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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Neighbours making life hard.

55 replies

Cheeseandcrisps · 24/06/2018 10:19

Hello everyone it's more of a wwyd. I live in a masonette been here for just under 2 years with my dh and dd. We have a woman that lives next door we have always been polite to her my dh has never really liked her but has always been polite and o tried to be friends with her but whenever we spoke I always felt she was trying to intimidate she also once for angry at me as when we moved in we got new carpet my dd was 8 weeks old at the time she felt we shouldn't have carpet because she couldn't afford any and her dd is older. She also told me the plans I got given by the council outlining where my garden is was a load of rubbish and whole lot was her garden I called our housing officer and had her come out to explain whos garden belonged to who.

This woman fell out with another neighbour who I happen to get along with but I made it clear from the start I didn't wish to get involved in any arguments they were having we all have to live there so we should all try and rub along. Since this fall out she had with the other neighbour I've heard her outside with the man that lives in the flat underneath her masonette bitching about me and the other neighbour. Dh and I previously got along with the man who lives under next door but all or a sudden he stopped speaking to us and started being horrible to our dd.

I have trouble with my breathing so need to leave my bedroom window open at night to get the fresh air and keep it moving especially when its not all my neighbours know that and they have always been very understanding the man downstairs has now taken to lighting bonfires at 2am then he's outside again at 6 stomping around and talking loudly.

I've stopped speaking to the girl next door I was getting tired of the way she speaks to me anyway and fron her past she causes trouble nearly everywhere she goes in her last property the neighbours hated her and her then boyfriend so much they drove her out which im not saying is right but a lot of people have warned me about what a nasty piece of work she is I've always given her the benefit of the doubt and always made it clear i dont want to be involved in arguments I'm out most days and usually home for tea time and I'm pretty much in for the night so i really dont know how all of a sudden I've fallen out with 2 neighbours.

Since the garden situation ive been moaned at for several things including opening my front door too loudly with the key Hmm il admit the door is a little stiff but the latest time I open my door is anout 8pm and I always try and do it quietly I have a dd in bed I wouldn't deliberately make noise im really not that sort of person just don't know what to do now it's getting to the point were it feels like bullying and my other neighbours have agreed.

Sorry for waffling on I have anxiety im also pregnant at the moment after 2 miscarriages this year so this extra upset and stress is doing me no good at all. If ive mafe any mistakes or the post is hard to follow please just let me know and I will clarify. Many thanks for reading!

OP posts:
ElderflowerWaterIsDelish · 24/06/2018 11:13

I would keep a diary of dates, times , who said what to who, so that you can gather evidence of her harassment (don't let any other neighbours know you are doing this)...

I would leave the bedroom window closed (if they think you aren't opening it, they may stop lighting bonfires)...also have you got your bathroom near your bedroom?...could you open a bathroom window, leave the bathroom door and your bedroom door open and get air that way?...

I think if someone was lighting bonfires under my window in the middle of the night of be trying to get a video or photo (without them seeing) as evidence , and then I'd be calling the police and notifying who ever the landlord is because that is a fire hazard and it's also intimidating to do it right by your house, right under your window, right at the time in the middle of the night when you open your window...

Takfujuimoto · 24/06/2018 11:13

Blush Oops! Sorry Cheeseandcrisps I only read the loss, apologies and congratulations Thanks

I think that out of all the options looking for a swap is a good idea.
But really you should be able to talk to the council about the 2am bonfires, that's frankly ridiculous.
There must be guidelines or restrictions about how close to a house/timing in regards to bonfires.

Try to keep a record of any physical issues and hostility just in case it escalates.
As already recommended desist on talking or being nice to them, just non verbal head nod and ignore as much as possible.

Juells · 24/06/2018 11:14

@BlankTimes

Rub all round the door with a candle. The wax will make the door 'slip' into its frame easier and quieter.

Accusing her of "opening her door loudly" is just a bullying tactic, and I'd be rocking the whole building on its foundations by slamming the thing as loudly as I could, rather than trying to creep around like a mouse.

sweetboykit · 24/06/2018 11:14

I've just looked up bonfires online and the council can issue an abatement order if bonfires are becoming a nuisance, which they definitely are in your case. It comes with a £5000 fine.

Bekabeech · 24/06/2018 11:18

You do need to report the bonfires - one off int he daytime are okay (if nothing noxious is burnt). But 2 am is never okay.

