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?

asking the police to issue a PIN

If you want the incidents used in a court setting, don't accept a PIN.

We also received a letter from the council a few weeks ago about ‘excessive’ noise from music etc, they’d said if it carried on they’d put some sort of recorder in his property to hear if it was true (we haven’t heard anything back yet so assuming nothing came of it). We woke up a week or so ago to him (7ish) in the morning banging on our bedroom wall. The house was dead quiet and kids hadn’t woken up yet, the dog barked very slightly after his knocking which is what I assume he was trying to achieve. I shouted ‘stop fucking banging’ and he did.

He often slams doors too. In summer he’ll mow his lawn (that doesn’t need doing again) very often early in the morning when DP has been on a night shift.

The chicken wing is quite malicious isn't it.

That's a bit unnerving.

Stop shouting. If he's recording you, it will be hard for a judge to see who is really getting harassed and it's very important you provide a clear picture as anything you 'give' him in terms of evidence will provide him with a case that in the worst case scenario could see you paying his costs. I would start the diary now in as much evidence as you can and get some kind of CCTV up immediately.

@myfriendsgivebadadvice

The chicken wing is quite malicious isn't it.

That's a bit unnerving.

Very malicious. Luckily DP was back just before 7 from his night shift and popped outside for a fag and saw them before he’d let the dog out!

He’s also thrown half eaten biscuits whilst the kids are outside playing and has thrown an egg into our garden (ds has egg allergy)

This is harrasment. Do not engage. Report the incident to police and any following incidents. Keep a log.

In your shoes, because he's not following you and frightening your kids, I'd keep the diary, log everything, see a solicitor and see if they will send a letter informing him that you find his behaviour distressing and intimidating, and then emotionally ignore him. I doubt he'll pipe down if you're assertive as this is so entrenched. But I'd hope to be able to just ignore this as the police won't care and civil injunctions are expensive. If you do reach the point where you can't ignore it and you've a good chance of being granted a civil injunction, you'll be ready to go with your diary and video evidence. Expect malicious allegations and just don't engage.

Does he know about the egg allergy?

It's starting to sound like civil injunction territory to me.

Why are people like this? Your neighbour what my old neighbour should have to love beside each other and see how they like it. It would be chicken wings at dawn.

We had a neighbour like this, after a little while my dad went round for a "quiet" chat, he never bothered us again, said your husband round!

Send not said!

@myfriendsgivebadadvice

Does he know about the egg allergy?

It's starting to sound like civil injunction territory to me.

This was in summer about a week after we’d been out for a picnic with MIL and she’d brought mayo egg sandwiches which obviously we said he can’t have any due to his allergy, so whether he heard that I don’t know. In summer the kids played out quite a lot and we’d leave the back door open for them to come in and out so its a good job we’d seen it as he could’ve touched it etc

I think you need to keep a diary of everything and a judge will decide, on the balance of probability (in the civil court) whether he needs keeping at bay with a civil injunction.

Get the CCTV covering your garden. If you're going to stay here you clearly needs it.

Do ignore people suggesting you get into a war. That is exactly how his defense will want to make it appear if you're going after him for harassment.

@FortunesFave

If you are on means tested benefits you can approach the council for help with your deposit. The deposit is up to 5 weeks rent here so I expect the op is including her first months rent so the deposit is £1500 or so

Is there a community police officer around who you could contact about harassment from this neighbour? Or could you make a call to social services to keep an eye on this guys mental state. Is he old? Could he be developing dementia or similar? Tell them he seems distressed irrational and paranoid. Just keep telling people and hope that someone does something.

Has your husband not been round to have a quiet word? This man is a bully, and ultimately most bullies are cowards. No one is standing up to him and so he feels he has free rein.
Having said that I do feel for you, it's awful having terrible neighbours.

You don't need to do anything - just carry on doing what you are doing. Give someone enough rope and they will hang themselves. Let him call the police and eventually they will realise he is wasting their time. But def keep a diary and don't let the pathetic excuse for a man intimidate you.

He harassing you. Report as such.

Stand up to him and report but I'd be looking to move in the long term as these people rarely change. Unless of course, he's evicted and he moves.

You should not have to make your or your children’s lives miserable because your neighbour is a miserable twit. Live reasonably, stop trying to appease him, (it won’t improve his behaviour); keep a record of his actions and complain to the police about him.

@NoseinBook3

If he keeps doing shit like this then call the police and tell them he’s harassing you

This is what I did some years ago. It worked.

I had a fruitloop neighbour who kept delivering anonymous notes to all dog owners up and down the road complaining about dogs barking all day and all night, which just wasn’t true anyway. He wasn’t all that careful though and was seen delivering them, so we knew who it was.

He then got —even more stupid— bolder and began driving up to each house inhabited by a dog, spinning the wheels of his car, blowing his horn and doing handbrake turns for ages. So I reported him to the police for harassment, he got an official warning and it stopped.

He had also complained to his next door neighbour (who I knew quite well) that the local garden birds sang far too noisily. So he got a bird scarer - one of those big gas canister with a long spout ones that farmers use to protect fields of crops. They go off like a massive gunshot/explosion when triggered. He kept it outside his back door, apparently preferring the huge noise from that to birdsong.

Reporting him to the police yourself for harassment is worth a try.

[quote mootymoo]@FortunesFave

If you are on means tested benefits you can approach the council for help with your deposit. The deposit is up to 5 weeks rent here so I expect the op is including her first months rent so the deposit is £1500 or so [/quote]
My landlord wanted a deposit and 2 months rent upfront

These kind of people only back down when you stand up to them. You have a right to enjoyment of your home. Stop telling your kids to be quiet, ignore the fool and enjoy your life.

Has your husband not been round to have a quiet word?

wtf