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Downstairs neighbour pulls his blind down and stares at me every morning when I take my daughter to school. what would you do?

177 replies

Usernamemustcontainspecialcharacters · 19/10/2026 08:35

I’m looking for some advice because this situation is really starting to affect me, and I don’t know what to do about it.
I live in a block of four flats, and my downstairs neighbour lives alone. Every morning when I take my four-year-old daughter to school, he pulls his blind down and stares at me through his window.
What makes me particularly uncomfortable is that I’ve noticed it happens when I’m taking my daughter to school, but not when I’m on my own or when my partner is with me.
It’s happened again this morning, and I’ve been left feeling sick to my stomach. I don’t know why he’s doing it, but the fact that it keeps happening in this particular situation is making me increasingly uncomfortable.
I should be able to leave my own home with my daughter without feeling watched or anxious. I don’t want confrontation with a neighbour, but I’m starting to dread these encounters, and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to want to feel comfortable where I live.
Has anyone experienced anything similar? Would you ignore it, speak to the landlord, or report it if it continued? I don’t want to make assumptions about his intentions, but I also don’t want to dismiss how uncomfortable this is making me feel.
I’d appreciate honest advice, especially from anyone who’s dealt with a neighbour who repeatedly watches them like this. Am I overthinking it, or would you find it unsettling too?

OP posts:
WhatsItAllForAnyway · 19/10/2026 08:38

Maybe your daughter reminds him of a child he lost, or of his own daughter when she was little? You don't know why. I don't think this would bother me too much. If he has bad intentions, which I'd hate to leap to, your daughter is safe with you. Maybe just have a chat with your daughter about general safety around neighbours?

JanuaryLove · 19/10/2026 08:38

Well you could

give him the finger?
get your phone out and record him?
write a big sign saying fuck off peado?

or

ignore him and go about your day?
realise he, the same as you is looking out the window at the same time?

theres lots of choices

redskyAtNigh · 19/10/2026 08:43

I’m trying to picture what’s happening here – do you mean he pulls his blind up to look at you out of his window (in which case might it just be that you leaving for school coincides with the time he opens his blinds?) Or do you mean he pulls his blind down so you can’t see him any more and peers at you through the cracks (in which case how do you know he's watching you?)

I'd ignore him.

Bringemout · 19/10/2026 08:46

Ok so you think he’s staring at your daughter? Yeah that would freak me out too. Could you just turn around and stare at him so he knows you’ve clocked him?

PinkWaffleMaker · 19/10/2026 08:46

Is there an alternative exit you can use?

It may just be that the time you do the school run is the same time he is up and about opening his blinds in the morning.

Or is he closing the blinds again afterwards?

I can see why it would feel uncomfortable and listening to your gut with situations like this is important.

We have an elderly neighbour who spends all day sitting by the window and waving at people as they pass as something to do. But obviously that gives quite a different vibe.

Talking to the police for advice on the non emergency number is probably the only thing you can realistically do about it though if you don’t want to talk to him and tell him it makes you feel uncomfortable.

Petrine · 19/10/2026 08:51

Perhaps he’s just looking out of his window - you just happen to be walking by.

You can’t stop people just looking out of their property. Just ignore it and get on with your day.

Usernamemustcontainspecialcharacters · 19/10/2026 08:52

He pulls his blind down and stands there looking out at me. It happens pretty much every morning when I take my daughter to school, but it never seems to happen when I’m on my own or when my partner is with me. Our car park is right there too, so it makes me uncomfortable knowing he can watch me coming and going from my home as well.
I understand that it could be a coincidence, but when it keeps happening in this way, it feels unsettling. I’m just trying to get my little girl to school and go about my day without feeling watched outside my own home. I posted to see if anyone had experienced anything similar or had any advice, not to cause trouble with anyone.

OP posts:
notanothernamesurely · 19/10/2026 08:57

I’m confused my the pulling the blind down - he has the blind open and then closes it and looks through it? Or do you pull blinds down to open them where you live?

It sounds like a you problem more than a him problem. He sounds like he is just opening his blind and looking out.

