Ongoing noise from downstairs neighbour and possible damage to our garden

[nicnacxoxo]

Hi, need some advice. At my wits end with my neighbour. Might be long, will keep it brief as possible.

Lived here 12 years, HA flat. Downstairs neighbour is private let who has lived here about 18 months, maybe 2 years. At first was just a single man and had no issues at all. About a year ago his partner arrived pregnant and had a DC.

Since about October he has been playing REALLY loud music, so loud you would think it was coming from the next room. Was all OK as he would turn it down by 11pm. Then on Christmas morning until 4am he was blasting music and singing/shouting. Phoned the police, nobody attended. Every so often it would happen again. Phone the police, nobody would come.

Fast forwards to last month and it kept DC up all night so I phoned the police, reported him to his landlord and spoke to my HA who also reported him to the landlord.

Thought that was it done with and other than a few pre 11pm loud nights it had been quiet. This was until Sunday, same again.. phoned police nobody came.

Done it again last night and they finally went to his door. He turned the music off but started shouting and knocking on walls(?) Possibly next door (I'm above). Recorded him and sent a video to his landlord who I haven't heard back from yet.

Dp left for work this morning and noticed the wire he had put down to regrow the grass has all been pulled up and thrown about and that my DC football goals have been thrown about and snapped. As well as a few plant pots and a little ride on car thing left from the previous tenants.

Now, I can't obviously say it was this neighbour but it's obviously very suspicious that its happened the same day.

What can I do? Please help.

Report him to his landlord & explain the situation that he’s now becoming hostile. The landlord needs to evict it’s anti social behaviour.

They landlord told my HA that there was a few ongoing incidents whatever that could be. I'm here alot myself so starting to feel threatened tbh.

Noise wise, stop ringing the police and start logging it all through proper channels with the council. Usually involves keeping a diary, recordings, measuring volume etc.

I have been in this situation many years ago. Report him to the council and they will tell you to start a noise diary, they will also possibly issue you with some recording equipment. Also get a camera covering your outside spaces, so you have evidence.

The council will then put pressure on the landlord to go through the process of eviction and in my case they issued the tenant with an ASBO and forced the eviction.

It can cost the landlord money, which is why usually they stick their head in the sand in complaints.

You need to log the noise nuisance with the environmental health team at the Council, who will advise on what to record, possibly give you a meter to record noise levels, etc.

And report the damage in the garden as criminal damage occurring subsequent to the attendance of police to resolve a noise nuisance. Non-emergency number, obviously, but make a note of the crime reference number you’re given and add this to the log of incidents: noise, vandalism, general antisocial behaviour.

If he starts making threats, you will then have well-documented evidence that he’s a problem. Maybe that will be what his landlord needs to evict him, but obviously the next tenant may be no better.

Are his kids there when all this music is going on? Should also report to SS for welfare check!

Yes! I dont know if he works night shift because there's not a peep during the day & all the curtains are closed. Then 10-11pm he starts the music and I can hear the baby crying. When DP went down to ask him to turn it down before the mum was behind him holding the baby.

I have thought about phoning SS but wasn't sure if it would be malicious.

Our council has done away with domestic noise complaints and says to contact 101.

That doesn’t sound malicious to me … sounds like a massive concern, and pretty horrendous for the kids living there!!!