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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours reporting me for "denying joiner access"

29 replies

soanc · 25/05/2023 11:25

I live in council housing. It's an upstairs downstairs flat. They can only hear at my door if they are in their bedroom at the window

I had a joiner from council come over at 3pm. I pick my daughter up at 3.05 so I had to leave and said tomorrow would be better. He understood gave me a card

They phoned the council and reported this

Finally the council agree with me that it's too much and is more stalking /harassing. They should not know who is at my door. What i say or do

I even explained if they stalk me that much they must know I leave at 3 o'clock each day anyway and it wouldn't be possible

What do I do about these neighbours. It's endless they report me for the most ridiculous things. Like cardboard stored between bins for a day or two. Toys in my garden. If I have someone over they film them leaving my house.

It's honestly so invasive and finally the councils agreed a warning has been given but that's not enough they are not normal.

Neither of the couple works and it's like I'm their entertainment. They are known by the council as unfair and bullies.

OP posts:
TheFlis12345 · 25/05/2023 11:27

I don’t understand the bit about the joiner or what the neighbours actually reported?

ditalini · 25/05/2023 11:35

I don't understand - was the joiner coming to do work for them? Why couldn't they manage the joiner's access in that case?

mondaytosunday · 25/05/2023 11:39

If they are known to the council then keep reporting THEM. Filming guests is totally out of order.
Not sure what the joiner has to do with them though.

OttoGraph · 25/05/2023 11:54

If they keep reporting you to the council, then the council will know that the problem lies with your neighbours and not yourself.

Some people do get black listed for constant reports, there are then steps the council can take to reduce the impact on council staff and to manage the situation.

As for your situation at home, contact the police about the constant harassment and see if there are any legal steps to prevent them from doing these things - like filming your visitors coming to your home and leaving

AnObserverInThisDarkWorld · 25/05/2023 11:56

I'd be looking at harassment. Not sure how much there is to follow up on them filming your guests on a legal standpoint of filming but if its becoming harassment then there's the issue

Thelnebriati · 25/05/2023 11:56

OP had a joiner come to her house, but it was an awkward time for her and he agreed to come back another day. The neighbours reported her to the LL for that.
It doesn't make sense because its not a normal thing to do.

OP, your neighbours are harassing you, contact one of the stalking services and ask for advice. There's Paladin and the Suzy Lamplugh trust. And talk to the police, you can make them aware you are having an issue with the neighbours.
Keep an incident diary, record every date, time and incident you are aware of.

PuffinsRocks · 25/05/2023 11:57

Can you do a flat swap with someone and move out from under them? They sound awful.

Theunamedcat · 25/05/2023 11:59

PuffinsRocks · 25/05/2023 11:57

Can you do a flat swap with someone and move out from under them? They sound awful.

Bit unfair on the next person really a better solution would be the council deals with them

GladysHeeler · 25/05/2023 12:06

Bit unfair on the next person really a better solution would be the council deals with them

Whilst this is true I bet it wouldn't happen if the next tenants were men.

PuffinsRocks · 25/05/2023 12:09

Theunamedcat · 25/05/2023 11:59

Bit unfair on the next person really a better solution would be the council deals with them

Show quote history

Well there's no guarantee they won't get on with the next neighbours and if OP has taken all reasonable avenues (as she said she's already complained) then it's not outlandish to consider moving. She can potentially control where she lives but not what the council does about her neighbours.

Blackbyrd · 25/05/2023 12:27

There is no way any housing officer would divulge any opinion of a tenant to another. When a noise or antisocial behaviour complaint is received, they tell the person being complained about the nature of the complaint but keep it anonymous. Whilst this type of reported behaviour is certainly undesirable, it does not constitute a breach of tenancy standards. The police would be the responsible party, but are not likely to treat this as priority. So maybe as a PP has advised, moving would be the practical option if it's becoming too much to deal with

HashtagShitShop · 25/05/2023 12:51

What would they have reported you for (ie it was nothing to do with their property by the sounds so not them being put out) and how would you find out about such a nonsensical reporting? 😬

I feel your pain I have awful neighbours too hitno genuinley don't get why how - the ones in now are better just loud still but the ones before would watch and gossip about our every move and spread lies as well as being LOUD.

