Is there any professional help out there for my situation?

[Starrseeker]

I’ll try and keep it short and sweet as there’s a lot of back ground to cover..
I moved into a council property last year with my children when I escaped violence. We left behind a lovely home but I needed to keep my children safe so I accepted. The house and area are awful. My ndn is even worse. It’s a lady who lives alone and hates everyone. She’s disliked immensely. This house was empty because people leave after a few months because of her.
Since we moved here she has done everything in her power to make our life hell. We are woken at all hours of the night, she set her dog on me once and claimed she thought I was a burglar? she told the police I’m a drug dealer (I’m not) and I luckily escaped a raid when they found she tells lies about all the neighbours regularly, she sprayed bleach at my washing hanging on the line although I can’t prove it, I get nasty notes through
my letter box which I find after work, all the same handwriting but signed by different door numbers. The list goes on.
I’m now at the point where I’m getting depressed and anxious living next door to her. I have spoken to the council, non emergency police and even citizens advice. They have all told me they can’t help and to ignore her. It’s impossible to ignore such intrusion that I can’t have one peaceful day at home or one full night sleep. They won’t act on the noise as they can’t prove it’s her and it’s not serious enough like a party would be apparently.
I have a health visitor check for my youngest coming up and I’d like to open up about what’s going on and how I feel, but I’m not sure if they can help in any way.
I feel like a prisoner in my home when this was supposed to be our chance for a fresh start and a happy life.
I can’t afford to private rent as the rent is 1500 per month plus deposit and guarantor which I cannot provide. I have no one I can stay with. Exchanging for somewhere else will be difficult as no one wants to live here and it will take a very long time. I can’t take much more of it.
Reporting her again will make no difference, she gets away with everything and makes up false accusations in retaliation. I don’t have the strength to see it through, I just want to leave.
Is there any help for me so I can leave this house? I’m not entitled to benefits and my wage isn’t enough to cover anything but bills right now.

Speak to the HV and explain how it’s affecting your sleep and MH. Also mention that you’re concerned that she might do something to the kids when playing out, particularly as you’ve found bleach thrown at the washing.

You need CCTV OP.

Then document everything, always.

Is she also council? Because if so the council absolutely can and should do something.

Then as a pp said, document everything and get CCTV and a ring doorbell or something x

She is council but there’s no hope with reporting her. Many people have and nothing comes of it. I know she’ll win and just ramp up her behaviour because she’ll know it gets to me. After years of abuse I can’t cope well with situations like this, whatever I do I seem to always be the victim

If it's council, or HA, they can and should do something.

CCTV, ring doorbell and recording her might help.

You could also try trying to get a SH swap: https://homefinderuk.org/house-exchange-3

You can take action yourself in the Magistrates Court for Private Nuisance. You need to document everything. Dates times what was said what happened etc.

You can also make a complaint to the police as you are being harassed contrary to the protection from harassment act which carries both civil and criminal activity. If they will not act make a complaint through the police complaint procedure about their failure to act and that mental harm has been caused as a result.

Environmental Health should also be involved as they also have the power to take action in the mags court against the neighbour or enforcement action.

Involve the landlord too. They must have an asb policy and should follow it. There are legal remedies landlords can take. Don't confuse the council Environmental Health Dept with your landlord. They are two different sectors. Use both.

Don't deal with any of these bodies on the phone, email or snail mail so it's documented by you. Include the effect on your mental health and see your gp for help to ensure its documented.

Don't give up, it's a long slog but you really don't have to put up with this.

No one should have to live like that Op. this link has some helpful tips www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/problems-where-you-live/complaining-about-your-neighbour/#:~:text=If%20your%20neighbour%20is%20noisy,reporting%20them%20to%20the%20council.

Are you friends with any other neighbours? If you all report her to the council and keep reporting her every time something happens, hopefully the council will act

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=www.oxford.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/452/taking_your_own_action_against_neighbour_nuisance.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiZsoPV3piAAxWITMAKHaXOB8YQFnoECBIQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1cOyA7LnNBHcOnMoDwP9cs

The council can and should be doing something. Anti social tenants can be evicted. Get cameras, ringdoor Bell and document everything in a journal. Oh am get your local MP on the case. They will be wanting your vote going forward to a general election

Thank you all I appreciate the list of contacts, some I hadn’t considered so I’ll get onto it tomorrow