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URGENT - Neighbour Harassment help/advise please

14 replies

lghell · 03/06/2025 11:43

An immediate family member is currently going through harassment from their neighbour, spanning back to beginning of this year.
The family member is a council housing tenant, the neighbour owns their home. The harassment, reports, false allegations to the council have increased and will not stop. Their end goal is for the family member to get evicted from the council property.
The police have been contacted, harassment log has been put into place, however they have been quite up front that unless it gets physical, there isn't much they can do.
The neighbour now has 3 cameras up to record the family members house, one of which at the back of the house. She will cover this up by changing the position of the camera to only their garden etc. if the family member complains. The council seem to be no help, the police have pushed the family member to go back to the council multiple times, but the council keep accepting the false reports, calls etc. from the neighbour, they have realised most are just her trying to get action taken on my family member, but they have offered no support, no push back on the constant calls/contact from the neighbour.
Family member has no option of moving home unfortunately, so we are very stuck on what to do. They have a younger child in the property also. The harassment will not stop, they feel trapped in their own home, the constant panicking and anxiety over it is just ruining them. What are our options? Is there anything the council can do? Or is this impossible due to the neighbour not being a council tenant?
My family member does not retaliate - they have even gone through all correct channels to have a privacy fence implemented, this was put up but of course the neighbour complained straight away. They have tried to ignore, but it's getting impossible to do this as its clear the neighbour will not stop.
It feels like we are all out of options.

OP posts:
BIWI · 03/06/2025 15:46

What is the neighbour claiming about your family member? What kind of ‘proof’ do they have, such that the council appear to be taking them seriously?

Cookerhood · 03/06/2025 15:48

Have you talked to Citizens Advice? They may be able to help.

lghell · 08/06/2025 09:58

BIWI · 03/06/2025 15:46

What is the neighbour claiming about your family member? What kind of ‘proof’ do they have, such that the council appear to be taking them seriously?

It all started with constant reports on the dog barking. Family member did let the council know the dog has separation anxiety and measures have been put in place to decrease the barking. It’s now a non-issue. However as this didn’t get the result the neighbour wanted (eviction) they now report anything and everything. They tried making a false allegation that my family members son sells drugs, they reported the privacy fence the family member got permission from the council to put up, they reported someone beeping once outside the house. It’s getting ridiculous. They now have cameras in the front and back that point toward the family members gardens, but they move them back when they were reported to the council.
The council lady that visits just keeps saying “this is getting ridiculous I shouldn’t have to deal with this, it needs to stop” etc. the family member has repeated multiple times they need to push back and request the neighbour stop making frivolous reports, but they pretty much won’t do this. My family member keeps to themselves, they don’t retaliate, they don’t make reports etc. they just feel stuck on what they can even do now, as moving house is not an option

OP posts:
lghell · 08/06/2025 10:00

Cookerhood · 03/06/2025 15:48

Have you talked to Citizens Advice? They may be able to help.

Not as of yet. We have made a report to the council that we are unhappy with their response and support. We have reported the cameras to the ICO but all they can do is send a letter to advise the neighbour that they cannot have the cameras directly pointed into the family members garden

OP posts:
MrsMoastyToasty · 08/06/2025 10:04

I'd be fighting fire with fire and putting my own cameras up.

North79 · 08/06/2025 10:09

Contact your local Councillor(s) and MP if you are unhappy with the advice from the council and police, that often prompts more action.

FatherFrosty · 08/06/2025 10:11

surely this is harassment and the police can be involved?

I do know someone who was in a similar position, in the end they did get rehoused by the council as it was easier for the council to do that then keep investigating malicious claims.
they shouldn’t have to be moved from their home and community though. I’m sorry they are going through this, I rent privately and am always aware any of my neighbours could have me evicted. It’s horrid.

BeeCucumber · 08/06/2025 10:11

Family member should start fighting back. They should get their own cameras. Get the harassment log/crime number from the police and every time there is an “incident”, ring or email and ask for the latest incident to be added to the log. This will show a course of conduct and provide an audit trail for future action. As PP, don’t lie down and take this abuse - fight fire with fire.

TonTonMacoute · 08/06/2025 10:19

I second going to the specific ward councillor representing your family member and the local MP.

The neighbour is clearly a vexatious complainant and it's unfortunately very difficult to deal with these people, and it may be the only solution for them is to move your family member.

Hoogey · 08/06/2025 10:23

The home owner should be worried if he wants to sell his home. Amy neighbourhood disputes need to be brought up when he sells

Lightuptheroom · 08/06/2025 10:30

If family member is dealing with a housing officer, escalate to their manager, then their managers manager etc. Find out the name of the council member responsible for the housing portfolio, log each incident with them. Find out the name of the council CEO, email them every single time. Make an official complaint and state that if this is not dealt with within the time frame for complaints (normally published on the councils website) it will become a complaint to the Ombudsman (councils don't like this sort of complaint as they can be fined and it makes their complaints data sky rocket) Secondly, report each incident to 101 so that it's all logged.
It's slightly more difficult as the other person is a homeowner and your family member is a tenant, but it's still harassment.

JohnofWessex · 08/06/2025 11:46

Worth making the point to the Council that unless they sort it then it will probably happen with the next tenant so they will still have to deal with it

JohnofWessex · 08/06/2025 11:54

Complaint and a ASB case review together?

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