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Original poster

Is there any way I can sue housing association re not dealing with aggressive neighbours

30 replies

Batsypatsy · 02/04/2019 06:38

I live in housing association flats and the neighbours directly opposite me are a nightmare. Very loud, banging doors and talking loudly in the corridor outside my flat at 2 or 3 in the morning regularly. Also prone to outbursts where they scream threats at other neighbours about stabbing them. I've complained to the housing association for about 6 months now, recorded as much as possible and sent it to the housing association. My dd is taking A levels but can't get a decent nights sleep. We're both very anxious and stressed. I'm trying to organise a move to a private rented flat. However, I'm extremely annoyed that the housing association haven't dealt with this neighbour, as on their website it says they won't tolerate aggressive behaviour or constant disturbances.

They have finally got an injunction against her, but only the last week and still nothing is happening, despite the police being here several times a week.

Is there anything I can do?

OP posts:

eurochick · 02/04/2019 07:07

They've got an injunction so it sounds like they have done a lot! These things take time, unfortunately.

Original poster

Batsypatsy · 02/04/2019 07:16

Yes finally. But they won't do anything else now. And it has made no difference to how the neighbour behaves. I just feel so angry and upset over the stress this has caused us. We've had no peace since moving here, yet I pay my rent on time every month. Surely we should be entitled to feel safe in our home and to be able to sleep at night.

OP posts:

Happyspud · 02/04/2019 07:20

Do you think it’s the housing associations job? I personally wouldn’t. They don’t get to police people. Police police people. So if you’ve been threatened with stabbing you can go to the police about it.

You can’t just go around sueing when things are shitty, despite what people think about their rights. So no, you could try but I guarantee it will cost you in time, money and mental health.

Original poster

Batsypatsy · 02/04/2019 07:21

The police are at their flat all the time but seem unable to do anything about it.

I guess I thought there'd be a policy of three warnings over disruptive behaviour and out ...

OP posts:

Stormwhale · 02/04/2019 07:25

Happyspud of course it is the housing associations job to deal with antisocial behaviour from their tenants. There is always an antisocial behaviour policy, which starts with monitoring and warnings and can end up with eviction.

OP I would keep pushing for this tenant to be removed. They are in breach of their tenancy and the housing association need to move to evict if the injunction doesn't work.

Keep phoning the police, and logging every single incident. Keep pestering the housing association after every incident. You need to make a complete nuisance of yourself.

MaxNormal · 02/04/2019 07:32

Unfortunately the housing association will need to follow the legal process which is lengthy.

Original poster

Batsypatsy · 02/04/2019 08:26

Thanks. Yes I call the police every time, as does another neighbour. I'm also recording everything.

The injunction stated no aggressive, disruptive, anti social or violent behaviour allowed, she has definitely done this several times since, but the police just tell her to calm down and leave again. I heard her swearing very loudly at the police but when the housing association checked with them they said she didn't I dont get it ...

OP posts:

PoshPenny · 02/04/2019 08:40

It's social housing and she sounds like she's a vulnerable tenant. She's not really got any place else to go if they evict her. It's the risk you take with social housing unfortunately. You can't choose your neighbours.

I'm sorry youre having to put up with it as it must be awful for all the neighbours but a move somewhere else might be the best thing.

Happyspud · 02/04/2019 09:26

Sorry I didn’t realise a housing authority had any power over tenants in that way.

SaskiaRembrandt · 02/04/2019 09:40

Sorry I didn’t realise a housing authority had any power over tenants in that way.

All landlords have power to evict tenants for anti-social behaviour. Unfortunately for the OP, it's a process which takes time.

Brown76 · 02/04/2019 09:43

Have you been through the complaints process with the housing association to tribunal? This would be an independent panel that would look at how your complaint has been dealt with.

KingHenrysCodpiece · 02/04/2019 09:54

You can get them removed OP but it takes time. I'm suprised though it sounds as if the HA are dragging their feet a bit. Do they not have an out of hours noise dusturbance line? I have this and live in LA housing. They have a number you can call up till 5 am in the morning and a crew will come round and tell them to stop the noise. It gets logged every time. 2 calls and a warning letter is sent and will be escalated from there.

Keep on collecting evidence and be persistent. It will pay off in the end. I know exactly what it does to you psychologically to be woken up night after night by neighbour noise.

AdobeWanKenobi · 02/04/2019 10:59

There is so much wrong with PoshPenny's post I have no idea where to start.
Vulnerable does not mean she can get away with being antisocial and there is nothing in any of OP's posts to even suggest this woman is vulnerable.

It's the risk you take with social housing unfortunately

Yes OP! It's your fault for not saving up for a house, clearly if you're in social housing you should roll over and accept it. Especially because nobody ever in the history of private renting or home ownership has EVER had shit neighbours.

a move somewhere else might be the best thing

Why the hell should OP move?!

