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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Neighbour kicked my door down/broke in

435 replies

Sparklfairy · 22/09/2024 20:51

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
BMW6 · 22/09/2024 21:55

Great email OP.

Comtesse · 22/09/2024 21:56

Good email - follow up by phone at 9am tomorrow.

Ifoughthefight · 22/09/2024 21:56

Just leave the whole area and move to a nice little market town, out of a big city

TheAlchemy · 22/09/2024 21:56

OMG OP this is so so so awful. I don’t have any advice of any use but I didn’t want to run and read I am so sorry this has happened to you it must have been terrifying.

shootingstar001 · 22/09/2024 21:57

Sparklfairy · 22/09/2024 21:49

I won't, absolutely not. I have only called back once to update when I actually have an update. He has been coming and going freely and is acting like nothing has happened.

I am in a hotel, and have drafted a complaint to my letting agent. I'm about to send it. If anyone can refine it I'd really appreciate it.

"I am very disappointed that you did not even acknowledge my email on Saturday, especially considering your duty of care obligation. You have used this 'wellbeing' of tenants to invade my privacy in the past, yet it seems completely contradictory that my safety and 'wellbeing' is being compromised now.

The Yale lock was replaced at almost 8pm on Saturday. I was so grateful that the locksmith didn't just 'clock off' after his last job ran over and he still came, but he was disgusted at the state you left the security of a vulnerable woman living alone in a flat without any escape or even a bathroom door lock. He even gave me advice to barricade the door for 'when' it happens again. I cannot barricade it. A stool was left by another tenant but it would serve no purpose. I do not have the space to accommodate other furniture to wedge, as he advised, between the door and the wall. I have nothing to protect myself.

The Yale replacement itself is as useless as no replacement at all - as the unstable tenant above me has demonstrated he can easily break it and enter my flat with little more than 4 firm kicks to the weakest point.

I note that my rent is due today. I also note that my statutory right to quiet enjoyment of my flat, free from threats, harassment, and violence, has been breached with not even a reassuring email from you, or someone covering for you at Caxtons in the event of an emergency. Of course, there is no dispute that my inability to stay in my flat due to your unpredictable and violent tenant (who can break a Yale lock in less than 10 seconds with no provocation whatsoever because of his drug use) is an emergency.

If indeed you try to claim that there is a term (implied or otherwise) within the tenancy agreement that I am obligated to pay the rent even when the property is so clearly and indisputably uninhabitable, I draw your attention to The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

Terms that are unfair or unclear, such as requiring tenants to pay rent for an uninhabitable property, are not enforceable in law. This includes terms that are not explicitly defined, but implied by the actions of the Landlord and/or their agents.

I have already had to pay £138.38 for two nights in a Travelodge at short notice which will be extended indefinitely until the tenant is removed. I will, of course, be making my civil claim for losses and damages against Caxtons directly and not the Landlord if you allow this situation to escalate to that point. Mr [Landlord's name] has done absolutely nothing wrong; it is purely your failure in your duty of care that you are so quick to abuse and misrepresent when it allows you to invade my privacy that means Caxtons alone is liable for my losses.

Once the tenant has been removed, I will make a pro rata rent payment calculated for the days that the property was uninhabitable for the August-September period to offset the current September-October payment due. If the Landlord wishes to pursue this loss in rent in a civil claim, I have and will continue to collect evidence of your failure in service which demonstrates that it is not me who has breached the contract, but you. I will assist Mr [Landlord's name] by any means necessary to mitigate his losses due to your failure in service.

I await your swift resolution to this matter."
"

Boss bitch e-mail. No revisions. Hit send

Stay put in a hotel until they remove him and send them the invoice. Hope you are okay and feeling a bit safer for being out the building x

Nemasu · 22/09/2024 21:57

Good email but I'd make it more succinct for maximum impact. Glad you are safe in a hotel

LastNight1Dreamt1WentToManderleyAgain · 22/09/2024 21:57

Do speak to Shelter and/or Women's Aid? Withholding rent can be iffy in legal terms. The landlords are, however, possibly liable for your hotel costs and also need to secure the flat with a stronger or second door, deadbolt, Ring doorbell, maybe a panic button. Who has the freehold of the building?

