Neighbour complaint to HA

[lmvq]

I will try to keep this as brief as possible

I've been a housing association tenant since being 16 (bad childhood) I've always lived in a flat block of 3, I've had a few neighbours come and go and I've never had an issue. I have a DD aged 6.

Around 3 years ago a woman moved in upstairs and immediately began having ridiculously loud parties. She has huge bass speakers and her 'friends' would be taking drugs out in the communal areas. I complained to HA.

After her not replying to HA regarding my complaint for a few months she came to my door with a child of around 1 year old, she was upset, crying and shaking apologising for the noise she said her child had been taken by social services and she was struggling but she had him back now and the parties would stop. HA closed the case after I accepted her apology.

We've had a few run-ins since (always about her speakers) but always dealt with them without involving HA.

Since Christmas there has been an escalation in the amount of parties she has, for the last 3 weekends there has been a party each weekend. I don't feel comfortable asking for music to be turned down when there are 20+ people on drugs, the parties very often end violently anyway.

She has now bought a gazebo and a party tent for the shared garden and has taken over, there is no room for me or my son to use the garden, not that we would while her friends and family are out there from morning to night.

We had a heated argument after a party started on Friday night and was still going on when I left for work mid day on Saturday and ever since her friends/family make comments (grass, boring bitch etc) when I'm leaving my flat, I have to walk through the shared garden to leave.

I need to move, I haven't eaten properly for a week and I'm not sleeping, it's got so bad if it wasn't for DD I would just end it all. When I'm out I'm dreading coming home and at home I feel trapped in my flat.

I don't have any money for a deposit to private rent and I know once I complain to the HA I'll be even more of a target for them. Is there any way I can convince the HA to move me somewhere else? I'm not asking for a huge house or anything just another flat with nice normal neighbours. I feel so drained right now.

Flat number 3 in our block is currently empty however the last neighbour who lived there was her friend and was always at the parties so it was 2 against 1.

@lmvq

Thank you so much for all of your replies I've had some really great advice here. I'm going to have to contact the HA aren't I? I think if I approach a local councillor or MP they will direct me there first?

I've just heard her son in the garden while I was bathing DD so that at least means there won't be a party tonight and she will avoid me, she only ever has something to say when there are other people around.

Can I ask @SpnBaby1967 what happens if she once again tries to apologise and fakes tears, she's very believable I can see why the HA closed the case last time. Will it be the same again or can it only be closed if I agree to it? And will the fact that I've reported her before come into play? I've got as much evidence as I can without being noticeable. I have a friend who has her on Facebook who has managed to screenshot a video of her and her friends turning the music up and down and captioned it 'we do it to annoy the neighbours' so hopefully if I show the HA that along with the recordings i have they'll understand how bad it is.

@lmvq it will close if you stop reporting issues for more than 2 weeks. So there is always the risk she behaves short term. However my HA will reopen a case if problems start again within 3 months of the case closure date.

The most important thing for you now is to make the report and get evidence. Your evidence is the total basis of any case so its extremely important. Most cases close because the complainant stops providing evidence which is admissible on court.

But also remember any evidence you give, should it go to court, this has to also be given to the alleged perpetrator to see and defend against. This sometimes makes complainants uneasy.