On another point, does your GP know about your breathing issues? It could be Asthma, and needs to be controlled. Anaemia can also cause breathing difficulties and gets worse in pregnancy.

devoncreamtea · 24/06/2018 11:19

Poor you OP. This sounds absolutely crap and I feel for you. I would speak to the housing officer about it all and ask for a meeting so they can come over to your house. I lived in a housing association house for a while when my children were small and my neighbours on one side were awful, they were rude to me and complained about "noise" constantly (they once complained to the housing officer that they could hear my cutlery draw open!!) and blamed me for their child waking up early etc as I "slammed" my front door. Was truly a nightmare I felt trapped.

Work really really hard at just ignoring it. Let it wash over you, be polite but not friendly and expect nothing in return.. Make sure that the housing officer is aware and that you know for sure which bit of garden etc is yours, what the expectations of tenants are and stick to those 'rules'. If anyone has an issue, just pleasantly advise them to speak to the housing officer about it. I reckon it will calm down over time.

I moved as soon as we could afford to and I later heard that the rubbish neighbour had moved too. Try to see it as a step towards the next bit and check out whether you are eligible for home swapper, it might be possible to swap your HA house after a year or something?

Good luck. And congrTulations on your pregnancy!

flumpybear · 24/06/2018 11:23

Do they work? Muppets like that often don't and cause problems as they've too much free time on their hands

I'd be inclined to tell them to grow the fuck up

H0meadayearly · 24/06/2018 11:31

Buy a couple of house plants they help clean the air, aloe Vera, spider, etc

ICantCopeAnymore · 24/06/2018 11:50

People who advise others to "just move" on threads like this are so incredibly thick.

OP - how is the man being horrible to a 2 year old? This would be my main concern.

Cheeseandcrisps · 24/06/2018 11:51

Neither of them work the lady I get on with well just told me that apprently he got really drunk last night and he sat out there until morning that's probably why I woke up and heard ranting.

OP posts:
Ilovemypantry · 24/06/2018 11:53

holyshitdude
Did you mean “mediation “....don’t think the council offer meditation 🤔

Cheeseandcrisps · 24/06/2018 12:00

My garden is directly behind his he took her ball and her play tunnel and broke them and then got rid if my dd tries to talk to him or wave he tells het to go away and turns his back on her. It's not major but it hurts seeing your child being treated that way.

OP posts:
Butterflykissess · 24/06/2018 12:00

the op is asking wwyd, so people who are saying to move, are saying it because thats what they would do. i did move from my nightmare neighbours but it wasnt easy!

Butterflykissess · 24/06/2018 12:02

Did you witness him break them?

bakingdemon · 24/06/2018 12:03

The 2am bonfires are the most immediate problem. Would the man listen more to your DP? I find older men are often more willing to listen to men than women (infuriating, I know). Keep it very calm, and just say "please can you not have bonfires at night as it's exacerbating my asthma and I can't sleep". If he doesn't listen then you need to tell his landlord - if it's the council you need to let them know as this is unreasonable.

holyshitdude · 24/06/2018 12:12

*Ilovemypantry
*
Yes, I really should check before I post, don't think meditation would work 😁

GardenGeek · 24/06/2018 12:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ICantCopeAnymore · 24/06/2018 13:29

If he broke my child's toys and disposed of them, I'd have reported him to the non emergency police. That is not normal behaviour.

Cheeseandcrisps · 24/06/2018 13:53

I saw him slash the material on the tunnel and then he left it at the bottom of his garden so my toddler could see it from the balcony I didn't see what he did to the ball but that was next to as flat as a witches tit. I'm determined to get out of here but it's not going to be easy I get that

OP posts:
Juells · 24/06/2018 13:55

I'd call the police over the tunnel, and tell them about the bonfires as well. All of that is harassment.

Juells · 24/06/2018 13:56

...and ask for an incident number any time you go to the police, so you have proof for the HA

Cheeseandcrisps · 24/06/2018 19:49

Update.. man down staires and woman next door have fallen out.

Man down staires is having an all day long ban (drinking session) I've just got back from dropping a friend to the air port and he's just verbally abused me infront of all his family. Dd has gone to bed and they have deliberately started singing at the top of their lungs and kicking a piece of plastic to make as much noise as they can. It's not past 11 so i know I can report them but I do feel intimated tonight dh is working away not back until Tuesday. Don't really know what to do.

OP posts:
Cheeseandcrisps · 24/06/2018 19:49

Sorry I know I can't report

OP posts:
Cheeseandcrisps · 24/06/2018 19:52

I have a feeling it's only going to be a matter of an hour or so and they will be banging on my door. I dont want to sound judgey but his family especially his daughters look rough I've only heard swears come out of their mouths they have gone through huge amounts of alcohol and have just bought 2 more large bottles of rum.

OP posts:
Troels · 24/06/2018 20:16

If they start banging on the door and a re drunk, call the police. They are trying to frighten you, you are alone, pregnant and with a child and Dh working away

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