To make a complaint against HA because of constant anti social behaviour from neighbours?

I have sympathy with you over your neighbours walking over your drive, but really it isn't that bad. This poster is right. Anti social behaviour is aggression and violence, or unbearable noise levels or threats of violence. Not neighbours walking past your front window or one of them looking for their cat. I have cats. If one of them escapes, yes, I go into my neighbours front gardens to look for it. I apologise to the neighbour if I see them.

I think the window film is a very good idea for you. You keep the light but also get privacy.

Also, put some planters out that don't have trellis on them so can't get blown over.

Look, you're very lucky to be comfortably housed. Stop waiting for someone else to sort these issues out and do it yourself.

I think that regardless of where you live, you're going to have problems. It's real life. Unless you live in a big house, with private grounds, neighbours will impact on your life.

You had my sympathy a bit until the part about the cat 😂 what the actual heck?

I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. I don’t think people realise how much “low level” nuisance can wear someone down. It’s not just someone walking past a window; it’s the feeling that your space, privacy and boundaries are being ignored. Over time that can feel really horrible.

The Housing Officer handled it badly. You wanted help and instead was made to feel small and insignificant. I would feel angry too. But, realistically there is no real action the HA can take other than maybe send a letter out which I strongly doubt would make things any better. Focusing your energy on complaining and trying to get the HA to “fix” things might leave you even more drained.

It might help to think about what you can control day to day. Your neighbours sound inconsiderate, and unfortunately they may not change. So maybe the goal becomes protecting your peace as much as possible rather than trying to make them understand. For example, could you look at practical privacy options again, but safer/sturdier than the planters? Frosted window film, blinds, screening, or asking the HA about permitted boundary/privacy measures might be worth exploring.

Emotionally, I wonder whether it might help to draw a mental line at your front door: “Everything beyond this point is annoying, but once I close this door f* the lot of them.” Easier said than done, I know, especially with anxiety, but sometimes having a phrase or boundary in your own head can help stop it taking over your whole day.

If you do want to move, mutual exchange may be the quickest route rather than waiting for the HA or council. Just be cautious and ask lots of questions, because people often want to move for a reason and you don’t want to swap one stressful situation for another.

ASB because a cat was looking at you?! 🤣

Is there a reason why you haven’t put up a fence? Is there a clause in your tenancy agreement saying you need permission? A fence and gate would probably solve the issue

I presumed the cat was sitting on a bush, and that bush was by the window. Hence, the cat was on a bush, looking into the window, and the cat belonged to the neighbour.

This has got to be a joke? You’ve been given a lovely, brand new house and you’re scrambling around looking for issues and expecting other people to sort out the fact that you can’t get on with neighbours. They’re doing nothing illegal. Go and buy a detached house with a big garden then you won’t have issues?

I think sometimes in life you have to suck up minor issues and look at the positives. This sort of thing is MINOR compared to some of the scratters you might have been forced to live next door to.

Ffs people, the OP just put the brackets in the wrong place. It isn’t rocket science to understand what she meant.
‘one of the neighbour’s (who I have never even spoken to) cats was in my bush and literally looking into my house …’. There. I’ve fixed it so you can understand.

It wasn’t written the way you’re explaining it now.

I would have found your problems silly, however, it drives me nuts when my neighbour makes a 3 point turn on the driveway which always involves coming across to our side and right outside our front window. I do think what the heck, that’s a bit rude. But I also know it’s done for safety reasons and that they are very nice people in general, so let it go.

So I understand why it’s frustrating but can you find a positive and drop it. As in the grand scheme of things it isn’t a biggy really. They’re not threatening just not respecting boundaries.

I thought the cat was looking in the window as well!

You say the kids were playing ‘on the other side’. Do you mean on their drive?

I get that them walking by your front window is annoying. Fencing or a hedge put in seems an obvious solution.

Can you put blinds up or a lace curtain to help
your privacy?

I work for a HA and compared to most of the calls we get, these issues are pretty trivial. As a pp has said, they wouldn't reach the threshold for ASB. I have previously worked for a local authority and not getting on with your neighbours would not be grounds for getting on the housing list. You have to have a housing need.

