Just had the police out...

[JamesMcAvoyswife]

Our neighbour called the police earlier today as apparently we were ‘littering’ on our island (we have a collection booked with the council tomorrow). He had called out of the window to us to ask what we were doing, we explained and he slammed the window shut. Couple of hours later the police arrived to a ‘domestic’ (which we haven’t had) and to the fact we’re littering. He’s always trying to push us out of our home (were private renting). He’s done numerous things like talk to our landlord about us, our landlord confirmed he did this with the previous tenant which led to her moving home. Would I be unreadable to go and speak to him? We’ve done nothing wrong yet feel we can’t make any noise etc, we’ve had him banging on our walls to our children playing at 4pm in the living room to which I usually panic and try to keep them quiet but they’re only toddlers. What would you do?

I'd be direct with him, if you don't feel threatened by him. Ask him directly exactly what he wants you to do. When he tells you, respond with what you will do, and what you won't. If all his requirements are unreasonable, tell him that. Be clear. Leave it at that.

If he continues doing what he's currently doing, stop communicating directly with him and go via the authorities, including the Police, for harassment.

@JamesMcAvoyswife

I am definitely going to start keeping a diary, he’s done several things like throwing litter into our garden, often talks about us to the other neighbours And also has told them we often have the police out (tonight is the first time since moving in three years ago). He’s getting worse as time goes on, when we first moved in we tried to get to know him etc but found him completely rude.

Your other neighbours know. When we moved in to our old house one of our neighbours was in like a shot telling us what was wrong with all the other neighbours. All they accomplish is painting a giant sign on their forehead that says 'KNOB'.

The police know. They've wasted any amount of time coming out to malicious and timewasting calls from this idiot.

Rather than worrying about what anyone else thinks (including knob-neighbour), concentrate on what your family need. Record the banging and any other malicious activity, keep a diary, get some advice from your neighbourhood policing team, use cameras to gather some evidence that he's the one dropping litter all over your garden.

I know it's too late to help you, but make sure your landlord is fully aware of all this - in writing. In the future, before signing a rental agreement ask the landlord if they are aware of any noise problems. They're not legally obliged to tell you up front if neighbours are problematic, but if you specifically ask the question then they have to answer honestly.

I would tell the police he is harassing you and then I would live life as you want if it winds him up so be it. Your landlord should support you to - does he want to keep looking for new tenants?

First of all, get the landlord to sort it. He has probably knowingly rented your family a home which is basically not fit for habitation. I'd be angry.

Police and the local council often get to know the local odd bods and can either take a relaxed view or sometimes (as in the case of our local council) pander to their every whim as it is the easiest for the council staff.

or she

I'd file a harassment complaint with the police and call the council.

Agree - you could get a restraining order against him?

tell your landlord you want him charged with harrassment it doesnt lookgood on him either

what did the police say when theyturned up

Let your children play. Have the TV or radio on. And when he calls the police they'll arrive to perfectly normal noise levels. He doesn't have any power over you. Stop playing along.

I have experience of this. You need a harassment diary with dates and times, and good quality CCTV of whatever he's doing. Log things with the police and make them aware you find this harassment. They will do nought but you have to be seen to do that. Then eventually if it gets bad enough, you'll need to go to court and get a civil injunction. If he breaches that he's looking at fines and possible custody.

But do not give him anything at all that he could say he finds harassing. Ignore the warriors.

If you can just avoid him, do, because civil injunctions are costly and the criminal harassment threshold is so high.

Ignore him. If he officially complains about your dc making noise, he will get nowhere. It’s called ‘normal’ noise of day to day living. If he threatens you, call the police. If he speaks to you, tell him you aren’t doing anything wrong. He’s clearly an idiot.

I like what @Punching says. He's a bully.

Don't just keep a log, write down quotes in front of him if he hassles you in person. He won't like the idea that you're making a note of everything he says.

People like him depend on you being intimidated. Stand up to him and chances are he will back down completely. Your choice.

Keep a diary, but you also need to stand up to him

When he bangs on the wall, bag back, when he shouts out the window, shout back something like stop being so rude, if you want to talk to us come down and be sr sidle, if he drops litter in your garden pick it up, knock on his door and say this is your I believe

A year ago my neighbour was caught on my security cameras dumping litter onto my garden. The photo stream showed that the litter had been deposited on the public path by a nearby business park. Neighbour could easily have asked the council to remove the litter or put the litter in his own bin (it was collection day) but he thought he would shift it onto my lawn. This is not the first time Ive had issues with this neighbour. Previous issues involve them sending workpeople onto my property without gaining my permission or even giving notice. All documented in security footage.

Rather than go over and raise an issue I put a letter through his door showing thumbnails of all the incidents and stating that the police and local council will be informed if the rubbish is not removed within 24 hours, and legal action for harassment will commence. Security footage shows neighbour removing rubbish at 06.15 following morning and he has kept his head well down ever since.

Would advise keeping a journal/getting evidence, including a statement from the landlord of previous harassment of tenants. It might be worth the £100 for a letter from your lawyer or asking the police to issue a PIN (police information notice which requires him not to contact you).

We explained to the police that we had a council collection and the police officer asked us if he’s given us grief before.
I explained the throwing in our garden, the banging on walls and the fact a previous tenant moved because of him and he seemed very pissed off that he’d been called out to a dud, told
Us to try and keep the noise down and ignore him! He said he understood as a family there will
Be noise and when he turned up it was completely quiet as all the kids are in bed by 8 latest!

There was also chicken wing bones thrown in our garden (we have a dog) so I’m guessing he’s done this so the dog would eat them and get sick?

Yes we’re looking into cctv and I’ve asked the landlord if he could fund this (he puts the rent up every year, started at £650 and is now £700).

@DogsSausages

How does he behave around your dh, does he shout at him or just picks on you,

He doesn’t really communicate much with my DP. He works nights and sleeps throughout the day so doesn’t really see him.

In the UK is is a legal requirement to report any problems with neighbours when selling the property. I dont know about the law where you are. While a few minor words could be glossed over as a "misunderstanding" a paper trail such as calling the police (incident numbers) legal letters etc would have to be revealed via the sales process.

So one recourse in the UK is to tell the LL if they dont support you in approaching the neighbour then you will have a legal letter sent to the neighbour which might make it very difficult for them to sell the property in the future.

The police didn’t even ask to see the receipt for the collection, and said they’d remove the log straight away! I’m guessing they’ve probably dealt with him before!

When he bangs on the wall, bag back

And bang goes your civil injunction.

Don't do this.