mycatsbestfriend · 22/09/2024 21:57

Nemasu · 22/09/2024 21:57

Good email but I'd make it more succinct for maximum impact. Glad you are safe in a hotel

agree

Singleandproud · 22/09/2024 21:58

If I were you I'd get myself to Sports Direct and pick up a base ball bat / hockey stick to keep under the bed that would allow you to protect yourself from a distance. Obviously hopefully you'd never have to use it and if you did aim for limb shots rather than head or internal organs but I would rather take the consequences of using it than being entirely vulnerable and defenceless

EffortlesslyInelegant · 22/09/2024 21:58

Ifoughthefight · 22/09/2024 21:56

Just leave the whole area and move to a nice little market town, out of a big city

What? Tonight? Tomorrow after breakfast?

Some of the advice on this thread is beyond belief.

Ifoughthefight · 22/09/2024 21:59

EffortlesslyInelegant · 22/09/2024 21:58

What? Tonight? Tomorrow after breakfast?

Some of the advice on this thread is beyond belief.

And when the poster takes our advice, will be unbelievably glad she took it

readingmakesmehappy · 22/09/2024 21:59

If your/his landlord is the council, then find out who your local councillors are and write to them as well.

Singleandproud · 22/09/2024 21:59

Stick the email in the Goblin Tools formalizer and use the appropriate setting that sends the message you want. Edit it a little so it sounds less AI and fix any americanisms

Allthehorsesintheworld · 22/09/2024 22:00

Email everyone you can think of : your MP, local councillor, Police Crime Commissioner, Google complain to police your force and email them. Send same email to each.
Unbelievable police could ignore this, they’re a bloody disgrace.

YaCannyKickYaGrannyInTheShin · 22/09/2024 22:00

Ifoughthefight · 22/09/2024 21:56

Just leave the whole area and move to a nice little market town, out of a big city

Do you really think this is the right thread to take the piss on?

EffortlesslyInelegant · 22/09/2024 22:00

And another one! Is Sports Direct open right now? This guy can kick a door in but you think a 'made in China' baseball bat swung by a woman in a flat where there's not enough room to swing a cat..Jeez I can't even process this nonsense!

DannSindWirHelden · 22/09/2024 22:00

Ifoughthefight · 22/09/2024 21:56

Just leave the whole area and move to a nice little market town, out of a big city

Because nobody is ever mentally ill in nice little market towns, nobody outside a big city has ever annihilated their family or gone on a shooting spree with a shotgun.

LastNight1Dreamt1WentToManderleyAgain · 22/09/2024 22:00

I'm so glad you're safely in a hotel for the moment.

Singleandproud · 22/09/2024 22:01

@EffortlesslyInelegant why are you spoiling for a fight?

OP isn't in her flat right now. I'm not saying it's good advice but if I was in her situation when I went back to my flat I would want some / any method of protection. It doesn't sound like OP is rolling in money so SD is a reasonable suggestion.

dawngreen · 22/09/2024 22:01

Can you sofa surf at friends for a while maybe, and don't pay rent until he gets removed at least.

fashionqueen0123 · 22/09/2024 22:02

I’d call the police now to ask at what time tomorrow they will be coming as you are not able to go home.

flyingfar · 22/09/2024 22:03

You need to put in a formal complaint to the police stating you are vulnerable. You can do it over the phone and they will have to deal with it. I’ve done this when they played down a situation I found myself in and was called back very quickly and things were escalated. They are so awful at responding to calls by women. I wish you luck.

MillicentMama · 22/09/2024 22:03

That horrifying OP!! Awful that there hasn’t been any follow up.

We’ve always reinforced doors and frames in our own house. Appreciate it would be very expensive (and may not get permission) to do this in a rental.

Banham replaced our locks and added steel reinforcing strips either side of the door frames. We’ve then added hinge bolts and rack bolts to both sides of the doors. Worth keeping in mind for future if you get your own place.

Our neighbours in London actually fitted a reinforced front door. It looked normal, but was secure.

I don’t think it’s good advice to get a baseball bat that could be used against you. Shame we can’t buy safety equipment like pepper spray in the UK!!!

pontipinemum · 22/09/2024 22:06

How scary! I hope the police do call out terrible that they haven't been yet.

Theunamedcat · 22/09/2024 22:06

Ifoughthefight · 22/09/2024 21:56

Just leave the whole area and move to a nice little market town, out of a big city

How do you know they are in the big city?