I fucking hate where we live and don't know what to do

[PorkAPoe]

I'm so upset, I fucking hate where we live.

We only bought the house in November and I just don't think moving now would be a possibility. There are jobs half done that we'd need to finish before selling which will take time to save up for.

I feel like crying every day.

It's because of our neighbours in the main. They are horrible and if I'd have seen them / heard them when we viewed I'd have not thought for a second about buying this house.

I'm terrified that we'll never get rid of the thing because of them.

[quote SpnBaby1967]@PorkAPoe I work for the antisocial behaviour team of a Housing association so if you want any advice on this let me know.

Either way be prepared because 1) it's not a quick process 2) it can prevent them from being allowed to move away 3) you have to declare ASB neighbours when you sell.

Happy to help/advise if you want. [/quote]
I don't have a very high opinion antisocial behaviour people. I made a complaint once about my upstairs neighbour who was coming in drunk at 3am, shouting racist abuse outside, and stomping on the bedroom floor above me so that I would get woken up in a terrified state most nights. The two women who came round clearly thought I was the problem, even though it was me who made the complaint. They played down what my neighbour was doing, and clearly didn't take my complaint seriously at all. I don't think they even believed me.

I’m sorry you had that experience, tzimi - the asb guy for my area was excellent and really got results for individual cases. However, I wouldn’t contact them again as I feel another separate complaint would totally put paid to any plans to move. Problem in my case is the overall situation. It’s like help is effective, but just out of reach.

@AntiWorkBrigade

I’m sorry you had that experience, tzimi - the asb guy for my area was excellent and really got results for individual cases. However, I wouldn’t contact them again as I feel another separate complaint would totally put paid to any plans to move. Problem in my case is the overall situation. It’s like help is effective, but just out of reach.

They seemed aggressive right from the start, and seemed to be blaming me for my neighbour's behaviour! I didn't force him to go out & get drunk, drive home in an inebriated state, & stand outside & shout racist comments in the middle of the night. Then to stomp on the concrete ceiling & wake me up. Anyway, after this & the Council then moving drug dealers into the next door property, I finally moved away. I wish the new owner the best with her delightful new neighbours.

Is it possible that they’re only renting and might be leaving soon? In the short-term you might need to sound-proof the rooms where most noise is audible. Net curtains with a fairly dense pattern are a cheap and easy alternative to blinds.
Perhaps don’t give up on selling. Someone else like you who enjoys doing home improvements might buy.

@CatsnCoffee

Is it possible that they’re only renting and might be leaving soon? In the short-term you might need to sound-proof the rooms where most noise is audible. Net curtains with a fairly dense pattern are a cheap and easy alternative to blinds. Perhaps don’t give up on selling. Someone else like you who enjoys doing home improvements might buy.

What makes me angry is that the victim is the person who has to go to all the trouble and expense, just because a few selfish people won't shut up & stop using drugs. Fitting heavy net curtains, sound proofing, calling the ASBO people or the Environmental Health/Council/Housing Association, going for mediation, keeping diaries etc etc, and even moving house... It all takes time & money. And the people whose job it is to deal with these things don't do anything, and even victimise the person who is at the receiving end! Why should we be driven from our homes which we have nurtured & improved at some expense, just so that a load of useless dope-smoking yobs can do whatever they want? Last time I looked dealing in drugs was illegal, and these people were known to the police. Yet they just let them carry on smoking weed & polluting the air in the houses next door & probably ruining young peoples' lives by getting them hooked on drugs.

@Tzimi how exactly do you expect the ASB to be resolved if you dont do all those things? Maybe have a read of the ASB crime and policing act 2014 or just assume that the ASB officers know what their job is and what they can and cant do with the evidence (or often lack of) provided.

Do you even know that HA's cant evict their own residents? We could want to (and believe me I have some customers I would love to) but it's not up to me, it's up to a Judge.

Sorry about your situation op, but as others have said, you can still sell it as it is.
My parents had a similar issue, minus the drugs. They kept a log and complained to the council constantly. They finally gave up after 2 years and sold, guess what, neighbours moved out a couple of days after exchanging.
I've complained once to the council about my neighbour by email. Didn't get a reply/reference number. Would I still need to declare it when selling? Sorry to highjack OP and good luck.

[quote SpnBaby1967]@Tzimi how exactly do you expect the ASB to be resolved if you dont do all those things? Maybe have a read of the ASB crime and policing act 2014 or just assume that the ASB officers know what their job is and what they can and cant do with the evidence (or often lack of) provided.

Do you even know that HA's cant evict their own residents? We could want to (and believe me I have some customers I would love to) but it's not up to me, it's up to a Judge.[/quote]
That's just the point, I did make a complaint and two ASB officers came round. But the way they dealt with it was to suggest I was exaggerating, or even making the whole thing up, and tried to suggest in some way that it was my fault if I was having problems with my neighbour! They didn't explain any of this to me. It was a complete waste of my time contacting them, and frankly, if you have no powers to do anything, I think you people are a waste of tax payers' money.

@Tzimi - yes, it is one of life’s injustices that if you’re on the receiving end of this behaviour you end up spending time, money and energy resolving it. I’m glad you got out of it, but the way you were treated wasn’t right and you shouldn’t have had to. As I say, I did get good support from my council, and it made a world of difference. Just a shame that even where they can’t help you end up with something that needs to be declared.

This is why my advice to the op is to report only if she really wants to stay and has confidence that the complaint will improve matters. If you want to sell up or if you’re dealing with a crap council who won’t help - and so you end up having to move - then formal complaints are likely to make matters worse.

@Pals812 - I’d take advice from a solicitor when the time comes. Presumably if you complained once and didn’t keep pushing when you didn’t hear back, then even if you do declare you can frame it as something very minor and in the past.

[quote AntiWorkBrigade]@Tzimi - yes, it is one of life’s injustices that if you’re on the receiving end of this behaviour you end up spending time, money and energy resolving it. I’m glad you got out of it, but the way you were treated wasn’t right and you shouldn’t have had to. As I say, I did get good support from my council, and it made a world of difference. Just a shame that even where they can’t help you end up with something that needs to be declared.

This is why my advice to the op is to report only if she really wants to stay and has confidence that the complaint will improve matters. If you want to sell up or if you’re dealing with a crap council who won’t help - and so you end up having to move - then formal complaints are likely to make matters worse.[/quote]
Thanks for acknowledging this- most people ignore that bit! Yes, you spend all that time, money & energy, and usually the perpetrator gets off scott free, and laughs at you & gloats about it to boot. I'll tell you another thing- some of my other neighbours also had problems with these people, but they were too afraid to get involved. That says a lot about the level of service we receive from those who are supposed to he there to help us, as they obviously thought it was a waste of their time to complain, and might even lead to reprisals. I didn't declare any of this when I sold my flat by the way, I'm damned if I'm going to make things even harder for myself.

People have rights nowadays - even scumbags so if they need housed because they are homeless with a family they will be housed.

When council houses were first built the residents had to be hardworking honest citizens. Can't do that now.

The drug dealing is infuriating - I wish the Gov would make it illegal and arrest dealers, or legal and every can do it so it's less lucrative.

everyone

Thank you @AntiWorkBrigade, will do. Frustrating that people can mostly get away with being a nuisance. When I complained to said neighbour, she said noise was part of life 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️. Thankfully it has got better since.

Sounds awful OP, but making a plan and working towards it will give you back some control.

Spend the very least you can on the jobs that need doing.

Do not invest money you will never see again.

A plain simple kitchen can be made look nice with a vood colour scheme and accessories that you will take with you.
Same for the bathroom.
Use pots for plants in the garden and again they will all go with you.

See if you can put in a seconhand kutchen to save money.

Look at local sites to pick up things.

And definitely a blind in the kitchen asap.

It's frustrating that the person selling up with problem neighbours legally has to disclose any disputes which could put off potential buyers or risk it having an impact financially if it's uncovered. The problem neighbour themself gets to live in their house doing whatever they please and continue to make everyone else miserable.
The victim of their behaviour takes the brunt of it from every angle.

@Peach01

It's frustrating that the person selling up with problem neighbours legally has to disclose any disputes which could put off potential buyers or risk it having an impact financially if it's uncovered. The problem neighbour themself gets to live in their house doing whatever they please and continue to make everyone else miserable. The victim of their behaviour takes the brunt of it from every angle.

I wouldn't disclose this information if I were you. Why make things more difficult for yourself than they already are?

I wouldn't.

Its a sellers market right now OP. We've been viewing houses and we've seen plenty of half finished jobs for example ensuites that haven't even got the plumbing finished but those houses are selling fast regardless. Talk to an estate agent and just see what your options might be.

@shivawn

Its a sellers market right now OP. We've been viewing houses and we've seen plenty of half finished jobs for example ensuites that haven't even got the plumbing finished but those houses are selling fast regardless. Talk to an estate agent and just see what your options might be.

Wow, so people are making improvements, but marketing before they've even finished? I have noticed also how busy the DIY stores are!

Thought I'd pop back to update that their must be a God after all as completely out of the blue... They have moved out!!!

There*

Haha brilliant news op !

@PorkAPoe thank God for that! I must say I did wonder how you were managing with this situation. Thanks for the update. So happy you can finally live in peace. There is definitely a God!

:-D hope you can enjoy your home now OP