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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My horrible neighbours are back, feel desperate

220 replies

lifeonmars100 · 16/01/2025 22:05

This isn't really an AIBU more a "how the hell am I going to cope"

in the Summer of 2022 the horrible house next door to me was sold at auction and I was initially so relieved thinking that someone had bought it and was going to do it up. It had gone to rack and ruin over the past 6 years or so wiht a bad landlord, a horrible tenant who was rude to everyone who asked him to tackle the broken fences, the brambles and massive buddleia that took over the tiny back yard and encroached into the communal entry making it very difficult to get bins in and out. Oh was I happy when the house was sold. New landlord arrived and spent 4 days whitewashing it and then the same weekend the new tenants arrived. They are Roma and they live a very alternative life style which is the best way to express how they are. They have filled the back yard with scrap, they broke the communal gate which I paid to replace, they then broke that, they broke into my back yard and took my bin, went through my gardening box, they shout and yell til about 2am. They used my address to claim benefits, take out a phone contract and open a bank account, I found this out when I started getting all the debt collection letters, they used my address to register a female child in school and then took her out of school and the attendance officer came to my home looking for her. I guess they managed to do all the fraud stuff by using the correct ID for their address and then saying they had moved. Anyway that is just a snapshot of the hell, there is the flytipping, the constant noise, ask them politely to keep it down and they swear at me, they chuck bin bags out on the street. I cannot use my back yard due to the constant noise, I used to have a pretty little garden out there but have given up now. This winter they must have had a blocked drainage pipe which they then tampered with and all their bath water was running out into my yard! Reported all the issues to the council who did an inspection and said there were "significant issues" and they were taking action. That was nearly 20 months ago! Suddenly at the start of December 2024 they vanished, all the curtains went, all the furniture went and I thought they had done a runner and was so relieved. My mental health began to improve, I felt relaxed at home, I enjoyed Christmas and even began to think about doing up my back yard for the Summer. Tonight I saw lights on, hear shouting and see that they or other friends/family are back. Feel hopeless and depressed, can't afford to move and anyway who would buy my house other than another slum landlord? guess I am just venting as i am so upset . I have made numerous reports to the council and to the police (forgot to say they were doing what looked like drug dealing for a while, people knocking on the door and small packages and cash being exchanged) it is a row of terraces that open onto the street so things are very visible. Feel hopeless, they made my life wretched and now they are back. It is a two up two down and they sometimes have as many as 10 adults in there, last year I caught them just about to take my mothers day flowers off the step, they called me a "mother fucking cunt" when I have asked them not to shout all the time.When it is really bad I have to wear earplugs in the kitchen In despair about having to endure it all over again.

OP posts:
AsmallabodeIsallweWant · 16/01/2025 22:21

Pray. Honestly

DontPushMeCos · 16/01/2025 22:29

Aww OP, sorry it’s time to sell to that slum landlord - this is Hellish for you xx💐

OverthinkingOlive · 16/01/2025 22:34

I feel physically sick for you and am praying this will end happily for you very soon. Utter scum of the earth people like this x

Itiswhysofew · 16/01/2025 22:37

Where is the landlord in all of this? They're an absolute disgrace. Is there a managing agent you can complain to?

coldcallerbaiter · 16/01/2025 22:38

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Not2identifying · 16/01/2025 22:41

I have 100% sympathy for you. I've dealt with similar. It made me feel murderously angry. First with the perpetrators and second with the law that traps home owners (having to declare terrible neighbours).

You called them tenants. Have you made contact with the landlord? Any hope there? Eviction is a VERY slow process but if the wheels are moving it can make it a bit more bearable.

I got there in the end (terrible neighbour was evicted, property repaired, nice new tenant in situ).

MolluscMonday · 16/01/2025 22:41

It sounds awful, i’m so sorry.

I was also going to suggest webuyanyhouse. You won’t get market value but i think being away from it all would matter more to me.

Pumpkinpie1 · 16/01/2025 22:42

Keep up the pressure with the Council and your local councillors. They said they were going to act and haven’t

lifeonmars100 · 16/01/2025 22:46

Itiswhysofew · 16/01/2025 22:37

Where is the landlord in all of this? They're an absolute disgrace. Is there a managing agent you can complain to?

The landlord lives in another city, I tracked him down via the Land Registry I have written to him three times with photographic evidence and needless to say have had no response. We have a Selective Licensing scheme where I live but basically all the council does is take the licensing fee and then do nothing about the terrible landlords, I was daft enough to think that a licence was only granted when a house had been inspected and passed as being fit to rent out. I have had a lot of contact with the licensing dept and they say it is a serious matter but tbh this has been going on for years now and i have given up. The dirty bathwater is really worrying me, surely this is a health risk, council have been round (about two months ago) and taken photos but no action.

