AIBU to think this HA are just toothless and pandering!

[HoarseMackerel]

I'll try and keep it brief!
I've posted previously regarding this a while back.
I live in a GF flat.
My neighbour got a dog and it barks every evening and every weekend. It's loud.
I'm out at work during the day.
I complained to her Housing Association.
I then had to complain about their lack of response and promising to update me at certain times and then not bothering.
This started at the beginning of December.
I initially asked if the tenant had permission to have the dog, as it was a flat and it was a Labrador and there is not enclosed outside space.
It was confirmed that she did have permission.
So I made a further complaint saying that their decision was causing me a disturbance and I also had concerns regarding the dog as it literally gets a five minute walk around the communal area to do it's business on a lead.
So far, I've had every excuse and diversionary tactic under the sun.

'We're monitoring it' - I asked directly what they had done to monitor it. This question has been dodged at least 4 times. I remind them in every email that I'd asked how they are monitoring it. They ignore me.

They say 'The requirement to have a dog is to have a door directly from the flat' The actual policy states 'make sure your garden has a fence to stop the dog escaping. You must have direct access to your garden or the street' The only direct access is onto communal grounds, not a private garden. The communal path now has dog poo on it. The communal bins have dog poo all squashed into the bottom and there is a pile of poo bags (filled) piled up on a wall at the front of our flats (obviously picked up with the monitoring - not!) I'm now paying service charges for grounds maintenance which is now a dog toilet.

They said 'Don't worry, she's moving' - I waited over 2 months and she didn't move. Now they will not acknowledge that they said she is moving.

They have suggested I involve the Council dog warden and EHO - I've said that I'm making a complaint about their poor decision to let someone have a dog in a flat that is unsuitable, so why do I now have to contact Uncle Tom Cobley and all to get the situation resolved.

They've said 'We haven't had any other complaints' - I've asked what are they inferring? Why would anyone else complain when I'm the only person who has their front door opposite her? They may as well have said I'm a liar!

They've said that enough evidence needs to be provided to take the matter to court. I've said, so it's ok to make a quick decision with no thought involved to let the tenant have the dog but now it will need a massive court case to resolve the issue.

It just goes on and on.
The latest time I contacted them after a miserable weekend again, they gave me diary sheets to fill in. I've filled in 8 days worth and there are hundreds of entries for 8 days. As soon as I handed them in, they asked me to do more. A delaying tactic no doubt. I will be writing these diaries for months if they get their own way!
It took them over a month to finally respond this time and I went ballistic and made a formal complaint. I've now got people emailing (I said I would only take emails from now on for evidence) left, right and centre.
They're all dreadfully sorry about what has happened but then give me a list of things they can't do!
Her housing officer received the diaries last week but is going to visit her next week! No rush then.
AIBU to think they are completely toothless and pandering to the tenant?

so whats the main complaint? its loud barking?

Your problem is with the noise of the dog barking, no? Have you been in touch with the council? Kept a diary of each time you've been disturbed (antisocial hours) and recorded the noise level from your flat? These are all things that the council will require you to do.

You have absolutely no say over whether she should be allowed to have a dog. The agreement she has with the housing association is categorically nothing to do with you. Collect your evidence of the noise if it really is that bad; ask the council to come over and test the noise levels, but if I were you I'd keep your nose out of any agreement she has with her landlord. If I were her (or the HA) I would be complaining about the harassment that you are making them endure.

Yes, as stated 'My neighbour got a dog and it barks every evening and every weekend. It's loud.
I'm out at work during the day'

But my over all complaint with the HA is that I think they've made a bad decision which has led to the barking issues.
The dog doesn't get out to run around as there is no fenced garden and just gets 5 minutes led around the communal grounds.

What is your actual complaint about? The noise, the shit or the dog's welfare?

Harassment?
I've made a complaint to which they are not responding. I then complained about their lack of response.
This is over the course of 4 months. Hard core harassment indeed!
The previous issues we had were times when it barked for 8 hours solid and had been left in the flat.
Other times it has been 4 -5 hours at a time.
The policy is there for all to see and they haven't followed it.
Other members of the same housing association have already said that having a dog in this type of flat doesn't fit their criteria at all.

My complaint is all of it but I'm working on the assumption that if the HA hadn't ignored their own policy, the rest wouldn't be an issue.

Did you ever actually talk to your neighbour?

i had this

environmental health for sound recording.....it needs to be a certain amount of noise....didnt make it to those levels with our neighbour's no further action. it has to be LOUD

spca for non walked dog......nothing they can do about that, its apparently NOT cruelty

HA allows dogs. or "pets". just as anyone in a house they own has that choice. our HA don't make decisions on a case by case basis, too time consuming and expensive, just a blanket decision pets are ok

Is it barking when it's alone?

The only one the HA is responsible for is clearing the bags of shit, which is probably why they're referring you to other places.

The council is responsible for noise complaints and the RSPCA or Police for welfare complaints, depending on whether it is an emergency.

You can't really complain about the HA's bad decision. Keeping a dog in a flat is not the best situation in the world but it's far from neglectful in normal circumstances. The HA aren't fortune tellers, they couldn't know the dog would suffer separation anxiety and wouldn't be walked properly.

The previous issues we had were times when it barked for 8 hours solid and had been left in the flat

Sounds bloody awful. What's the neighbour like? Approachable?

