Am I being impulsive with this decision?

[Mojitowithelfreako]

Basically I've had a few run in's with my next door neighbour over the years. He is terrifying, shouts, calls me abusive names, swears at me in front of my children. Its all over noise, any amount of noise. It's not frequent enough for the police to intervene. The council know he is a problem but he manages to leave enough time between incidents to not get evicted.
I feel very on edge using my garden. I can't sit out there. If my children are out there I feel I have to get them in as quickly as possible.
I should point out that I am not an anxious person. I have abuse thrown at me regularly in my job and I am used to being sworn at. This is different as I'm in my house and it's my safe space. I don't have any trauma related to being shouted by men.
I'm thinking about renting my house out and renting somewhere else. I can't face another summer of feeling on edge and explaining to my children why they can't kids from school over to play in the garden.
But then I would subject the tenants to him. Would there be people out there who would just tell him to do one and not worry?
I can't sell as he has made it impossible due to his antisocial behaviour. My house was on the market for a year before but after a few failed attempts I couldn't afford to keep paying for surveys and solicitors. I spent all my savings on trying to escape.
I feel so trapped but I can't live like this anymore.

It sounds like his behaviour requires police intervention tbh. If you do nothing, nothing will change. He's harassing you. A visit from the police might soften his cough. At the very least you'll have something on record about him. What an awful specimen.

@DanielGault they have before. It makes him quiet for a bit but then it starts again. It's not really the frequency but the viciousness. And the impact on my sense of security.

I think then you’d be expected to sort out issues from your tenants.
Is he intimidating you? Report each and every time.

I don't know what you should do I'm afraid. I wouldn't want to put anyone in there and expect them to cope. I would worry that they would disappear without paying rent etc and I wouldn't be able to blame them.

I'm so sorry. You have to keep reporting though. Build up your case. It's not right that you're having to live like this. It's in no way normal and you shouldn't put up with it. Keep reporting. Make them listen to you. And avail of all and any organisations to assist you. Women's Aid etc. Massive hugs x

So the only reason it's not happening frequently is because you avoid it?

You've got to stop. You have got to be brave and follow through.

Go out, get your kids out every single day. And then the moment he starts call the police. Every time.

You want this problem solved this is the only way. Otherwise you just have to sit inside with your kids.

Oh and tell friends and relatives everything. Tell them in writing. Treat this guy like a dangerous predator who needs locking up.

@Wibblywobblylikejelly it's not relaxing for me though. I work hard I just want an easy life, I don't want to antagonise someone. He has nothing to lose. It's just too stressful to sit out there and let them play. He is unhinged.

Well you're not getting one.
So you need to fight for your children sake.
It's not fair but there's no use getting upset over that.

Have your phone on you and call the police straight away. He is aggressive and violent and you fear for all your safety. They should respond quickly. And it won't take long before you have enough evidence to get rid of him.

Agree with everyone else. He has learnt that by throwing his weight around he gets what he wants. Time to make that stop. Get out there every single day in your garden. When he starts call the police and repeat every day until he gets the message that you are no longer bowing to his demands. Then hopefully the council will be forced to move him with so many police reports of aggression

What would happen if you just did what you want and lived your life? What would he actually do?

I'm sorry but it's all very well saying this but I'm a woman who lives alone and this man had to have a riot van when the police last cautioned him and asked to see inside the property. It's not as easy as all that.

Exactly this. You're not getting an easy life at all, it sounds like you're living on your nerves. If you do nothing, nothing will change. This prick is a bully who's enjoying being a dick without being challenged.

What is he actually going to do? Other than shout and swear at you?

All the more reason to talk to the police and women's Aid and anyone else you can think of! Seriously! The police can't help you if they don't know your issues. Call them, explain you don't wish your issues to be discussed with anyone else as of now, ask for advice, express your fears. It won't do you any harm.

The what are you doing?
You need a solution now because the situation and you doing nothing is not fair to your children. Who actually have zero hoice in the matter.

It is shit. Is horrifically unfair. But it is what it is.
That history will massively help you. They won't wait around to get to you if you say your afraid.

And after every police call you go to the council. And then escalate it to the managers. You need to start being a problem. You need to be calling every day.
You sound way to nice and compliant.

@Gymmum82 well before he jumped over my wall and screamed in my face. He has access to my electrical box and told me he would cut my electrical wires if I crossed him. I just don't need it.

@Wibblywobblylikejelly I'm sorry but you have no idea what I have done previously and how far I've gone with the council. We live in a big city, this man is nothing to them. They know that they would have to rehouse him.
They just said that I need to report it, but as you've all said, there are no further incidents because I'm avoiding doing anything to antagonise him.
That's why my plan was to rent the house out to the council, making it their problem.

We moved when our neighbours started keeping a dog in a cage in the garden 24 hrs a day and we reported to rspca . They suspected us and were angry about it . I showed a family round that had two adult sons living with them and explained the situation. The men just laughed and said ‘no problem’ . I was glad I was honest! When we walk past now we’ve seen a new fence but apparently all is well now (the dog is regimes thank goodness) . Some bullies need standing up to but don’t feel like it has to be you to do it

You really need to address this. It's obviously not pleasant, but you're being abused and threatened.

Then you’ll just need to live with him forever and put up with it. If he cuts your electricity wires you call the police. If he threatens you then you call the police. Eventually the council will be forced to remove him.
Or you do nothing and live in fear forever and your kids can’t play in their garden ever

@Gymmum82 but like I said, he is a very low priority for the council. We have so much crime and antisocial behaviour. Two doors down lives a dealer. There was a house which was cuckoo-d for months which was left as a burnt out shell. A man who is 'a bit shouty' to his NDD(especially as I am a homeowner so they see it as my job to just move) doesn't really concern them.

It's a gamble with tenants. They might be able to stand up to him, and there'd be no problems. I suspect if at least one of the tenants was male, your neighbour would shut up. If it was someone like my DP who is a total pussycat but looks like a thug, I doubt we'd hear anything. BUT, what if that's not the case, and your tenants give notice constantly, or worse, are attacked by this lunatic? You'd be constantly trying to re-let.

They can just evict him. They don’t have to re house him. He’d probably be classed has making himself intentionally homeless by threatening his neighbour.
What’s your alternative? Live with it? Rent your house out? Then what happens when your tenants move out without notice because of him and you’re then stuck paying rent and your own mortgage. Or they trash your house leaving you the bill. Or they just stop paying you rent and you have to go through the courts to evict them costing you thousands. It’s not easy being a landlord.
You’ve tried and failed to sell your house. So what are you going to do?

Without being jumped on for making an assumption (i am also a sinlge parent) do you receive any universal credit? As if you are not living in a house you own, you will need to declare it as an asset and it's likely that will close your claim.