2dogsandabudgie · 19/10/2026 09:03

You must be staring at him as well to notice that he's staring at you. It can only last for seconds as you walk past. I would just ignore him.

Pinklightning · 19/10/2026 09:05

He surely doesn’t know you are on your own or with your daughter or husband until he opens the blind? Maybe there’s something in your own history making you overreact but it sounds like he just opens the blind at the same time you leave. To know he’s looking at you you have to be looking at him. Maybe he thinks you’re weird for staring at his window every morning. I’d be freaked out if every time I opened my blinds a neighbour was watching me.

Anabolicanna · 19/10/2026 09:05

Try a big wave and a smile every time he does it. I’ve had similar and doing that stopped them looking.

HoldMyWine · 19/10/2026 09:07

How can you see him if he has pulled his blind down? What sort of blind is it?

Cla7 · 19/10/2026 09:09

I’m also confused about the blinds. How does he see you / you him if the blinds are down? Is he aware that you can see him?

Dollymylove · 19/10/2026 09:10

As far as I am aware its not a crime to stand at your window looking out at the world. What if hes waiting for someone else to come along, a visitor who calls regularly etc. He hasnt done anything wrong or illegal so just walk on

Anabolicanna · 19/10/2026 09:10

You can get top down blinds from Hillary’s.

bananaapplepears · 19/10/2026 09:10

Pulling a blind down, closes it? No? I'm confused how he can see you if he's pulling the blind down and closes it.

Dollymylove · 19/10/2026 09:11

bananaapplepears · 19/10/2026 09:10

Pulling a blind down, closes it? No? I'm confused how he can see you if he's pulling the blind down and closes it.

There are blinds that operate from top to bottom

Latenightreader · 19/10/2026 09:12

Do you mean it is a slatted blind and he pulls one piece down and looks through a gap?Only you can know what vibes you pick up from him. Does he think your child is noisy (if he is in the flat below the sound may carry and he has become focussed on that)? Does she wave at him? Many reasons why he could be watching.

Do you have a biggish umbrella? If so you could open it before going outside and turn it towards his window as you pass which would hide you both from view if you feel really uncomfortable...

somekindof · 19/10/2026 09:15

I’m imagining a Venetian blind, for the pulling down element - opening the slats a bit to look out.
OP, how often does it happen? Is I every day, or sometimes. It is probably worth keeping track so that you can know if it’s more than coincidence; or if it’s confirmation bias on your part that it’s only happening occasionally but you’re alert to it so feels more often.
It does sound uncomfortable. Do you vary the time you leave?
If you can be fairly certain that this is a pattern for him I think you can confront him in an appropriate way.

HoppingPavlova · 19/10/2026 09:19

Also confused about the blind as I imagine doing this would mean he now can’t see you?

Anyway, not much you can do about someone looking out if their window, it’s not a crime. Maybe just stare at him, and/or wave, if he continues after that you’ll just have to ignore him.

Maisymouse2 · 19/10/2026 09:20

Is he elderly or abit simple? Who knows.
Hard to know or what it is triggering in him.
Why do ppl have to assume he is a pedo is abit much.
Ask the landlord of he has odd behaviour?

Waitingfordoggo · 19/10/2026 09:23

I would smile and wave every time just to make it very obvious that you know that he is looking at you.

If you’re wrong about what he’s thinking, you haven’t said anything accusatory, you’re just being friendly to a neighbour.

Happyjoe · 19/10/2026 09:24

Does he have any interaction with you guys or your daughter? Just wondering if could apply to Sarah's Law if he does, or maybe have a chat with the police anyway and voice your concern.

Other than that, no, not much you can do with weirdo's staring. Anywhere else to park your car? Can you leave 10 mins early or at different times, try and miss him? Me being me I would ask him what he's doing anyway.

Seeline · 19/10/2026 09:28

Is it only when you are walking your DD to school?
Or every time you go out with your DD?

It sounds as though it's just his routine coincides with your routine.

I would smile and wave

Branleuse · 19/10/2026 09:28

Get camera out and take a photo of him and wave?

Go out in disguise?

I'd try and intimidate him back