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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think housing associations should have more accountability who they choose to allocate homes to.

111 replies

JenniferBooth · 21/08/2023 18:22

DH and i have lived in a top storey block of flats in a two storey block since October 1994.
1994 to 1998 Elderly lady lived underneath us. No problems or complaints. Lovely woman We even used to exchange Christmas cards.
1998 to 2017. Single man lived underneath. Really nice man Again no problems or complaints Unfortunately died in the flat at Easter 2017

Empty for a year.
2018 to 2019 Drug dealer who used to argue with his girlfriend and i used to hear things being thrown around.

Flat empty between summer 2019 and Feb 2022
Feb 2022 to present day now we have an abusive alcoholic underneath us who bangs on the ceiling if i so much as move. Our flat is carpeted and rugged. NO laminate flooring. He called me a cunt when i left the flat to go out one Thursday morning. He also called me a cunt when i took out some recycling yesterday afternoon. I went for a pee at 1.30 this morning and he chanted You fat cunt You fat cunt You fat cunt three times at me through the bathroom floor.
His mum provides him with money and food due to his habit
As ive already posted we have never had this kind of crap before and we have been here nearly 29 years. HAs need to be more accountable especially when these decisions affect other tenants

OP posts:
Original poster
JenniferBooth · 21/08/2023 21:15

No im not heavy footed. How would you explain the previous three tenants who have lived underneath me in 29 years No complaints about us at all. It is carpeted and rugged i cant do any more

OP posts:
TheYearOfSmallThings · 21/08/2023 21:15

I agree. A friend of mine bought a lovely shared ownership flat in a block that also has HA tenants. The lady below (HA) has numerous problems and invites numerous problematic characters into the block.

She had to sign an agreement to be given the property and she has violated the agreement repeatedly and in every possible way, but the HA takes no action.

In answer to what the HA should do, I think they should remove such tenants and place them together where the only people who have to live with them are equally bad.

Babyroobs · 21/08/2023 21:18

TheYearOfSmallThings · 21/08/2023 21:15

I agree. A friend of mine bought a lovely shared ownership flat in a block that also has HA tenants. The lady below (HA) has numerous problems and invites numerous problematic characters into the block.

She had to sign an agreement to be given the property and she has violated the agreement repeatedly and in every possible way, but the HA takes no action.

In answer to what the HA should do, I think they should remove such tenants and place them together where the only people who have to live with them are equally bad.

From what I have seen of the HA where I work for just a few weeks, all they are bothered about is money and as near full occupancy as possible. they don't seem to care who they let to, although you would think letting to drug addicts and alcoholics will ultimately drive good tenants away.

ElEmEnOhPee · 21/08/2023 21:56

YANBU I had an alcoholic neighbour from hell who ruined my life for years, sadly he had bought the flat above me whereas mine was HA. I complained to the police, council and housing multiple times. I had to move my bed into my living room due to the noise. He flooded my flat so many times too, water running down the walls in every room, no point redecorating because he'd just flood it again, we had to live in a shit hole. He had work done that endangered mine and my sons life (I'm being completely serious). Yet because he owned HAs hands were tied somewhat, although they did threaten legal action over some of the groundworks he did because it was leasehold not freehold. Thankfully after contacting a letter from my GP and my local MP we were moved. My advice is to complain about every single incident and keep a diary too.

Original poster
JenniferBooth · 21/08/2023 21:57

Christ Alanna that sounds horrific

OP posts:
Blinky21 · 21/08/2023 22:02

Sounds like my old HA neighbour, alcoholic, used to bang on walls and threaten to rape me. After a year of complaints to police and LA, he was evicted

Original poster
JenniferBooth · 21/08/2023 22:02

Bloody hell i am glad i live above him and not below him because of whats in your post. im glad you managed to get moved.

OP posts:
Moroccanqueen · 21/08/2023 22:02

We have the same with our neighbours. I’m constantly racially abused by them and they have made death threats to me and all sorts. They have one teenager who’s a disgusting human being and mum and dad are no better. Our whole street want them out but the problem is the more people report the more the family retaliates and we have been targeted directly. The police are there all the time but no one does anything. It’s infuriating and makes me feel unsafe

Original poster
JenniferBooth · 21/08/2023 22:07

Blinky did his name start with an M?

