Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

cctv camera's my neighbour

58 replies

Halftruth · 05/03/2016 08:02

So my next door neighbour is a bit of a cracker ... Victor meldrew has nothing on back door bob (his nickname from before i moved in) he' alway's caused troubled with all the neighbour's not just me .... But my problem is not the fact none of us can use the down stair's toilet or have a shower after nine o' clock at night ( both of us neighbour's on either side are't allowed to) But he has 6 cctv camera's on his property....3 on his front garden and 3 on the back ...bare in mind that the back garden's are about the size of 3 carparking space's ...and the front garden well it's even smaller ... Now the weather is starting to get better and i feel like it's going to be another year where we not really going to be able to enjoy the little space that we so have .... He hasn't even had sign's up stating he's got cctv either ... And the way there pointing they cover both mine and my neighbour's back and front garden's ...is there anything i can do that. I won't get in trouble for ....as it's got to the point Were i just want to pull them down ...

OP posts:
thumb3lina · 05/03/2016 09:00

I have a view from the other side here (not saying you're like our old neighbour). In our first house we put CCTV up covering our whole house from the outside from every angle and of course it covered part of the neighbours garden too. I think to legally do it we had to register as a data handler/controller (?)

Anyway the reason we did it was because the neighbour threatened to kill us and burn our house down. We called the police while she was still threatening us with a knife and the police did NOTHING! They turned up and just gave her a warning. We complained to the IPCC but in the end dropped it as it was easier to just move away from the nutter

Original poster
Halftruth · 05/03/2016 09:03

Yethanxs for the advice on my grammar it is really apperciated . he's caused alot of dramma with every neighbour he has had here. The lady that lives the other side exchanged into that house then found out that the previous lady had had an on going feud with bob that ended in her sister being assaulted by bob's wife. Which was caught on camera . i was warned when i'd offended to do his garden that he was a pain ,but i just thought people were being horrible .but once i'd finished laying his gravel and painting his fence's for free i might add .That's when it all started . I just want to be able to exchange my house ,But while thoose camera's are there i just can't see it happening. Im going to ring that the number on the link on monday as it is closed them take it from there thanxs

OP posts:
Original poster
Halftruth · 05/03/2016 09:13

*then take it from there .

OP posts:
JolseBaby · 05/03/2016 09:14

OK - three things.

  1. Complain to your housing officer. Tell them that not using the loo or shower after 9pm is not an option, that this is normal household noise and you have a right to quiet enjoyment of your home. That means being able to keep clean! If there is an issue with his house which is being affected by your plumbing, then the council need to look at this. Keep complaining until they do something. If there is no plumbing problem then you can rebut any complaint that he makes on the grounds that it has been investigated and there's no issue with the plumbing.
  1. Write to the neighbour and formally request that he adjusts his CCTV cameras so that they cover his own property only. 'Dear X, please ensure that your CCTV cameras only cover your own property, in accordance with the law governing use of private CCTV. Yours sincerely, OP'. Keep a copy of the letter. If he refuses then contact the Police and tell them that you have asked him in writing to move his cameras but he has refused. That he is filming you and your young children and you are concerned and would like the CPO to have a word. Keep contact with the Police and make sure that this is followed up.
  1. Keep a log (date, time, what was said) of every time he shouts, argues or harasses you. Do this for about a month and then contact your housing officer and show them the log. Tell them that you are going to involve the Police and you want action to be taken. Contact the Police as well. Keep going with the log and keep reporting and complaining.
Original poster
Halftruth · 05/03/2016 09:22

Thumbelina i total understand why you would have them up . but there is no such threat like that from me . i had to get the police to have a word with him last year about him waiting on the alley for me when i was coming back from the school run . he took note and stopped it . but as the weather was getting better and like i said i want an exchange . i painted my fence last saturday to tidy it up (everyone on my street uses red cedar so i was not bothing anyone) but he had to come out he made me jump out of my skin. I heard his back gate go ,but i just kept painting. Then quiet a few minites later i heard him say my name .He was stood in the back alley looking through the gaps in the fence . i dropped my paint brush i went straight in . thats when i put the house up . he really freaks me out .

OP posts:
64zoolane · 05/03/2016 09:25

I think you need to contact the police with concerns about an older man (V Meldrew did you say?) filming your young children in your garden. As someone else said, they WILL take notice of that.

Original poster
Halftruth · 05/03/2016 09:36

That's another problem he own's his house . we ve got a good mix of private rented home owners and council properties on the street and i could think of a lot worse place's to live as far as the street. Is concerned as a whole . it's just the stress and constance walking on egg shells in your own house i don't own a music system or a radio as he complained about music in the past (i came to this area with nothing two suit cases after a dv relationship so didn't have anything like that ) i've never owned one in this house .

OP posts:
Original poster
Halftruth · 05/03/2016 09:41

On the link to the web site .could someone clarifie for me wheater or not i am allowed to see the recording if i ask .and does it mean that the sound setting for private property should be muted ?

OP posts:
ohtheholidays · 05/03/2016 09:41

Halftruth I was pretty sure but I have just checked with DH(he's in the Police Force)your neighbour is not allowed to film your's or your neighbours property without you giving him specific permission.

If he was reported and someone looked at the footage and saw that he was actually using the cameras to watch his neighbours and not for security measures he would be breaking the Human Rights Act to privacy.

ohtheholidays · 05/03/2016 09:49

Oh OP that was a massive drip feed about your DD,that made me feel sick.

You have to report him to the Police for that alone!You really do!

He sounds mentally unwell and his behaviour towards your DD and yourself is not normal and from what you've said about his wife attacking someone she sounds as bad as him!

And yes you are your neighbour can ask to see the footage!

Please report him for filming your DD he sounds like a predator he really does!

