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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To Be Pleased My Neighbours Are Getting a Notice Seeking Possession..?

28 replies

SekritSquiggle · 09/12/2014 23:27

Regular here with a name change for... reasons.

I'm a council tenant. We have had antisocial neighbours for over a year - DV, (both ways) and lots of strange behaviours, and genuine weirdness as well. There may be substance abuse and/or mental health issues and if there are, the council will be aware of them but are still going ahead; so it must be something serious, right?

Today I found out from a council worker that they are about to receive a notice seeking possession. I was sworn to secrecy and I am not supposed to know this at all. But I have it from the horse's mouth. I don't think it is due to the antisocial behaviour as they had quietened down a bit lately and we're not being asked to be witnesses in court or anything. I have no idea why the council are hoping to evict these dicks.

And also - anyone here know how long this process takes and what are the odds of them actually being evicted? I'm presuming it won't come to court til after Christmas anyway. Have any of you had experience of this?

AIBU to do a little YAY?

OP posts:
Tobyjugg · 09/12/2014 23:52

No, you are NBU!

Catsize · 09/12/2014 23:56

I am a lawyer who does this sort of work. It usually takes months if it is contested.

Original poster
SekritSquiggle · 10/12/2014 00:08

Cheers, Toby. I feel a bit cruel being near Christmas and that. But they have been total idiots - abusive, threatening and vile from Day 1.

We heard they had been evicted from social housing in another area and the council had no idea til I let it drop when the whole ASB thing started and the community officer said they would try and find out what happened - so the grounds may be that they lied about that on the application forms. I think they do get asked if they have ever been evicted in the past for ASB or rent arrears?

Catsize I am guessing they usually get allowed to stay if it's non payment of bedroom tax? As I know they are on full HB but do pay bedroom tax. And we know it's not on grounds of ASB as we are their only direct neighbours, and the council have seemed indifferent about that, upto now.

So lying on the original application forms is my best bet. Which means we may be in with a shot?

I read online just now if it is a secure tenancy they get 2 months to a court date, from being served the notice seeking possession - and even if they got an eviction order I'm guessing they'd give them a month or two?

So best case scenario is maybe 4 or 5 months. Most likely scenario is they spin a sob story and get to stay.

OP posts:
namealreadytaken · 10/12/2014 08:20

I'm a Rent Officer for my Local Authority and I'm afraid to say the chances of them being evicted if they have a Secure Tenancy are very slim.
The NSP, if served for rent arrears, is to advise tenants we intend to take legal action if they don't start making payments to pay the arrears. They have 28 days from the date the NSP is served to clear the arrears or make an agreement to pay a regular amount each week/month.
If they fail to do either of these we then apply to court for a Possession Hearing & even then it is likely wewould only get a Suspended Possession Order with agreement they will pay an agreed amount each week/month.
An eviction is highly unlikely unless they absolutely refuse to pay a penny and it has to go back to court again and even then it's rare.

namealreadytaken · 10/12/2014 08:23

I meant to say even if they lied on their application it's still hard to secure a warrant for eviction if they are in Social Housing and especially if they have children.

namealreadytaken · 10/12/2014 08:28

And it is likely the Allocations Team who dealt with their application for rehousing did know about their previous history even if the ASB Officer didn't.

Original poster
SekritSquiggle · 10/12/2014 13:48

name, they were antisocial from the hour they moved in - the council knew this and could have extended the Introductory Tenancy another 6 months (we asked them to) - now the will have the trouble and expense of all this.

Previous tenant was evicted for arrears (bedroom tax) so we know our council and presumably local courts, do indeed go in for the kill.

We're not sure it is about arrears, though, as they are on full HB and only pay £11 a week bedroom tax. Also there seems to be no shortage of money.

OP posts:
Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 10/12/2014 16:41

Yes you are being unreasonable to do a little yay.
They need support from the authorities not to be made homeless because they are in a turbulent relationship.
Do they have children, again if so. A child being out on the streets is nothing to yay about O.P.
Would you like someone to wallow and gloat if it were you and yours.
Also the council worker who gave that information is very very of order

youareallbonkers · 10/12/2014 16:49

1st thing to do when sworn to secrecy... post all details on MN

SamCroClaus · 10/12/2014 16:53

yanbu
I would have had a party if the anti social people in our street were evicted.
it is awful living near anti social people and can cause all kinds of distress.

usualsuspectsparkly3 · 10/12/2014 16:54

You seem quite happy that people get evicted for not paying the 'Bedroom tax'

I think its a bloody disgrace.

EhricJinglingHisBallsOnHigh · 10/12/2014 16:55

A nosp doesn't always lead to an eviction I'm afraid.

FreeWee · 10/12/2014 16:56

Perhaps it's because she isn't allowed to talk to anyone in real life she's posting anonymously with a nc on the Internet? She obviously wants to get the issue off her chest & if they've been as nightmare neighbours as she says there's a lot of pent up annoyance to get out!

Flimflammer · 10/12/2014 17:10

Anyone who has ever lived next to awful neighbours wouldn't blame you for being pleased. I've had a few neighbours who I wished death on, and I'm ashamed to say that when the police knocked on the door to ask if I had heard my drug dealing neighbour being badly beaten in the street I wasn't in the slightest bit concerned. I never found out if she lived, I was just glad that she and all the scumbags and their Staffie dogs wouldn't be round anymore. So if you are a bad person for being glad they might be going, I am much worse!
I

outofcontrol2014 · 10/12/2014 17:12

No, you are sooooo NOT being unreasonable. Anyone who has lived with antisocial neighbours will sympathise completely with you. I'd be cracking open a bottle of wine behind closed doors. :)

Original poster
SekritSquiggle · 10/12/2014 17:20

usual, I said my old neighbour (who I liked very much) was evicted for non payment of bedroom tax. I wish it had never been invented - not just because I'm a lifelong socialist but because I'd never have had 14 moths of hell if it wasn't for the fecking bedroom tax. ;o)

These people seem to have plenty of spare £s so I doubt it is that.

OP posts:
Tiredemma · 10/12/2014 17:23

I wish someone would serve my vile neighbours with the same.

Awful hideous family.

Naughtyornicename · 10/12/2014 17:23

If you've ever been on the other side of the wall of such tenants then you understand:

Sleepless nights from nocturnal neighbours.

Smell from drains blocked up when they shove all sorts if rubbish down the sinks.

Fire exits blocked by furniture they decide they don't won't in their flat anymore.

Dodgy deals going on in communal areas.

Rubbish thrown put on the landing bins - in open bags so rats decide it's a buffet.
Kids setting off fire alarms. And again.

Visitors nicking furniture/pictures etc from communal areas.

Home visits from 'professional women'.

Visitors ringing your bells because your neighbour isn't answering (duh, because they aren't in, dummy).

Break communal property - door locks, windows...

Sublet property to bloody party boys. And boy, can those boys party (4 days solid last time).

Kareoke machine (definitely the worst).

It can take a hell of a long time to move people on. They 'know their rights' but unfortunately others don't have the right to peaceful existence.

Original poster
SekritSquiggle · 10/12/2014 17:24

moNths doh! But 14 moths of hell is the name of my next book. Because it's epic.

OP posts:
Naughtyornicename · 10/12/2014 17:25

We've got moths too!

EatShitDerek · 10/12/2014 17:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LuisSuarezTeeth · 10/12/2014 17:27

I'm extremely surprised that someone from the council has told you this - highly unprofessional.

Naughtyornicename · 10/12/2014 17:28

Bloody hell, and I thought spitting in the lift was bad enough...

WitchesGlove · 10/12/2014 17:32

Not at all, OP. I'm sorry you've had to put up with this.

It really makes me angry that in this time of a massive shortage of council housing, people like this abuse the privilege so much! they are so ungrateful.

Instead of a bedroom tax, it would have been fairer to just chuck out all anti-social tenants who've been given at least two warnings.

I know some of them might have MH issues etc, but if they won't engage with services there isn't much people can do to help them. And what excuse is there for partying for four days and hiring prostitutes? no MH issue is going to cause someone to do that.

Naughtyornicename · 10/12/2014 17:38

We have sublets to rich kids partying away from mummy and daddy. Some are OK - genuinely wanting to see the sights and go to shows. Others however...

The main problems we have is private lets without contracts or references. A lot of owners live abroad so they don't really give a rats as long as they get their money and skimp on paying agencies/lawyers.

We've had people with mh issues too. A mum who would lock her huge teen in all day as he hammered the walls and floors with god knows what. He was actually quote violent and scary.