ShimmeringShirts · 25/05/2023 12:58

Was the joiner there to do work for you or your neighbours? If your neighbours, why did they need access to your house? Is there any chance you could involve the police in a “they’re harassing me and I’d like it reported but no further action taken currently” way - my local council needed proof of police involvement for neighbour harassment before they would do anything. Police gave me a ref number for my report but agreed not to speak to neighbours as it would cause things to escalate. Helped greatly with giving the council a boot up the arse to deal with it.

knobheeeeed · 25/05/2023 13:08

They are known by the council as unfair and bullies

In which case, carry on as you are and ignore any complaints to the council or threats to the council.
If they do anything else which is unacceptable you can report them to the council and if they escalate in any way which makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable you can contact the police.

diddl · 25/05/2023 13:36

Presumably they reported Op for not letting the joiner in to do a necessary/agreed job?

Not sure why they didn't just ask the joiner about it rather than the Op though?

Elleherd · 25/05/2023 14:55

For those who don't seem to understand OP's situation: Assuming council rules are similar to HA rules, failing to be available for workman's access to your property is a tenancy infringement.
Normally only reported by the service who wants access. Appointments often get booked without consideration to either worker or tenants schedule.
Very common the service doesn't have enough time/want to do the work anyway, so workmen often make their own arrangements with tenants, for instance be done on one day instead of spread across three (essential for those who cant take three days off work, or come back not at school pick up, as happened here.) Neighbors' reporting it is trying to cause unnecessary trouble for OP.
Toys in a communal garden, and cardboard not in a re-cycling bin can all be tenancy 'offences'.
The filming is either trying to claim OP has someone living there illegally, or to try and claim she's not a single parent (If OP is) with DWP.
Op is being harassed by curtain twitching neighbors. Just moving is rarely an easy option for council or HA tenants.

Elleherd · 25/05/2023 15:02

@soanc sorry you're going through this. All you can really do is keep reporting them for lowering your 'enjoyment' of the property, (means in peace, and without disturbance.) The term was coined for tenants rights against invasive landlords, but if they're council tenants too, then council failure to deal with them make the phrase relevant.

Original poster
soanc · 25/05/2023 16:28

The work was on my house, which they shouldn't have even known I was getting worked done. They just reported me for denying access (even though I rearranged). They don't need access to my property. I have no idea whatsoever why they'd report this

I found out because safer communities phoned me with a long list of things I've apparently done. Denying the joiner access at a time I pre told him wasn't good for me was one of them. Apparently I throw water from my window and it soaks there floor (not even possible) and I leave outdoor toys in my own garden which has now been fenced off to stop them damaging my washing line.

It's a nightmare but I've got police reports dating back over a year.

Hopefully council does deal with them. My housing officer completely agrees with me no way should they know who I allow into my home or deny access to. And by reporting me they've admitted to some version of stalking. Added it to my police 101 report. Fingers crossed something can be done.

OP posts:
Original poster
soanc · 25/05/2023 22:41

@Elleherd it's not a communal garden. It's my own and fenced off the toys are slide, balls etc.

It's my own bins too. Before bin day I squash it between my own bins.

OP posts:
Original poster
soanc · 25/05/2023 22:43

@Elleherd I never even took a thought as to why they filmed my family etc. I thought it was intimidation to isolate me.

OP posts:
Original poster
soanc · 25/05/2023 22:44

@Thelnebriati I'll try those trusts I'm really hoping it works

OP posts:
JudgeRudy · 25/05/2023 22:50

Your neighbours sound awful. I wonder if they are racist? Speak with your neighbourhood manager and ask if they have complained about previous tenants. Also ring 101 and ask the Police for advice about how to report harassment. If they consistantly cause you alarm, fear or distress, then that meets the definition of harassment.

TisforTucan · 25/05/2023 22:52

Have you tried contacting you local councillor? They can help back you up, I know they can support people who have problem neighbours and have contact with the council on your behalf.

Mamanyt · 25/05/2023 23:08

Make a list. Make a long list. List every incident of their intrusive behavior. Present it to the council, and request that they demand that the neighbors cease harassing and indulging in stalking behavior.

Original poster
soanc · 26/05/2023 07:34

@JudgeRudy my family and friends think they are racists. My kids are mixed race. I said this to the council too

OP posts: