My daughter and granddaughter live on the 2nd floor (top floor) of a purpose built block of 12 flats. Six on either side of the block.
A few months ago, one of the tenants on the 1st floor on their side of the building, managed to set his flat on fire in the early hours of the morning. Whether he fell asleep whilst smoking, or just dropped a cigarette, they don't know, but it destroyed his flat. He is a known drugs user.
The parent and child who live on his floor had to be rescued by the fire brigade, and the child was so traumatised that they are now having counselling. My granddaughter is also very upset and anxious, to the point where she has had to come and have a sleepover here tonight as she's scared to stay at home. Obviously we love having her, but it's not a feasible long term solution.
After the fire, the tenant was apparently sectioned under the mental health act, and his flat had to be completely refurbished. Today, unbeknownst to the other tenants, he has moved back in. He's already causing problems. He has threatened one of the male tenants, has been buzzing every flat on the intercom to let him back into the building, and has been on his balcony swearing and shouting. Fortunately my granddaughter had come to us by then, so she hasn't witnessed it.
Is there anything that the tenants of the flats can do? Can they "demand" that the HA removes him? The tenant with the child in counselling is saying that they cannot stay there any longer, as it's too stressful, and now, I believe there's a strong likelihood that my granddaughter will refuse to go home, as she's so scared of him (she's 14).
Or are they just going to have to suck it up and accept that he's got a tenancy, and has every right to be there? There have been many many incidents of him causing problems in the flats, going back years. Mainly, presumably, due to his mental health issues.