Your HA will investigate if you ask them, but how do you expect to stay anonymous when you are complaining about them being on your drive and looking in your windows? The housing officer won't mention you by name but it won't be difficult for them to work out who has complained.

Your best bet would be to look for a mutual exchange. There are a number of sites you can register on to find an exchange partner this is one: https://www.houseexchange.org.uk/

I understand that these issues are irritating, they would definitely annoy me. Your lovely new build property will make it easy to find a mutual exchange, but think long and hard before you go down this route. Given the type of desperate calls I take every day, what you are experiencing is very minor. You could find yourself in much worse situations than this one.

OP you've writtent that a cat was looking into your house, so what?
Sorry for your anxiety but that's your problem not your neighbours problem. just becasue you have a problem doesn't mean that your neighbours have to tiptoe around it.

Privacy film on the windows, rose bushes under the window, a 'Get off my land' shout. 95% places you would move too sound worse than this.

How about swapping with one of the neighbous so they are next to each other?

As others have mentioned...a fence and privacy film would be great...if you don't need your driveway for a car and the fence doesn't happen/ isn't high enough/ I'd do something like see about getting loads potted plants for free on Facebook groups etc so there's literally nowhere for then to stand except the path to your front door. This is a prettier version of 'hostile architecture' - some places put all these long metal poles up to stop people congregating outside.

Music after 11pm is absolutely antisocial behaviour! I understand it might be difficult with your circumstances to try and have a conversation with your neighbour but sometimes people can be oblivious and more considerate when they know they're disturbing you. I also understand there are certain people you have a feeling won't be reasonable if you confront...I had a neighbour that someone else complained about noise wise and he thought it was me and had a right go at my boyfriend who kept repeating, 'we were visiting family at the weekend, so why would we make a noise complaint when we weren't there'. So I think there is an option to complain to the council.

I agree this wouldn't fall under anti social behavior for any HA that I have worked for. The customer service agents are mainly just a switchboard logging and transferring cases so I wouldn't really be taking their advice on this as it's highly unlikely you'll be rehoused by the LA under these circumstances.

Have you checked the Housing Associations website? They usually have a section detailing what they class as ASB. You could try asking if they offer a mediation service to try and resolve this with your neighbors, but it sounds like you don't want your neighbors to know you're complaining? Sorry if I'm getting that part wrong. How do the neighbors react when you tell them it's bothering you?

Sorry I was feeling a bit sorry for you but then the cat!

You can complain about the loud music.
If the tall planters fell over what about hanging baskets hung as head height.
You could use lower planters and troughs and plant really prickly plants in them so they prickle their legs when they walk by.
It’s not hugely antisocial but it’s annoying and clearly causing you issues so I’d try a few more ways to block them

No it wasn't a cat, it was a neighbour looking into my windows whilst looking for their cat What is stopping you from flinging your window open and asking them what the fuck they think they’re doing staring in your window, and are they happy now they’ve frightened your child?

I have told them and the kids so many times that it's my privacy and your standing by my window but it still happens How are you telling them? Is it a ‘you two have a lot to talk about’? Or a ‘For fucks sake, will you two piss off and chat somewhere else so I can have a bit of peace and quiet?’

I don't know about Anti social behaviour but We've just moved into a new build apartment less than 2 months ago and the day we moved in the police came to arrest the guy opposite on the Landing, last week someone was taken away in an ambulance and the same flat today the police came on blue lights for what seems like dv and 4 coppers took the guy away .

Awaiting the next drama! It must be these new builds attracting the problems

🤣

Sorry OP but the way you've framed the nosey anti social cat is hilarious.

Saying this kindly (i work in housing). This is not ASB. Annoying yes but not ASB. Best to see if you can transfer because people are desperate for HA properties and would snap up where you live in a heartbeat.

Are you allowed to do private swaps? Are you and your neighbours houses the same? Ask about swapping with one so they can live next door to each other and you wont be in the middle.