to be really pissed off?!?!?

[veyron]

We live in a private rented semi-detatched house and are very happy here.....

Our next door neighbour was very quiet until her daughters "gangster dad" has been on what we think is weekend release from an open prison.

A couple of months ago a friend informed me that this man (he is around 24/25) was from a massive crime family....Drugs, guns,money laundering etc and would be getting out of prison soon and she warned me that it would be noisy!

It's certainly that this is the time I have been woken up at around 7am to loud music and people shouting etc. As the tenant is in private rented (as are we) who do we contact? I have reason to believe that there are more than likely drugs in there also.

btw there is her 16 son (who's not his) and his 5 year old daughter living at the property.

I am getting concerned as am pregnant and really don't want this to be a concern once our baby is born.

Any help would be much appreciated! Before I go round there in my dressing gown and kick off! (I know what I'm like!)

Nightmare, am sorry for you. I'd move. We were renting privately for a while too for various reasons, one of which was to check out neighbours as we'd previously had a mad old bat.
If they are as bad as you say, you'll never get through to them and you certainly don't want to wade in there!
You can still complain to the council though re noise of course, even if not council owned housing.
However saying all that, I'd give it a few weeks and record what's going on - noise/incidents in case you do need to complain but also to make sure you're not getting ahead of yourself and it's not quite as bad as first seemed.

Yes - I'd record things and perhaps consider moving too (not that you're going to want to do that when you're pregnant, but are you going to want to put up with it whn the baby is here).

If you do decide to move, if I were you, I would be very honest with the letting agent/landlord.

Thanks proudnsad, It seems they have gone to bed now, so I have put the radio on full blast in our bedroom, shut the door and am back downstairs now Maybe doing little things like this will get my point over.

thereisalightanditnevergoesout problem is we have just signed a 12 month contract. How would we manage to get out of that if it became unbearable and we needed to?

You could still get out - I think you only need to give 1 month's notice - is it an assured shorthold tenancy agreement? Check the small print though. Maybe even talk to your agent and landlord s(confidentially)ooner than that if it relaly does become unbearable? They might be happy to move you to another property under the circumstances.

I should add, it's bee a long time since I rented - but that's my agreement was then. Maybe go to CAB?

Would we still be liable for the monthly rent if it takes a while for our house to be re-let?

Am now trawling the net for detached houses!

I don't think so - you just have to give the required notice period should be a month for you, two months if your landlord wants you to leave) - check your contract - it will say in there, but please don't just take my word for it - maybe even ring another letting agency for advice or try CAB.

with regards to informing the council, they will want records and any evidence of goings on and several months of it. we complained once and the council told the tenants which made life very difficult. i wouldnt want that for you especially as you're expecting. pregnant women are very vunerable. when we complained the council told tenants then asked for records then did nothing. are you friendly with any other neighbours? could you make it a bit more a group decission not just a you and them thing.