Yes, I spoke to her a couple of times. I didn't just go and report her behind her back.
She just said sorry and it carried on. Then she posted notes through my door saying I had to understand that dogs bark, yes especially if you leave them for 8 hours indoors.
It's barking when alone and also during the course of every evening/weekend when she is there. She shouts at it 'fucking shut up' and other things. The shouting is more recent.
It is LOUD and I mean loud as in like it is in my flat.
On reflection, I might just call EHO to get it recorded because I can see that no one really understands how loud you mean until you have proof. I was just a bit shocked at how easily they pass it over to someone else to deal with even though it is a basic breach of tenancy.
I know these things don't always go to plan but I would hazard a guess that it more than loud enough and frequent enough to act on.
I've not even considered calling the RSPCA as I know that neglect wise, it would have to be more serious than this.
I am not questioning whether it gets fed and watered etc. I'm sure it does. It's only the walks.
This HA does seem to have a policy. I've seen it and the tenants handbook. They have certain criteria and these are not being met.
Also, using communal grounds as a place for your dog to poo, I'm pretty sure is not allowed, especially if you don't clean it up.

it's clear from the OP what her complaint is. The dog barks loudly and often, disturbing her. The dog does not appear to be properly exercised which may contribute to the barking indicating that the dog owner is not being responsible. Dog waste appearing on shared grounds further indicate an irresponsible dog owner. OP does not agree that the HA should have allowed a dog without more stringent checks.

That sounds really annoying, OP. It doesn't sound like the HA want to help much.

It's a crap situation but as others have said above, noise has to be quite loud for it to be an issue they'll do anything about.

Unfortunately a barking dog annoying one tenant probably isn't very high on their list of priorities.

Regarding the decision made, their policy says they have the right to revoke the permission if the dog becomes a nuisance (mainly the reasons I've given above).
That doesn't seem to be quite as stated.
Also the housing office who was monitoring the situation supposedly, I've told her she can come round any time and see/hear what I'm experiencing.
Just for information, her office is around 100 metres from my flat.

i think its in the op that the HA don't want to help much!

Exactly, i don't have any advice, I was just a bit bemused by the 'so what's your main complaint?' replies.

they came round to us to listen too, every time they arrived the dog was bloody quiet! typical

if thats the policy then you've got them

local mp?

Then she posted notes through my door saying I had to understand that dogs bark

No. They don't.

Dogs bark when they are distressed, frightened or over excited and I can't envision a situation where a dog would be over-stimulated for eight hours straight and not collapse from exhaustion.

Could you collect leaflets from local trainers and post them through her door or direct her to clicker training sites online while you're waiting for the council to act?

Report it to EH at the council instead. They will ask you to keep logs and then install sound recording equipment. That then forms evidence that is indisputable. The problem now is you, or anyone else, could be complaining maliciously or as part of a personal vendetta, that’s why it’s so important to have the evidence from an independent source.

I told the HA about the notes (there were others) and they said she was apologising. I said it was invasive and saying 'I'm sorry but dogs bark and I should understand that' is not an apology!

It puts you under a lot of pressure when you are not getting a minute's peace in your own home and the note business really made me see red.
If I got another one, I was ready to let rip but luckily, they've stopped now.

Thanks for the support everyone.
I also thought I'd explained it the best I could in my OP.
That's also another bit that is frustrating. She got the dog as a young puppy, and from the minute she got it, it barked and barked. I left it a couple of weeks as I thought she could be looking after it for someone else or there could be a story behind it but right from the start she was leaving it for 4 - 8 hours at a time.
I didn't like listening to it but not just out of my own annoyance but because that is obviously wrong.
I am not a fan of people who get dogs when they either can't or won't care from them properly, including giving them the correct amount of exercise or leaving them too long.
If that makes me wrong or an harasser, so be it!

The problem now is you, or anyone else, could be complaining maliciously or as part of a personal vendetta, that’s why it’s so important to have the evidence from an independent source

I've invited the housing officer, the housing officer's manager, the home owner person for my area, her replacement (the other one left) and her manager if they'd like to come round at any time? As previously stated, they are 100 yards up the road and the housing officer said she was monitoring it anyway.
Honestly, I'm 100% confident that they will hear it within 10 minutes of being in my flat as I have heard it every, single evening for 4 months now.
I also think they will be surprised at the level of the sound. I think the dog must be at the door (the one which faces into the communal entrance) as the sound comes directly into my flat as if it is right next to me.

I also thought I'd explained it the best I could in my OP

You explained your complaint quite clearly but the overall tone was convoluted compared to the title.

If you complain, precisely and clearly, without the emotion or mentioning extras like the dog not being walked, to the correct departments e.g the shit to HA and the noise to the council, I think you'll get further.

If your complaints to the HA are worded like your OP, I'm sorry but it did initially come across as you not liking dogs and finding every little thing to pick up on.

Sorry, I should have also said, as logged in the diary, it barks around 3 -10 times every 3 - 5 minutes.
I know this because I had to write it in my log every single bloody time.
The only positive thing is the HA did think my log was substantial enough to go round and speak to her next week.

Take lots of pictures of all the bags oof dof shit and the pile all over and on the bins. If they give her warning they are cmoing she may well tidy it all away and say you are lying.