Harassment from neighbours.

[sinkatron]

We've lived in a flat for around 18 months and have had an ongoing issue with our downstairs neighbours. It started with them banging up if we made any discernible noise. And I don't mean like doing DIY at midnight, I just mean us walking (barefoot on carpets) around. He has now came to our door several times to complain about the banging and hammering. There is no hammering, I don't even own one, and again the banging is just us walking or my 9month old son crawling. The other evening my son was tapping his hands on the floor (again he is a baby and weighs about 20lb so how noisy can he actually be?) and the downstairs neighbours banged up so loud you would have thought we were tap dancing. Also of note this was 8pm so again early. It's got to the point where I am terrified of making noise incase he comes to the door. I have lived in flats for over a decade and never had this issue. We do our best to keep the noise down but I know they will hear some normal living noise just as we hear it from them. I would be prepared just to ignore their banging but now I'm sure they are vandalising my car.

My car was keyed a few weeks ago in the communal car park but I didn't automatically think it was them. However last night he parked his van beside me and when I went down this morning my back door was covered in key scratches. I'm 99% sure it was him. I can't see why anyone else would do it.

My husband is wanting to contact the police but I don't expect that they would do anything and I'm worried it would just make a bad situation worse.

We plan on moving in the next year or two but I'm not financially in the position to do it now. However I feel like I'm being bullied from my home.

I hope someone can offer advice on how best to handle this.

Have you considered calling the council in for noise nuisance, yourself? Explain the situation and they can act as external adjudicators as to whether the amount of noise you are making is an acceptable level.

I've emailed them and they won't really get involved. They will come if my neighbour asks but have stated that normal living noises they won't take any action which is right as we are just living! Cripes I'm in bed for 9pm most nights so we are not exactly the neighbours from hell.

It's just the starting of damaging my property that's got me stressing. Hate being made to live worrying about this.

I totally understand where you are coming from. I was bullied out of my first home, I was only young when I moved into it (19 and with DD1) and it was horrendous. It wasn't just the neighbours on one side of me either, it was several of them on the cul-de-sac. They were all very friendly with each other, but horrible towards me and my daughter. Dog poo was wiped on my door, me and DD were spat at, at one point the neighbours even accused me of mistreating my DD!! It was awful. That's just the tip of the iceberg aswell.

I managed to move after 5 years but my next door neighbour their was friendly with my old next door neighbour so I had another 4 years of hell!!

I'm living in a lovely area now, feel so much happier. I'm sorry I'm not much help, just wanted to give you a and I hope you manage to resolve the situation asap xx

have you told the police about this yet? start a log of complaints. as you say, it is harassment.

I am in the same position! I feel for you, I really do. It's really getting me down. Watching with interest!

Thanks ladies. I haven't spoken to the police yet although DH is desperate to. I just worry it will make a bad situation worse. I'm just a coward I guess and think if we ignore it the situation will resolve.

I guess it will need to be the next step thou. It's got to the point I'm terrified of my baby making noise playing and that's really not fair for him.

Do you rent or own? If you own you will need to declare it on the sellers form.
That said you can't have people vandalising your car. Have you thought of a camera in /on the car to catch them?

you need to speak to the police if your local council or housing association won't help you. what he is doing is harassment. what he is doing to your car is criminal damage. once the police are involved then your local council will have to get involved. you might even find that this guy has a past record of doing the same to previous tenants of your flat.

do not allow yourself to be victimised and bullied and frightened in your own home.

i live below a woman who walks around bare foot on carpet and in heels and im telling you now its irritating. I have also fell out with her over it and im moving soon.
You cannot wear shoes in your home, and wear slipper boots around your flat and put it on your toddler to.
You might not think you are making noise but if you can even slightly hear your footsteps its 10x louder to the person underneath you.

Your neighbour did key your car its obvious and the police wont do anything, theres no proof even if its obvious to you.
He is just frustrated, not excusing his behaviour but i know the hell it is living under stompers
WEAR SLIPPERS!

everything your neighbour is doing to you mine is doing to me and the council and police dont do shit and he willmake counter allegations im moving and i suggest you do the same

I don't understand why walking barefoot is noisier than slippers