Original poster
Halftruth · 05/03/2016 09:51

Thanxs.oh the hoildays i am going to sort this out i just really wasn't sure . where i stand in the whole situation espeacially as i know the other neighbour has had nothing but grief for years now and she feels like no one is listening to her either . i'm not going to back down this time . i would love to be able to relax in my own back yard with my kids with a little radio and the paddling pool out . But while those cameras are there its not going to happen

OP posts:
blueistheonlycolourwefeel · 05/03/2016 09:54

Having had horrible neighbours who were hugely unreasonable, I know that door slamming, usual daily noise such as showering and using the toilet is of no interest to noise officers, unless it is excessive after 11.30 at night. My neighbours slammed doors ALL night, every 10-15 minutes and we had to prove it was intentional!
Don't let him bully you. Between 7.30-11.30 you can make reasonable household noise.
Check out neighbours from hell http://www.nfh.org.uk/forums/ forum. It REALLY helped me through a horrendous neighbour situation.

Original poster
Halftruth · 05/03/2016 10:01

I would understand if i was a noisey neighbour but my house is quiet from about 8:30pm as my younger 2 are in bed at 7pm and my older boy is goes up at 8 we don't have party's or even have people to the house often we're all out through the day with college and school so really don't understand why he does this .

OP posts:
Original poster
Halftruth · 05/03/2016 10:11

I' ll take a look at the forum to thanxs . i will get this sorted .

OP posts:
LizKeen · 05/03/2016 10:17

He does it because it gives him a kick in his otherwise sad little existence. Its about control. He is enjoying knowing that you are tiptoeing around your house and that he controls when you can shower and whether you use the garden.

I can understand your reaction to this, especially as you have been in an abusive situation in the past. I get the same. Its easier to just appease people.

But this man is totally fucking with your quality of life. You need to start remembering that you are doing nothing wrong and have nothing to apologise for. Start living in your house. Play music. Use the shower whenever you like. Watch TV in the front room. FGS those are normal things. If he reports you, welcome that. See it as a chance for the agencies to come in and confirm that he is an asshole. You got away from one abusive man, don't concede your life to another.

figureofspeech · 05/03/2016 10:24

I would go down the route of notifying the police on 101 stating that your neighbour has cameras pointing into your garden where your young children play. in various states of undress during the summer months what he is doing is illegal.

AuntieFlaubert · 05/03/2016 10:40

I'm a great believer in CCTV and have cameras at the front and back of the house. My neighbours are actually pleased that I have it for the security since their front gardens and cars are covered , but they are not like the OP's neighbour.
BUT the rear camera is set so that it does not overlook the next door gardens where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

I would most certainly tell the local police that he is using the rear cameras to spy on the children.

DarkBlueEyes · 05/03/2016 10:46

Jesus. Don't let this man control your life as that is what he is successfully managing to do! Go take a "pop" whenever you bloody like! Shower if you want to! And report report report him through the links listed above AND to the police if he is filming your young child. And keep reporting him until they are sick to the back teeth of you and do something about it to make you go away

Stand up for yourself!

And have a quiet word with your solicitor... this man has form.

MiscellaneousAssortment · 05/03/2016 10:52

Oh dear it sounds horrible. As he owns his house it's unlikely he'd move, but you can still get police involved to stop his worst behaviors. He sounds like a bully who should go live in the middle of a field if other human beings anger him so much.

You wee whenever you like! And shower! And definitely start keeping a diary of his day to day actions, it sounds actually quite intense and it would help people understand how awful he is to show how frequently he's doing these things and how much you've changed your behavior so you are definitely not able to enjoy your own home in the way you should be able to.

What a wanker.

ohtheholidays · 05/03/2016 11:02

Good for you OP,I'm glad your going to stand up to him.

His behaviour is really anti social behaviour and you can report him for that OP.

I'd start keeping a diary of all the rubbish he's been putting you through and I'd advize your neighbour to do the same.Find out who your local neighbour hood Police Officers are and make them aware of what he's been doing and what he's continued to do, also do you know who your local MP is?If not find out they really can be helpful in situations like this!

Start using your shower and toilet when you want to and go back to watching your tv where you normally would.This man is a bully and he's getting off dictating to your and your neighbour what you can and can't do and when and the more you all give into him the worse his demands are going to become and the more erractic his behaviour could become.

He will not get any where reporting you or your neighbour for when you use your toilet and shower or for watching your TV(unless it was blearing which it obviously isn't)but you and your neighbours will get far by reporting him for his cameras being trained on your propertys and on your children and for his ridiculous demands!

You can do this OP and if you ever want any support there's plenty on here and if your ever not sure where you stand with the law you only need to ask.I'm happy to find out anything your not sure of Smile

Original poster
Halftruth · 05/03/2016 12:05

Thanxs very much espeacially oh the hoildays . i want to make sure i do this properly and i might get confused so i'm greatful for your offer and will definatley be asking for your assistants . Thanxs greatfully

OP posts:
Stripyhoglets · 05/03/2016 12:14

Is he a council tenant? If so he probably needs permission to put up cameras and council shouldn't give it if it's filming your garden. It's causing you a nuisance and probably a breach of the tenancy agreement as well. Him filming and invasion of your privacy is a breach of DP. Look at ICO website for what council shd be doing

Original poster
Halftruth · 05/03/2016 12:19

He's not council he's a home owner .

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 05/03/2016 12:27

a police officer told me that i can't say "don't go near that horrid git's garden"

Are you sure he was a real police officer?!

Original poster
Halftruth · 05/03/2016 12:47

She was she's actually alright . i just don't think i asked the right question about what to do about it . i thought he would just stop if i didn't engage or give him any reason to bother us .

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread