounds away for free because it's a waste product. My local cafe used to give my allotment neighbour buckets full.

Good luck!

You can record your own property. Record everything and hassle the housing association every single time. Also report to the police. I/ trespass and harrassment, and property damage.

Fellow yank! I missed that one. I was so aghast I replied before getting through all the pages. (Sorry OP! I forget I can "see all" since I made an acct a few days ago. I don't usually login or comment. Two bullet points are moot.)

I got this on ask the police for laws related to clamping:

Private land
It is a criminal offence to clamp/block/tow away a vehicle on private land without lawful authority. Lawful authority to immobilise or move a vehicle is restricted to a number of organisation such as the police, DVLA and local authorities.
[...]
To commit this offence a person must intend to prevent the owner/driver from moving their vehicle. Therefore, clamping your own car to prevent theft would not be an offence. No offence would be committed where a driver was prevented from leaving a car park because the vehicle's exit was blocked by a fixed barrier.
[...]
We would suggest owners of private land seek legal advice either from a solicitor or the Citizens Advice[.]

I agree with finding a solution with your nice neighbour; one that involves a gate or locked bollard.
Large planters on wheels (that chain/lock into place) could be useful too. Research stretchy green plastic mesh too.

Yank here. Sorry if this is a silly question. If you can’t have it towed, what remedy does the law allow when someone trespasses by parking on your property?

This is one of the problems with new build estates- they all have an element of HA homes often mixed in with the privately owned ones. It would be better if they followed the old way where council houses were built in a separate area and all together. Of course privately owned houses can be owned by awful people and HA tenants are not all anti social people, but keeping all the HA homes together would mean fewer neighbour problems for the owned houses.

I would have already reported these appalling people to the HA and would have no qualms doing it. Whatever consequences there are, including eviction, then they only brought it upon themselves.

CONGRATS ON YOUR DREAM HOME! 💖

I see why this is the country of the queue. As a homeowner across the pond, I shall assist in your inner "Oh HeII Naw!" journey bc that was my reaction appx. 1/5 of the way through reading. Also, thank you for the detailed diagrams bc I was having trouble picturing it in my head from your description (a me thing!).

You have been way too nice for too long. I think it's why they think they can treat you like that. Don't let them disrespect you so much! You deserve better! They are so rude!!!

• I haven't seen any private property sign suggestions. Those should go up!

• Hard evidence is better for corroborating your side. I'm all for cameras. Ring has a ton of camera options and prime day is coming up in July when they'll be on sale. I'm looking rn bc I have the indoor and outdoor motion detectors, motion sensors on all my doors and windows, they do have a broken window device, outdoor lights with motion sensors (I don't see these on UK Amazon), alarm pads, almost the whole system for a few hundred USD. I personally bought their blink brand, though, for cameras, bc they're lower priced, both indoor and outdoor. I only have a couple motion sensor lighting accessories for the outdoor set. Wish I had gotten the non-wired. I only suggest since you have a ring camera and it is convenient to have them altogether and be used with Alexa. That's just me, though. Anywho!

• I second many things that have been said, but before that I wanted to broach upon legal action. I'm not familiar with UK landowner law, but I assume there are areas that would overlap and could get you a cease and desist type letter sent to them, after reporting to HOA and what, if any, actions they take. It's usually a more affordable option before escalating on a legal front, but most people don't want to have to deal with any legal reprecussions, regardless of civil or criminal law.

• Getting in with nice neighbor bc by now you surely would've spoken about this at least once, maybe? I imagine they're getting it worse as the direct neighbor.

• Speak with them, too, about how to block off your driveway that still allows them to back out, if you'd like, since you do stress wanting to keep up the good relationship.

• How are the spikey plants over there? Rose bushes, Holly Berry plants, IDK what one of the evergreens I have is called, it's red, but that is a very mean plant and I have to be very careful working on them bc the front slopes. I'm sure there are lots of pointy options regardless of location!

• And next time those bikes are left on YOUR property, I believe you just got several new bikes to donate decide when they can be returned! I would put those babies in the garage, shed, or just lock them up, depending on availability.

• Next time a car is parked on YOUR private property — heck! you can even put a warning sign up — get them towed!

Tl;dr: FAFO! ❗❗❗

Best of luck! And oh my! I used a lot of exclamation points. 🤭

@Shesellsseashellsnotinmystreet OMG! Those blockers are actually penguins!!! That's so cute! I wasn't expecting that lololol.

Speak to the HA but before you do, make sure you log as much evidence as possible and also use their "buzzwords". Based on this thread "antisocial behaviour" appears to be one. Have a look on their website to see if there are others you can use.

Also check if there are timeframes for investigations of complaints and/or a need to respond to each complaint. The more you sound like you understand their obligations, the easier the HA will find it do to their job.

You have to keep reporting them. They will eventually get serious warnings but it might take a while.

Make a written complaint detailing the story so far, giving the rough timeframe.

When the HA responds, there will be a name - call or email that person every time that they do something antisocial. Every day if necessary.

Make it very clear that you won’t stop doing this until they stop their antisocial behaviour.

Anti climb paint on the fence - you have to display a warning sign, but paint and sign is about £20 from screwfix.

Do you have anyone outdoor tap at the front? I'd be tempted to set up a motion detected sprinkler for anyone / thing going onto your garden.

I haven’t read every post so not sure if anyone else has said this but you might be able to use your home insurance if you have the legal cover added to help you deal with this, instead of having to pay a solicitor.

i could write a book on the shitty neighbours I’ve had (and maybe I will one day 😆). It is the worst and it affects your enjoyment of the house you’ve worked hard for. Don’t let the bastards win.

If they’re still building the development (you said you’re only phase one?) then speak to the site manager! I live in a HA new build (disabled, not feckless before anyone has a go!) in what was phase one (am a nice neighbour!) and the site manager was like a bloodhound with any complaints from any customers and to be honest, most of them hate us housing association tenants as some of them (again, not us!) are awkward I hate to admit it but it’s true. So he/she is likely to jump on it, especially if you’re a customer.

If you can get hold of some free filing cabinets, you can turn them into expensive looking planters that help block off a space.

Ring camera with the motion alert siren might be useful in sending them packing. It is far worse on young people’s ears.

When we were getting dog shit on my lawn from a neighbour, we made sure it was returned to sender in an Amazon parcel. Saved up a week’s worth. Put it in a box with a note. It stopped.

I really feel angry on your behalf! Some people just don't give shit!! 🤬

If I were unable to get onto or off my driveway because of a visitor's car I would put my hand on the horn - each and every time.
I believe if your car is parked on your driveway and you are blocked in, you can inform the police and they apparently will sort it.

I would report every single aspect of anti social behaviour to the Housing Association every single time

If they are new tenants with the Housing Association they probably have an initial trial period / 6 months before it turns into a permanent tenancy.

Thus you need to document everything, and report it every single time.
in writing i.e. creating a paper trial.

Honesty op I think you should move. These people aren’t reasonable, they are arse holes, who will make your life hell. The HA will do nothing, they might write them a letter, but they will never evict them, and then the abuse will likely start.
You will not come out of this well, and the stress it will cause will not be worth it.

I lived on a mixed estate, and one family made everyone’s live hell. I didn’t realise until I’d left how much stress their behaviour had caused me. I would never live on a mixed estate again. Most families are lovely, but the HA either don’t care or have no authority to get the families to stop being anti social.

I'd happily lived in my bungalow for nearly 20 years when the neighbour from hell moved in. In the first week he started drilling big holes in the outside wall of my detached house to hang a new gate on causing a big crack to appear on the inside of my house. Things only got worse over the years. He hated that my deeds clearly said I had access through his to clear my gutters and he put up a 6 foot electric gate to bar my access. Because the area had loads of trees, my gutters totally blocked and I had to take him to court to force him to let me have access again. That took 2 years and during that time the blocked gutters made my house damp. He put a basket ball hoop beside my house and then spent hours every evening smashing balls into my living room and bedroom walls. He assaulted my DH on our drive after he asked him to stop smashing render off his garage wall onto our drive near our car (he got arrested for that but had to be released as no witnesses) . Just a few of the ways this man in his 30/40 s made my familiy's life a total misery. He kept making groundless legal threats against us claiming all sorts of nonsense and then dropping them once we'd had to pay a lawyer to answer the endless letters. My nerves were frayed, my DH couldn't sleep and the kids were scared to go outside in case he kicked off.
Anyway my point in telling you this OP is that we stuck it for 17 long years hoping he would get bored and move or just grow up. We loved everything about our house, (including all the other neighbours) except him. In the end DH and I just decided this had ruined far too many years of our lives and we were too old to take any more of this shit. We sold our lovely home in January and now live somewhere less perfect on paper but where we have peace of mind which is so much more important. Not having to worry about the neighbour has liberated our lives. People who've never had night mare neighbours just don't understand how this eats away at your wellbeing.
If I were you I'd have a go at contacting the HA and if that gets you nowhere - move. I know you don't want to hear that but honestly don't end up like us. Life is just too short. I now regret not moving earlier so much.
People will tell you to do this and that and how they wouldn't stand for it but honestly - they just don't get it. Some people just cannot be reasoned with and that is what your neighbours sound like. People who don't respect the normal conventions of basic neighbourliness are not going to suddenly change and may even get worse.
I'm so sorry you are living with this OP I hope you find a way to get through it x

A joint fence for you + nice neighbour seems like a good solution. Keep out the cars, kids, bikes, dogs and being blocked.

I had a neighbour who used to have regular late night parties and fires in the gardens with parties making it v v difficult for me and my daughter to use the garden or relax in our own home. In the end, because I wasn't fond of the road I lived on. I sold up and moved, I now live in a slightly better part of town on a nicer estate and it's so much more peaceful. Neighbours either side are amazing and if they have anyone over for bbq it's usually in the afternoon's in the summer and everyone heads indoors by 10pm/ 11pm. I was going through a v hard time when I lived next door to this bloke and felt I couldn't continue longterm. Xx what im trying to say is give it a year /18months and if possible move. Im a single mum as well with a partner who stays a couple of nights a week and the stress with my medical issues wasn't worth it xx

Bollard your spaces outside your house and then park where their visitors go - does that work?

You need to speak to the Housing Association.
We own our house which is ex council. When we had issues with neighbours, the HA were very hot on antisocial behaviour and boundaries. Quick to address and spoke with neighbours who received a warning.

They're no longer our neighbours, but it did settle instantly.

Family member works for HA they do take it seriously and will act.