Caught neighbours using my garden

[Weird21]

I have a block of flats next to my house and I thought for a while things have been moved in my garden and it seemed a bit weird. I’ve got a lock on the gate and it’s always locked. So over the weekend I’ve installed a small out door camera under my guttering which records the whole back garden.

So I’ve come home tonight after work (I work the late shift) and found two cigarette butts on the path by my seating area. So I checked the camera and the neighbors have climbed my wall and been sitting in my garden from 2pm until 8pm using my seating and table. To say I’m annoyed is an understatement but how to I confront them as they aren’t the friendliest of people at the best of times. So I guess they’ve been doing this since the nice weather began.

Unfortunately it’s not difficult to see i’m out as I have to drive to work and so once my cars not there they obviously know I’m out.

I just don’t know how to approach this as I’m a single woman and just concerned it’ll escalate but I can’t allow this what would you all do? I thought maybe a note through their door asking them to not use it anymore. They haven’t seen the camera but now I wonder how long it’s been going on.

@Notaroadrunner

We'll lets hope op keeps that info to herself and then nobody will ever know he told her, apart from strangers on MN.

MN is a site with millions of individual viewers, many of whom will be reading this very identifiable situation...

OP hasn't kept it to herself, she's told thousands - if not hundreds of thousands - of people.

And this is without taking account of the fact that I'd bet good money this thread will end up in the national gutter press.

I can believe he told you this. I had to report a neighbour for noise nuisance and was told that others had reported him too when I spoke to the EH officer. So unless there are many officials continuously breaching GDPR then I reckon they know what they can and cannot say

I would ask for your update to be removed, OP, before its too late. You can then issue an amended update without jeopardising whatever process is in motion.

What's the betting if they are moved on, they will be someone else's problem soon enough!!

[quote Lockheart]@Notaroadrunner

We'll lets hope op keeps that info to herself and then nobody will ever know he told her, apart from strangers on MN.

MN is a site with millions of individual viewers, many of whom will be reading this very identifiable situation...

OP hasn't kept it to herself, she's told thousands - if not hundreds of thousands - of people.

And this is without taking account of the fact that I'd bet good money this thread will end up in the national gutter press.[/quote]
It's already been on Dail Fail they won't post it again. No one can lead it back to OP in real life or her HA so it won't get picked up.

Just let OP have this victory FFS

Honestly, I really don't see how what OP has been told is private information that needs to be protected. These people have been causing trouble all over - that was not news to OP and he didn't tell her the details of any of the complaints. It's also not exactly secret or compromising information that they have lived there 2 years. Their close neighbours could have told her that. Maybe they shouldn't be antisocial threatening arseholes if they don't want people discussing their horrible behaviour.

If the HA officer had told OP private details about their lives I could see the problem but he really hasn't. 🙄🙄🙄

Just catching up with this, and am amazed that someone suggested it was ok for them to use the garden at times when the OP isn’t using it - seriously?????

I work in a job where I’m supposed to understand data protection and GDPR, but I confess it confuses the hell out of me and my colleagues. So we probably get it wrong on a daily basis

Your neighbours may be utter scumbags but they are legally entitled to privacy
The problem is that utter scumbags are very aware of their “rights” and are not shy of insisting on them whilst riding rough shod over those of decent people. For society it’s a lose lose situation.

That sounds like a good outcome OP. And it sounds as though your camera gave them some nice solid evidence.

Op - I think you should ask for this thread to be deleted ASAP

"Did you notice that this thread featured on BBC2 and in the Daily Mirror, I doubt that the neighbours would have recognised themselves, to be honest."

Why do you doubt that the neighbours would have recognised themselves?

@CustardySergeant

"Did you notice that this thread featured on BBC2 and in the Daily Mirror, I doubt that the neighbours would have recognised themselves, to be honest."

Why do you doubt that the neighbours would have recognised themselves?

They don’t sound the type to watch BBC 2. The Mirror is more likely but this would have been a fleeting online article, not front page of the print edition.

However I do agree that the situation is unique enough to have been instantly recognisable if they did see it.

@madroid

@crowsfeet57
Repeat after me
I am a robot. I am a robot. I am a robot
FFS

Don't be so fucking condescending.

I correctly stated a point of law and used the word could not would.

The law is still relatively new and so there have not been any high profile cases similar to this situation. That doesn't change the fact that the manager should not have told the OP that they have already been issued with a notice for their behaviour, or that they are seeking repossession or that there have been other complaints. Even before the current onerous laws this would not have been acceptable.

I think I'd buy loads of really cheap gnomes and things and put them all over the top of the wall, with a bit of luck they'd add criminal damage to the trespassing. I'd also contact the HA and the police every single time it happens.

I dread something like this happening to me as I'm very "spirited" to my detriment and it'd likely be me getting in trouble!

Honestly, I really don't see how what OP has been told is private information that needs to be protected. These people have been causing trouble all over - that was not news to OP and he didn't tell her the details of any of the complaints. It's also not exactly secret or compromising information that they have lived there 2 years. Their close neighbours could have told her that. Maybe they shouldn't be antisocial threatening arseholes if they don't want people discussing their horrible behaviour

Believe me I'm not supporting the scumbags but the manager should not have told the OP that they have already been issued with a notice for their behaviour, or that they are seeking possession or that there have been other complaints.

This is private information. The OP may have been able to glean from other neighbours that there have been other complaints but this should not have been confirmed to her. Having worked for two very different HA's I can confirm that judges hate granting possession orders for ASB. They like to think the big, bad housing association is bullying the poor tenant. I've represented the HA in court and I have been on evictions .The evidence has to be clear and incontrovertible for the order to be granted, this can take a long time and all the while the poor, long-suffering neighbours are kept in the dark. Conversations like the one the OP had with the HA would not sit well with the judge.

The UK GDPR and DPA 2018 set a maximum fine of £17.5 million or 4% of annual global turnover – whichever is greater – for infringements. Th EU GDPR sets a maximum fine of €20 million (about £18 million) or 4% of annual global turnover – whichever is greater – for infringements.

That's quite clearly for infringements by businesses. I doubt OP has any 'turnover' unless it's an apple on she got from Greggs.

It also says maximum fine. Not by any means the standard or usual fine.

Whilst it technically may have breached the DPA, if the neighbours had thought of other people's rights and their responsibilities, then eviction/notice would not be being made.

@Weird21 I’m glad for you and all your neighbours that this issue will be addressed, and agree that for your own peace of mind you should request this thread be deleted.

there would not be a MN if it was concerned about GDPR.

@iklboo

The UK GDPR and DPA 2018 set a maximum fine of £17.5 million or 4% of annual global turnover – whichever is greater – for infringements. Th EU GDPR sets a maximum fine of €20 million (about £18 million) or 4% of annual global turnover – whichever is greater – for infringements.

That's quite clearly for infringements by businesses. I doubt OP has any 'turnover' unless it's an apple on she got from Greggs.

It also says maximum fine. Not by any means the standard or usual fine.

What are you talking about? It was the HA that @crowsfeet57 said could get fined, not OP.

I agree with @crowsfeet57
Setting aside the in and outs of the law, it doesn't ring true that the HA manager divulged private information about tenants. Unprofessional and highly unlikely.

@DahliaMacNamara

I would ask for your update to be removed, OP, before its too late. You can then issue an amended update without jeopardising whatever process is in motion.

@Weird21 - yes, I agree, I just came on here to say the same, please get your updates referrring to this removed and just mention the HA has it in hand, perhaps?