Neighbour kicked my door down/broke in

[Sparklfairy]

AIBU to expect the police to arrest/remove him...?

I live alone in a flat in a block of 4. I have met this neighbour just once, and introduced myself. A few weeks ago he knocked on my door, not threateningly, but persistently - consistent knocking for 3-4 minutes... at 1.30am. I was awake as I WFH but nights, and just ignored it.

He went away, and there's been nothing since. Until yesterday at 6-something in the morning. Again, I was working but the flat was in total silence. No tv or any noise that would disturb him, I was literally just sitting on my bed.

Suddenly I heard a bang and froze. I was confused and didn't know what it was and was trying to work out where it was coming from. 3 or 4 further bangs and my front door burst open and he was stood there, swaying, glassy eyed.

I screamed. It's a studio, tiny flat, like one of those micro flats that you see advertised but yes, this is my life and I had no escape, no room to hide in, not even a bathroom with a lock on the door (as there is no lock, and the bathroom is opposite the front door).

I screamed at him, he said I was 'in' his head, fucking with his head (when I've done absolutely nothing), and when he tried to step towards me I screamed again and he suddenly 'clicked', became lucid and said ok and left. I was shaking.

My other neighbour (upstairs, but next door to him), texted me saying he heard screaming, and let me take refuge in his flat. Before I did, I obviously called 999. The police seemed non committal, that someone would come out at some point. 36 hours later I've had no visit.

But here is the kicker. When hiding in my neighbours flat, my friend/neighbour had the bright idea of just knocking on his door and talking to crazy tenant. He has recorded the conversation where crazy tenant admits I did nothing wrong but I just 'remind him' of someone and that's why he broke my door down

I rang 101 with the crime ref to update. The lady was so helpful and checked with her supervisor as she was astonished no one had come out to me yet. She reassured me that someone would attend and it had been miscategorised/recategorised now.

It's now nearly 9pm on Sunday and STILL nothing. I can't go home. The lock has been 'fixed' but obviously Crazy Tenant has proven that he can break it whenever he likes. I live alone. I have stressed every single detail which should have escalated this, but nothing is being done. I have chased with the letting agent but basically they're saying I have to wait until Monday for any action to be done. And even then, they were non committal as to WHAT would happen.

So I'm stuck, and cannot go home, and my rent is due today. I have no idea what to do.

I'm not sure about that but I was thinking about the thumb lock making the door more secure.

Surely that would only be the case if it was locked from the inside when they were battering down the door?

From my limited knowledge, thumb locks are inside locks only?

@YaCannyKickYaGrannyInTheShin
"From my limited knowledge, thumb locks are inside locks only?"

nope - I have one on my front door. Thumb lock inside Key access outside. It does mean that you can't block entry to a key holder by leaving the key in the door inside - but was recommended by my locksmith as it means my neighbour or DDs can easily gain access with their keys if I'm not answering phone and they are concerned about me.

No I do get that but the OP said she was out when the police battered down the door, so how could it have been locked from the inside?

Or are you saying you can leave the house and still turn the thumb lock from the outside?

I think it is the principle of having a mortice lock - a thumb lock is a variety of this - rather than just a yale lock.

I interpreted OP's comment as being that the police had tried to force entry to her old home, but struggled because it had a mortice lock. Therefore OP for additional security - understandably - would like a mortice lock on her current home. And for fire safety - as this is the only entry/exit point, it should be a thumb turn version.

What a dreadful experience for you. I haven’t read the full thread but if the council is paying the rent for the man who broke in to your flat and he sounds mentally unstable I would suggest you try phoning them today. We had a tenant ( only rent out one small flat) and she was using crack cocaine and making all sorts of problems. The council housing people were very helpful. I also agree with the suggestion that the local mental health team show be involved..they also might have an all hours emergency contact number should he kick off again. I had an alcoholic colleague who when she met my husband, after drinking , suddenly attacked him. She suddenly thought he was her apparently abusive ex. She leapt at him, then fairly quickly realised what she was doing and snapped back to normal but the attack was frightening and could have injured my husband. Please keep yourself safe. Good luck.

Have you put in an official complaint to the police about their pathetic response time ?

Refusing to tell the police where she was and not giving a reasoned answer when people repeatedly questioned her. Though I did go on to RTFT and though I still don't understand her reasoning, I understand she was tired and stressed.

The police didn't come out when there was a man breaking into her flat when she was present. Why should she have felt confident that they would come out after the fact?
Much better IMO to make an appointment to go to them; she knows SHE'S going to turn up.

I hope IF you stay you will be subtracting all the hotel fees etc you've paid? Even eating out if you've been unable to safely be in your flat to prepare your own food, I'd deduct that also.

I'm so sorry this is happening to you and hope things are resolved so you can live w/o fear of this man.

From her rent? Why? Why do you think her landlord is responsible for immediately safeguarding her?

yup, get the heck out of there.

The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 / I’m not sure why you’ve quoted this act as it won’t get you anywhere, you haven’t been misled or misold anything, it also doesn’t cover dwellings.

The property will also be deemed as habitable as the lock has been fixed and measures are being taken to secure the door more, this will be seen as reasonable steps by the LL.

Your personal safety does not make the property not habitable, again this should not be confused with the property being deemed habitable, these are separate issues and should not be confused with each other.