OP posts:
Buddhalover · 16/01/2025 22:48

I can't even imagine how horrendous these people have made your life! It's unbelievable how the council can turn a blind eye to this kind of behaviour! My own daughter has a problem with her neighbours, she lives next door to a council property. The house was gutted prior to the family moving in. They have since generally wrecked the place. Internal doors removed, bins left out and overflowing, garden overgrown, shouting, arguing constantly and loud sex noises. They have had 2 children removed by social services and still occupy a 3 bed house. Normal law abiding citizens are left to their own devices, without any support from the relevant authorities. My deepest sympathy goes out to you.

Ohnobackagain · 16/01/2025 22:51

Citizens’ advice may be able to advise on next steps @lifeonmars100 so sorry this is happening

lifeonmars100 · 16/01/2025 22:52

Itiswhysofew · 16/01/2025 22:37

Where is the landlord in all of this? They're an absolute disgrace. Is there a managing agent you can complain to?

No, they pay the rent in cash, found this out when I was talking to one of the kids, 14 year old lad, very bright, excellent English and kept out of school to interpret for the rest of them. We have a sizable Roma population where I live and this is how they tend to live, renting out properties in dreadful condition, living in a cash only economy, dealing scrap and drugs. The landlord will doubtless have many such houses and is making a nice living off renting them out for cash and not paying tax.

OP posts:
Madmoomoo · 16/01/2025 22:53

Is selling by auction an option?

lifeonmars100 · 16/01/2025 22:56

OverthinkingOlive · 16/01/2025 22:34

I feel physically sick for you and am praying this will end happily for you very soon. Utter scum of the earth people like this x

thank you, I have been crying this evening, you are right, it does make me feel sick, I was doing the dishes and could hear them shouting. I never have people round now due to the noise.

OP posts:
Flyingcarpetintraining · 16/01/2025 22:57

lifeonmars100 · 16/01/2025 22:52

No, they pay the rent in cash, found this out when I was talking to one of the kids, 14 year old lad, very bright, excellent English and kept out of school to interpret for the rest of them. We have a sizable Roma population where I live and this is how they tend to live, renting out properties in dreadful condition, living in a cash only economy, dealing scrap and drugs. The landlord will doubtless have many such houses and is making a nice living off renting them out for cash and not paying tax.

It sounds like a horrible situation for you to be in. I really hope the council step up soon and do something about them.

if you suspect the landlord isn’t paying tax, perhaps HMRC would be interested. Might be worth a call to them. Doesn’t necessarily immediately help with your problem though, unfortunately.

Danikm151 · 16/01/2025 22:58

You have my sympathy I live next door to a revolving door of tenants. Ridiculously loud- 2 weeks ago they were drilling at 11:30pm.
Parties, screaming loads of people coming and going constantly.
A massive branch from their tree fell in my garden- I tried to ask them to contact their landlord but they have no clue who he is… seems they sublet and pay cash.

Endofyear · 16/01/2025 22:59

So sorry you're having to deal with this OP 😔 not sure what to suggest really, can you get together with other neighbours to complain en masse to the council? I would keep reporting all incidents to council and police, put cameras up if you can and film them/record the noise they are making at night. Call the police immediately for any threatening behaviour. Hopefully if you and other neighbours complain enough, the council will have to do something.

Aly2577 · 16/01/2025 23:03

I am sorry to hear what a hard time you are having. If the council are not taking action then I would escalate this to you local Councillor or MP. Hopefully, they would be able to assist you.

lifeonmars100 · 16/01/2025 23:05

Until you have awful neighbours I think it is difficult to imagine just how much it impacts on your life, I have lovely neighbours on the other side of me and I am so thankful to have then and also thankful that my house is not joined onto the hell house. The family who did live on that side moved out, their daughter was at uni and could not study due to the noise plus the horrible lot were chucking used nappies into their back yard, they rented so it was easier to leave

OP posts:
Meandhimtogether · 16/01/2025 23:08

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TooManyChristmasCards · 16/01/2025 23:13

It's not helpful, but you are absolutely not unreasonable, it must be hell on earth.

I would investigate how to sell and move frankly, and try some of the advice above (auctions etc..)

LuluBlakey1 · 16/01/2025 23:17

I work for our Local Authority in School Improvement. We find them harder to deal with than any other group- the men in particular.

smellydog1 · 16/01/2025 23:19

I feel so sorry for you, I have been there and ended up having a nervous breakdown in the end, thought I was coping but then one day, boom I was seriously ill all because of horrible neighbours. Honestly, you need to move, find a way, you have suffered far too much and am sorry but your health is far more important than money.

Ohlawdnotagain · 16/01/2025 23:19

I would honestly consider putting your house up for a quick sale or auction. You say you can't afford to move but really anything is better than this, even if you downsize for the time being.

NewZealandintherain · 16/01/2025 23:23

You poor thing. I’d get onto your MP. Mine (or his parliamentary assistant) was brilliantly helpful for an issue I had.

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