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Original poster

I'm scared of my neighbour

34 replies

FridayFryUp · 10/08/2019 05:58

GO AWAY DAILY MAIL AND OTHER 💩 RAGS

My neighbour (I'll refer to him as Fred, he lives in the flat above mine) went to Prison nearly a year ago after a serious fight with another neighbour (Tom, not his real name) who lives in the same street. Fred lives in the flat above mine and we've had numerous issues over the last few years. From drug dealing to loud music and anti social behaviour. I've complained to the housing association (that own both my property and Fred's) numerous times but they never do anything or follow it up.

Fred and Tom absolutely hate each other. They were always arguing, fighting and making serious threats to harm each other. A few weeks before Fred went back to jail, Tom came round to the flats and threatened to put a petrol bomb through the letterbox in the communal hallway. The layout of the flats means that I would have been in serious danger from this as well as Fred. I was absolutely terrified and was barely sleeping at night (I had 8 smoke alarms and was setting my alarm clock for every 30 mins so I could check there was no fire) for fear of Tom carrying out this threat. Then the big fight happened and Fred went to Prison. Tom stayed living in his place and all went quiet.

This week I heard via another (nice) neighbour that Fred is about to be released from prison (in the next few weeks). I'm really scared (terrified) that the arguments and the fights between them are going to start again as soon as Fred is back. I want the housing association to move Fred somewhere else but don't think they will listen to me because obviously I'm not important. They just say to ring the Police if anything kicks off but surely the Police won't want to be called out everytime the two of them start arguing? Sad I just don't know what to do. I'm really stressed over it currently Biscuit

Sorry this is long Flowers

OP posts:
wigglybluelines · 10/08/2019 06:04

I'm sorry the HA are being rubbish. I don't know any useful info sorry but my feeling is you need back up if they're not listening to you.

If it was me I'd make an appointment to see my local citizen's advice bureau and also my MP.

Also speak to Shelter, they're great on housing advice.

Soola · 10/08/2019 06:12

The Daily Mail and other news media would actually be helping if the publicised your story as it highlights anti social behaviour with repeat prison offenders and the impact these people have on others around them.

As you feel so vulnerable are you able to move? You rent do it’s a lot easier than if you owned your flat.

These types rarely change their ways.

Crochetymum · 10/08/2019 06:26

I've got shitty neighbours too, I mean right arseholes. We had to report the male for actually beating up his step son, so bad that I had to take the poor lad in. The police released him the next day, social services dropped the case because not enough evidence of threat. The council just say we write it down, ive even caught him trying to climb over my fence to break in. My opinion is the system is shit, sorry! I'd love to move but ours is ours and theirs is council and we're not in a position to move and you seem to be able to get away with anything these days in a council house! There's constant smell of drugs, fires burning, shouting swearing, slamming it's awful.
Sorry I needed to rant there!
My advice would be to put in for a move, it's horrible being miserable because of a neighbour, and I feel for you. But I think the council/housing association don't do anything until.they absolutely have to, even then it's just have a chat, then when the neighbours find out it's you who reported it can be worse.
Just keep yourself safe, write anything down, and go over their head if you can.

TheBrockmans · 10/08/2019 06:35

Actually if the fight was so bad that Fred went to prison then I think the police would be the place to turn at the first sign of trouble. There may also be restrictions on his movement and interaction with Tom is likely to be discouraged. Ultimately the police may work with the housing association to find a more permanent solution so I would contact them whenever it kicks off.

Wellandtrulyoutnumbered · 10/08/2019 06:39

Who else lives in the flat with Fred?

Grimbles · 10/08/2019 06:46

So the flat was left empty whilst Fred was in jail?

Original poster
FridayFryUp · 10/08/2019 06:53

Thanks for your responses so far. I don't really want to move unless there was no other option. I live in a town where social housing flats are like golddust. So I'd probably have to move further away. At the moment I live close enough to my work that I can walk there in 10 mins or be in town in 5. I moved around a lot (11 times in 8 years) in the past and I don't really want to do that again.

Fred's son lived with him in the flat at first. But he lives with another family member now.

I would call the Police if necessary. I just want to be calling them out everytime the pair of them kick off, which is what the housing association seem to be suggesting I do.

For background, Fred got arrested before (sometime ago) for another fight with Tom. He was given a suspended sentence and came back to the street. Fred was on his best behaviour for about 2 months and they avoided each other. Then they had the big fight that resulted in Fred being sent to prison. Its because of this history that I believe things won't change and its only a matter of time before they are at each others throats again... Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
FridayFryUp · 10/08/2019 06:55

*Don't want to be calling the police.

@grimbles - yes, because he only got a short sentence he was allowed to keep his flat. So it's been empty ever since he left

OP posts:
Wellandtrulyoutnumbered · 10/08/2019 06:59

Do the HA even know about the prison sentence? Do they know about who was occupying flat.

Benefits and rent would have stopped. They could have gone down eviction process.

Wellandtrulyoutnumbered · 10/08/2019 07:00

If the flat is empty now report it as abandoned.

Original poster
FridayFryUp · 10/08/2019 07:11

Yes they know the flat is empty. There's a problem with it (I won't say what it is on here because it will likely out me, so you'll have to use your imagination) so I rang them up 3 times over the space of about a month to tell them he was in prison and there was this problem. They promised every time so send someone out to deal with the problem but nobody ever turned up. I gave up after the 3rd attempt

Because he only got a short sentence he's allowed to keep his flat under the rules. So they can't evict him for that (unfortunately). I believe that if it's any longer than 2 years then you automatically lose you right to keep it..

OP posts:
Soola · 10/08/2019 07:34

That’s disgraceful. A property unoccupied for up to two years! When you go to prison you should lose all rights to your social housing property.

Wellandtrulyoutnumbered · 10/08/2019 09:28

Actually they could take him to court once hes not paid rent for a few months ask for outright possession and get it back that way.

MrsTommyBanks · 10/08/2019 10:37

That’s disgraceful. A property unoccupied for up to two years! When you go to prison you should lose all rights to your social housing property

Brilliant idea. That wouldn't lead to a massive rise in the homeless issues at all Hmm

OP call the police at every single incident. Eventually the police will suggest the HA move him to a different property due to the resources Fred is taking up. Also there may well be terms of parole that will be broken if any further conflict between the two of them takes place. Which might mean Fred goes back to prison.
Sorry you are having to cope with this.

Deelish75 · 10/08/2019 10:41

You shouldn’t have to live in fear. Your are in an innocent person living in the crossfire of these two pricks - threatening to petrol bomb your letterbox resulting in you having 8 smoke detectors and setting your phone every half an hour to check for fire instead of sleeping. NO ONE should have to live like that! Anymore crap like that phone the police straight away - 999 telling them you are scared.

You also need to get on to your local councillors and MP about what’s going on between Fred and Tom and also the problem with Fred’s flat which the HA are just ignoring.

averythinline · 10/08/2019 10:48

Unfortuunately I think you are going to have to call the police every time...and be on the case about it.....so document and diarise every time - dont give up ...it may take ages but if you give up nothing will happen...
Also apply for a move yourself - if so few properties then you may not get offered anything but you dont know what you arelikely to get..
unfortunelty its one of those things where the squeaky wheel gets more notice..
check out what the Anti social policy and formal complaints procedure is with your HA/Council and use it.......

Apolloanddaphne · 10/08/2019 12:39

I would imagine that once he is released he will still have to see a probation officer on a regular basis and keep out of trouble. I would call the police if he starts making trouble and they will let the probation officer know. Now he is known to the police and is on their system as being violent they may be more proactive.

Crunchymum · 10/08/2019 12:48

Nearly a year isn't a short sentence? In terms of leaving the flat empty?

bugeyedbarber · 10/08/2019 13:46

You also need to get on to your local councillors and MP about what’s going on between Fred and Tom and also the problem with Fred’s flat which the HA are just ignoring.

^^This.

Councils and HAs are short staffed and overstretched. You need to get this to top of their to do list.

Use email rather than phone so that you have a trail of no response. Keep asking who the manager is until you get as high as you can. Request a meeting from your councillor. Mine pops over for those occasions. MP is a great suggestion. Once MP sends an email or is copied into one, you'll miraculously find out there is a person responsible for this very thing you're trying to deal with, whatever it may be and they'll act.

Good luck OP and don't give up. It'll be worth it in the end. Sleeping with 8 smoke alarms is not okay.

Original poster
FridayFryUp · 10/08/2019 16:10

Thanks for advice and replies. If I contact my MP will they speak to the HA on my behalf? I tried emailing the HA before but they don't usually reply.

I'm just really scared about what's going to happen next. The last few weeks that he was here were dreadful. I occasionally work nightshifts (I'm a nurse) and will sleep during the day. He knows this. He'd deliberately play loud rock Music all day whenever I'd been on a nightshift (despite me asking him multiple times to stop) so I couldn't rest. He'd hear me coming in the hallway early in the morning and start the Music soon after. It was like a game to him. He stole (I couldn't prove it, but i know it was him) my bike as well. It was chained to the radiator in the hallway overnight (as a one off because I didn't have time to take it back to the shed I normally keep it in) and it mysteriously vanished. Never to be seen again Sad

OP posts:
wigglybluelines · 10/08/2019 16:13

If I contact my MP will they speak to the HA on my behalf? I tried emailing the HA before but they don't usually reply

Depends on your MP. Some are better at local stuff than others. Mine definitely would, he's great. You need back up on this, in your shoes I'd be banging on doors trying to get someone to help make the HA listen, or who understands the legal situation and may know how to force the HA to act.

Try your MP, citizen's advice, any orgs giving advice on housing.

Asta19 · 10/08/2019 16:31

He will definitely have to see a probation officer for a while and there should be a "no contact" rule in his licence re the other guy. So yes do exactly what the HA said and ring the police every single time. Unfortunately the HA's hands are tied. They can't automatically evict or move someone for going to prison. You even get housing benefit still for the first 16 weeks I think it is! It is really shit for you OP. All the HA can really do is move you and you (very understandably) don't want that. But they have to have proper grounds to evict this guy and the bar is high. We do need that so the rest of us aren't evicted for crap reasons! But cases like this are where it causes a big issue.

wigglybluelines · 10/08/2019 16:42

They may not be able to evict the guy, but if he's been involved with threatening a neighbour, perhaps the HA can be convinced to rehouse him elsewhere?

Asta19 · 10/08/2019 16:47

I think the problem is he has to agree to be rehoused and he doesn't sound the most cooperative person! When I worked with victims of crime I had a case where an old guy had been beaten up by a young neighbour. They young guy did a few months in prison and moved back home and the victim was terrified. He showed me a letter from his HA where they said that the offender had been punished by the Courts so to evict him as well would be "punishing him twice". I don't agree with it but that was their stance on it.

wigglybluelines · 10/08/2019 16:54

I still think the OP should get some proper advice from professionals who know this area.