I’m not going to argue these points with you as I suspect you will disagree as it isn’t to your timeframe and while I sympathise that what you’ve been through is traumatic there isn’t a fast tract solution unfortunately.

The police need to investigate the criminal side of this and your LL needs to investigate the breach of their tenancy agreement , these are TWO very separate issues.

You making a lot of assumptions based on what your think is correct or what you think should happen, the law doesn’t work like this , even criminals have legal rights.

You’re not helping the situation by delaying speaking to the police because atm, all they have is your account of things, the need to speak to you and investigate the situation to build a case, then they can prosecute if there is a case.

Your LL won’t be able to do much either until the police have completed their criminal investigation and even then the perpetrator still has legal rights, more so if he has mental health illnesses.

A LL cannot without due process evict someone, even if there is criminal activity involved.

Now I understand you might disagree with this but the law is the law.

Hopefully you get some answers but sadly it’s not going to be on your time frame.

From her rent? Why? Why do you think her landlord is responsible for immediately safeguarding her?

Agree and the law will be with the LL, the LL isn’t responsible for this man’s actions, nor are they responsible for the police investigation, they are however responsible for the dwellings and they have taken reasonable steps to ensure the property is secured, if someone wants to break into your property, the landlord isn’t responsible ensuring he does not breaking into your property , the police are!

Who are the arseholes voting you are being unreasonable?

Have the screws been replaced with longer screws in the lock? This might add extra security.

Buy a door jam - one of those triangular blocks and wedge it under your door. Ask your LL to add extra security and to throw this guy out.

WTF are the police doing?

I'm so angry about what's happening to you.

Thank the lord for your good neighbour.

Drugs are an absolute source, this nutter was high - no excuse, he is a menace and should be thrown out.

You also need to move out without penalty. Maybe your LL has other properties they can house you in.

Good luck xxx

I know a bit about this sort of situation. Go straight to your MP in the strongest possible terms about how frightened you were and how the police have totally dismissed you. Throw the Casey report in there a few times plus the law that's just come in regarding domestic violence survivors in police call centers. Also write to your local council's MASH team. Google it and it should come up. They will have a multi agency meeting every day and may well know this person.

I am so sorry and so angry this is happening to you.

Hi OP obviously the ideal situation for you would be for this person to be removed- if he is in temp accommodation could you contact housing and report the incident as this is a breach of the rules he should be following. I wonder when you speak to police/ll could they supply you with a door jammer to help make your front door more secure? Of course I appreciate you probably don't want to go back there whilst he is still there x

Not at all. You are right to feel vulnerable maybe go to the police station in person to get the attention you so rightly deserve!

You can go directly to Victim Support. They system can help you navigate the police/legal

My daughter was hit by a car on the last week of term before summer. Still waiting for the police to “pop round and take a statement”…

Sorry your are experiencing this OP.

I have had a door kicked in before and it is utterly terrifying.

Can you invest in something like Upgraded Portable Door Lock & Door Stop Alarm, Dual Protection Security Door Kit,Door Security Devices Pocket Self Defensey Tools,for Traveling Hotel Home Apartment College House(2 Pack) amzn.eu/d/gfmNR2E thisto help with security?

Don't bother wasting time on some of the people on here, just reply to those offering helpful advice and support.

I’m not comfortable giving full details but I’ve been in a very similar situation recently (live with dh and 3 dc) but in my experience the police will be less than useless even though our lives were greatly at risk from repeated instances and we had to flee in the middle of the night with our children to temporary accommodation (where we stayed in 2 single rooms for over 4 months)

I had evidence, but eventually absolutely nothing was done. It’s been filed apparently. Helpful

I had never dealt with the police before and had this misguided notion that if bad people did bad things (and there was a folder full of proof and they had an extensive previous criminal record!) that they would be punished by the law. How wrong I was.
I now have absolutely zero trust or faith in the Police whatsoever.

I witnessed a violent attack a few years ago - 18 months later, the police turned up to take a statement!

I'd get in touch with the police and make it clear that you feel they've endangered your life by not dealing with this correctly. Tell them you'll be logging a complaint with the IOPC Independent Office if Police Complaints and do that. I do see where some people are coming from regarding letting the police know where you are. They are duty bound to keep that confidential but it will look suspicious to them and may also look like the neighbour was on the hunt for drugs and your lack of willingness to discuss your whereabouts may have them suspecting that you are taking it dealing drugs and that this is a neighbour dispute gone wrong. You've literally told your landlord your at a Travelodge and the whole of Mumsnet so why not just let them know. There's nothing stopping you telling them but still requesting to do a statement at the station where you feel safe. Make sure you go to this meeting with all evidence but back it up they have a habit of losing things so always keep a back up. Especially the recording of his admitting you did nothing and you just reminded him of someone.

I am so sorry to hear of your experience OP. I have read all your posts but not the entire thread so this may have already been suggested. As a extra precaution have a London Bar fitted on your door. Read about them here: https://www.londonbar.co.uk/

The locksmith should be able to provide or at least fit one. I bought mine at a local DIY shop. I see from the link similar products are also available.

Also, once this person has been removed from their temporary accommodation, insist that the exterior locks of the building are changed. Very best wishes to you.