I sometimes wonder what planet some posters on here inhabit.

blue25 · 02/04/2019 11:04

I know of 3 people in housing association properties with similar concerns. It seems to be a big issue. If you can get out into private rental, do it. Housing associations are under massive pressures and you won't get anywhere trying to sue.

Stormwhale · 02/04/2019 11:18

@AdobeWanKenobi - couldn't agree more, their post was a load of crap.

Happyspud · 02/04/2019 11:20

Adobe, i know what you’re saying but it’s not an actually useful stance to take. This issue is likely going to drag on for years. So considering other options, like OP moving herself, is exactly what I’d be doing. Even if it’s ‘unfair’. You offered OP no solution whatsoever. What do you suggest she does?

And actually I would agree this woman is vulnerable. You don’t become like that for no reason and with a happy, safe upbringing. Though I can understand that for the OP this point is of no interest (I’d feel the same if my life was being made miserable by someone else regardless of the whys).

CoolCarrie · 02/04/2019 11:27

You have my sympathy OP, especially for your daughter ‘s sake.
Could your daughter try earplugs at night, I know it’s totally ridiculous that she should have to, but it might help her.
Keep doing what you and your neighbour are doing, and good luck.

PoshPenny · 02/04/2019 15:09

@AdobeWanKenobi what would you suggest the OP does then? It's so easy to criticise, but I don't see any constructive suggestions at all in your post.

The majority of my casework at one time was dealing with antisocial tenants in social housing who were making their neighbours lives hell. All of them had mental health problems of one sort or another. Always in flats, never in houses. The second biggest issue was neighbours dealing drugs with visitors at all hours.

What's your expertise in this area?

The housing authorities have a duty to house vulnerable adults (that's a term which is applied to those with MH difficulties as well as others) now that these days they can't be chucked into an asylum and shut away as they used to be years ago.

Yes of course the OP can keep on pushing the HA to do something , and it sounds like they are to be fair. But the cycle could start up all over again with the new tenant. Or the current tenant quietens down, everyone breathes a sigh of relief and then a few weeks/months down the line the cycle starts all over again.

It's easier to move somewhere else to a different neighbourhood where there aren't these issues. As the OP states she is planning to. Personally I think it's a waste of money trying to sue the HA, it will cost £££ and probably get her nowhere. Just my opinion of course

Anyway I'm all ears for your wise words...

AdobeWanKenobi · 02/04/2019 15:18

Oh but Penny, what could I possibly say? You are clearly an expert and your experience is obviously identical across the UK and all antisocial tenants have mental health issues.

Bearing in mind you are saying that the majority of these tenants have the same issues what do you think moving the OP will actually achieve then other than to land her with a new set of neighbours and start the complaint process all over again?

Your post came off as frankly sneery. I never suggested she sue the HA, I suggested that you telling the victim to move was frankly ridiculous.

Singlenotsingle · 02/04/2019 15:24

Surely the HA have got enough evidence to evict this woman now?

PoshPenny · 02/04/2019 15:27

@AdobeWanKenobi
You'd better read the start of the thread again and then you will see its the OP who suggested sueing the HA.

If the OP moves into private rented away from social housing as she has indicated she intends to there is a very good chance she will not have these ASB problems to deal with as private landlords can choose their tenants and don't have a duty to house the most vulnerable in our society unlike local housing authorities.

AdobeWanKenobi · 02/04/2019 15:38

@PoshPenny and you'd better read my reply again. I know full well it was the OP who wanted to sue, I was merely pointing out that I never suggested suing the HA.

So, if not private rented Penny where do these people go when evicted from HA properties?

MellowMelly · 02/04/2019 16:02

I had a similar situation with my neighbours. They are HA and were causing all sorts of havoc.

It started with me having to log all incidences and get recordings if possible. They were given several verbal warnings initially, then a written warning, then Housing Officers turned up and they were given another verbal and written warning.

Finally they were given an ASBO. This happened over the space of two years before they finally got the anti social behaviour order in place.

Other people may of had a quicker resolve than me but that was my experience and I think you’ll be hard pushed to sue the Housing Association at this point as they are obviously (behind the scenes) doing something.

Timeforabiscuit · 02/04/2019 16:46

Councils used to have proactive antisocial behaviour teams, if in breach you lost your council tenancy.

You may get some mileage in doing research on your local area on how these have reduced during austerity and the impact its having - see if its of intrest to political activists/local paper - its coming up to election season.

Timeforabiscuit · 02/04/2019 16:54

Once evicted (only in extreme circumstances would it get to that point)- people tended to move out of area and presented as emergency housing to another authority where they have a tenuous link.

BUT the asbo and housing process differs massively between local authorities - some have homelessness reduction teams which try and get in early and stabalise a tenancy, professionals know a vicious circle when they see it and poor mental health is impacted massively by unstable housing.

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