To be deeply regretting this move

[gothicomedy]

DH and I decided to downsize a year ago. We moved from a four bedroom house in a mature suburb with a mixed age group to a two bed in a newer estate about two miles away.
I feel like I'm living in a different world. There are gangs of really badly behaved children constantly causing trouble eg trespassing and refusing to move when asked, climbing up on top of the communal wooden bin sheds and jumping up and down until the wood starts to break, taking stuff out of the bins and throwing it around the green areas, playing football until all hours with lots of shouting and bad language. The parents are either dismissive or annoyed when complaints are made; if you tell their children off directly they accuse you of upsetting them; the children themselves are cheeky and rude and seem to have no respect for anyone.
Some of the teenagers are worse; hanging around smoking weed and drinking and making a racket into the small hours. Again, their parents seem to do nothing about it.

While there was ocassionally a loud party or someone slamming car doors late at night or the odd barbecue going on until 1 or 2 in the morning where we used to live, the residents in general seemed to have more respect and consideration for everyone.

The estate we're living in now is not a rough or deprived one. It's very middle class. A lot of these kids go to private schools etc. but their parents seem to indulge or overlook their anti social behaviour.

I really wish we hadn't moved and we are seriously considering looking for somewhere small in a more mixed age area, despite the expense of moving again.

AIBU or should we just cut our losses and move?

Honestly? I would cut my losses.

Have you reported the anti social behaviour? I’d start there with reporting to your local PCSO. And keep on reporting it. Nothing will be done unless the police are aware there’s an issue.

I agree with the above poster ... this isn't going to get any better, so, if you can afford to cut your losses, I would do so in your position.

I'd move.

It's made me think, mind, that anyone thinking of buying a house in a different area should spend some time parked up at night to see what it's like.

Wish you could test drive houses the same way you do cars when buying a house…. A 24 hour sleepover before buying would be so helpful when buying such a big purchase…. Cut your losses and move it will be years before their behaviour improves/ they move/ move out

My sister said that all the decent parents, who don't want their kids getting led astray, will move out and we'll just be left with the crap ones.
I agree, it would be brilliant if you could test drive an area before you move into it,

I would move.

I lived in a place like this, it wasn't like that at first but it happened over six years.
I found the under 13s much worse than the older teenagers.

Your only solution is to move, and choose the new area carefully, read any online information about a new area, go there at night, especially weekends, don't live near a school or alleyway, or even on a corner, or near a green.

Or buy a bungalow in an established area.

Good luck.

The perfect time to be watering your garden or cleaning your car. We had a little feral fucker years ago. Few accidental splashings with a hose kept him away... He used to kick out fence and goad our ddog. Spitting through the gaps and swearing. Grim. Get cctv up and report where necessary..

Record the little bastards and tell their parents if they don't rein them in, you'll send the video and complain about their behaviour to their lovely private school.

I'd never buy on a new estate, houses usually thrown up and social housing as part of the development. Where I live a lovely quiet part of town has ruined by new estates, we unfortunately have over flow from Coventry, rough as f**k.

Sounds like you have moved into a younger demographic area, 2/3 bedroom houses often mean lots of young families, sounds like it was a huge mistake, you need a bungalow with a much older demographic, it won’t get any better so if you can I would sell up.

This is true, OP. Decent people will move and the place will become chav central before your eyes. Move while you can.

If you can I'd definitely move. If the parents don't care no amount of videoing and reporting will improve your situation. It's unfortunate that you are experiencing this, living beside arseholes never improves unless they move, but 99% of the time they don't.

This sounds very stressful. I would cut your losses and move. And don’t do anything complaint wise that you’d then need to declare to a buyer.

This is why people like to live with their own age/ social class/ etc. It won’t change, although it may morph into a different set of problems as the ‘kids’ get older.

i would move NOW , OP, before you have invested too much in improving or changing anything in your house. As we get older, we tend to spend more time at home, so it is really worth finding somewhere you enjoy living.
💐

The house would already be on the market if I were you.

How does the social housing affect things?

What you describe is why people do not move from nice areas they know unless they have to.

I would try and return to your old area ,maybe get something a bit smaller . I am guessing you moved for financial reasons? Maybe this is why many older people stay in their homes ?

I moved from a posh town onto a new build council estate this year
I had nothing but trouble in the posh
Town
i feel so safe where I am, a mixture of ages and families, everyone is friendly and we are all council. All kids are respectful even though a few including my daughter go to special ed schools for behaviour issues. Honest the most respectful place I’ve ever lived.

Sounds bad op

Start looking imo

You don't like it there, so the best solution is to move.

I very much doubt that "a lot of these kids go to private school", though. Modern estates with loads of young families aren't the natural hang-out of families whose children go to independent schools. It sounds as if you're making a prejudiced point here.

Am I right in thinking that any reports to police regarding neighbourhood disputes and ASB are to be disclosed, if requested, to future home buyers. I think you should report it to police but word it appropriately. Also, consider the next person should you decide to sell. I'd be pretty annoyed if someone knew the issues but didn't pass it on. It's a tricky, frustrating situation to be in. I hope they mature soon and find new hobbies.

Having moved off an estate in my twenties, I'd not want to move back to one. I feel too old now to be so outnumbered by many young families. I prefer a mix of ages.