OP posts:
Blinky21 · 21/08/2023 22:10

No it was an S, but he sounds similar. All I can say is complaing does work eventually in my experience

Original poster
JenniferBooth · 21/08/2023 22:21

Oh God this is ridiculous People having to put up with so much shit just because of where we live

OP posts:
SueVineer · 21/08/2023 22:26

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

TookTheBook · 21/08/2023 22:26

You need to start putting your complaints in writing asap to the landlord/HA. No point moaning on MN if you haven't actually done anything in the right direction. How do the HA psychically know he's an anti social neighbour? Write a journal of incidents, factually send these to relevant landlord. Ask them to respond.

Original poster
JenniferBooth · 21/08/2023 22:31

DH has recordings. THE HA IS COMING TO THE ESTATE TOMORROW it is much easier to talk to them face to face than to try and get hold of them on the phone

The druggie who used to throw furniture around used to burn scented candles to cover up the weed smell. I think he was growing it. so Sue please tell the whole fucking story not half of it. And i dont think it falls the right side of the guidelines that post of yours

OP posts:
FerryPink · 21/08/2023 22:32

Keep a log.
Write complaints.
Look at the housing association's policies
Report to the housing ombudsman if necessary

Sorry, who our neighbours are has such a dramatic impact on our wellbeing.

TookTheBook · 21/08/2023 22:33

But you're missing the point. Face to face or phone complaints don't mean much. Legally you need to put your complaint in writing with written up evidence. Then the landlord must respond within a reasonable timeframe. Having a chat on your doorstep is a fob off.

FerryPink · 21/08/2023 22:34

TookTheBook · 21/08/2023 22:33

But you're missing the point. Face to face or phone complaints don't mean much. Legally you need to put your complaint in writing with written up evidence. Then the landlord must respond within a reasonable timeframe. Having a chat on your doorstep is a fob off.

Agreed... But all means speak to them face to face, but then log a written consent as well to ensure it is in the system

Original poster
JenniferBooth · 21/08/2023 22:34

Ok yes i agree Then there is a paper trail/email trail

OP posts:
anythinginapinch · 21/08/2023 22:39

It's shite. I live in a mostly owner occupied, vv quiet little corner. Almost all elderly single ladies. Into a HA house has moved a perfectly pleasant middle aged woman and her absolute arse of a druggie, loud, foul mouthed adult son.

Seagullchippy · 21/08/2023 22:42

Ichabodandme · 21/08/2023 18:30

What they HA’s should be doing is jumping on unsocial behaviour a lot quicker than they do and be more pro active in dealing with it.

Yes. It took ten years of repeated complaints by 5-15 neighbours after one tenant repeatedly set fire to the building, had crack addicts in and out, blood on the steps, stinking rubbish outside the doorways, screaming and swearing most night until 5 am, sawing holes in the floor and generally being annoying smoking in communal areas, before they eventually moved him to another home (where he presumably continues to scare and endanger new neighbours).

Pacificisolated · 21/08/2023 22:48

You just have to document everything and report to the HA or police (as appropriate) every time there is an incident. Complain to your local MP if you don’t feel like you are being taken seriously.
I used to work in social housing and dealing with neighbourhood disputes and allocations in high density housing is a total nightmare. As social housing has become more difficult to acquire, the more dysfunctional the average tenant has become.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 21/08/2023 22:50

All humans deserve somewhere to live. Even if they are dicks, even if they are ASBO'd up to the eyeballs. Every human should have a home they can live in.

Original poster
JenniferBooth · 21/08/2023 22:53

Bernadette Except rules have got stricter since Grenfell.

OP posts:
Original poster
JenniferBooth · 21/08/2023 22:54

Well Bernadette perhaps they can live next door to you

OP posts:
Middlelanehogger · 21/08/2023 22:54

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 21/08/2023 22:50

All humans deserve somewhere to live. Even if they are dicks, even if they are ASBO'd up to the eyeballs. Every human should have a home they can live in.

By the sounds of some of these neighbours I'm fine if that's the local jail tbh!

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