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Original poster

Advice after upstairs neighbour arrested at 4am by 5 police officers

79 replies

Lulabelle25 · 17/05/2025 13:13

I'm worried about my security and safety after 5 police officers came to the house at 4am and arrested a man living in the flat of my upstairs neighbour . Before they took him away i heared them say it was for failing to attend court. My neighbour herself tried to assault me last year and I do not even know if the housing association know the man who was arrested yesterday is living there. My neighbour and i share a front door on a street property. What can I do to ensure my safety and security now?

OP posts:
MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 17/05/2025 14:05

IberianBlackout · 17/05/2025 13:45

@Lulabelle25 they won’t do anything but report every single antisocial incident to build up a file

In the meantime your only choice is trying to move. In my experience, unless they try to set the building on fire or something the HA won’t do anything.

You realise HAs powers are extremely limited right? They can't even evict their own residents, only a court can do that and the pre-actions protocols even required to get to that point are huge!!

Has she reported the assault to the HA? They would tell her to report to the police, if the neighbour is then convicted it allows the HA to issue tenancy warnings or serve a NOSP if serious enough.

But just hand wringing because a neighbour was nicked, and for all we know is because he didn't attend court for anything from being an OCG member to a driving offence, isn't enough for a HA to take action.

HAs have fewer powers under the ASB Crime and Policing Act 2014 than councils and the Police do.

5128gap · 17/05/2025 14:06

ZepherinDrouhin · 17/05/2025 13:44

So you're more concerned about the man who has been arrested rather than the woman who tried to assault you? Did you report the violent woman to the police?

Men pose far greater risk to women than other women. So its entirely natural the OP would be more concerned by the presence of a man it was felt 5 officers were needed to arrest, for reasons unknown, than by a woman who tried (unsuccessfully) to assault her. Isn't it?

Ihad2Strokes · 17/05/2025 14:07

I'm SORRY, not 'dirty' that you're living in this stressful environment.

(too late to edit post)

crumblingschools · 17/05/2025 14:08

I wouldn’t like it if one of my neighbours had a dawn raid (and we live in a detached house!) Did you report the incident with the woman to the HA?

AgnesX · 17/05/2025 14:11

Evaka · 17/05/2025 13:31

People are so fucking weird and mean on here.

OP shares a front door with a woman who tried to assault her and a man who was arrested in the wee hours by five cops.

They sound like scumbags and I'd be trying to move OP. In the meantime, make sure doors locked and yes get a ring doorbell.

She has her own front door and the guys been arrested so the OP has no immediate problem..

In terms of a longer term problem are they vulnerable in some way?

roundtable · 17/05/2025 14:14

You can tell the posters that have never had to live in a shitty area with even shittier neighbours.

Op contact the housing association and let them know what is going on. If you have the funds buy locks/door cameras etc to give you more peace of mind at home. Hope you're alright.

MILLYmo0se · 17/05/2025 14:17

The neighbour trying to assault you is obviously a big concern, did you report that to police and Housing? Nothing will happen over the man being arrested

crumblingschools · 17/05/2025 14:18

@AgnesX they share a main front door so have to share some communal space so can’t completely avoid each other

spicemaiden · 17/05/2025 14:19

You’re going to have to mind your own beeswax, or move

Hwi · 17/05/2025 14:22

Buy a private well-secured property if you can afford it. If not, chill and enjoy your life.

YouWillFindMeInTheGarden · 17/05/2025 14:29

She TRIED to assault you….but didnt

what happened?

AgnesX · 17/05/2025 14:31

What happened last year, what has been going on in the interim, why is now any worse than it was then?

So the neighbour's man was arrested for failing to attend and was arrested with a load of police fuss which seems to be par for the course but the OP doesn't know why he was going to go to court, so unless it has something to do with her specifically does she really need to worry any more than previously.

Beyond get a ring doorbell which may or not help or move she doesn't have much choice than to keep her head down.

Sorry, that was in response to @crumblingschools

Coffeeishot · 17/05/2025 14:36

Evaka · 17/05/2025 13:31

People are so fucking weird and mean on here.

OP shares a front door with a woman who tried to assault her and a man who was arrested in the wee hours by five cops.

They sound like scumbags and I'd be trying to move OP. In the meantime, make sure doors locked and yes get a ring doorbell.

Couldn't put it better myself , posters actually scoffing at the op I'm sure they wouldn't be so quick to laugh if it was them or their daughter frightened in their own home.

Anyway op just keep your head down don't engage with the neighbour and contact your H A on Monday and maybe see about a move, and yes a ring door bell for your flat door make you feel a bit safer.

LakieLady · 17/05/2025 14:46

MasterOfOne · 17/05/2025 13:39

I disagree with a few of the posters above.

On Monday contact the Housing association and speak to the antisocial behaviour unit and share a report as to what has happened.

The housing association has a duty to all residents for safe and quiet environment.

It starts to build a picture of the tenants and if it gets out of control, they will have more authority to act.

Report it all.

Edited

This.

Keep a diary of any/all incidents involving your neighbours and their guests. Report them, giving the date and time, a summary of what happened and its impact on you. When you have a few incidents, report them to your housing manager.

Did you report the assault and, if so, was it to the police or the housing association? If there's a crime number or other record, that should be enough for the HA to include it among the incidents.

People can, and are, evicted for anti-social behaviour, which is what this is. It's fairly standard in tenancy agreements not to interfere with neighbours' "quiet enjoyment" of their property. But it takes time and it requires strong evidence for the courts to act.

Scentedjasmin · 17/05/2025 14:50

Dontletthebedbugsbite2 · 17/05/2025 13:13

Nothing. Mind your own business and carry on with your life.

Well that's very empathetic and helpful.

Idontknowhatnametochoose · 17/05/2025 14:51

So sorry this happened op. Ignore the horrible posters. I understand why you're freaked out and most people would be. Get some advice if you can..

WilfredsPies · 17/05/2025 14:52

roundtable · 17/05/2025 14:14

You can tell the posters that have never had to live in a shitty area with even shittier neighbours.

Op contact the housing association and let them know what is going on. If you have the funds buy locks/door cameras etc to give you more peace of mind at home. Hope you're alright.

I live in a HA flat on a shitty estate with shitty neighbours. The police are daily visitors.

I’m still failing to understand how this arrest increases the risk to the OP. There’s no suggestion that this man has ever had any interaction with the OP and if he had any interest in joining the upstairs neighbour in being violent or abusive to the OP, then he probably would have done something by now. But there’s no indication that he’s ever said or done anything out of place. This has nothing to do with the OP.

OP, if the HA didn’t evict her or move you after your interaction with her, then they aren’t going to evict her or move you because someone who isn’t a tenant has been arrested. My very serious advice to you is to mind your own business and put in for a transfer if you don’t want to be there anymore. But be realistic. If you’re in a flat now, you’re unlikely to qualify for a house in a family area. You’ll get another flat. And some of the people who live in flats are delightful. Like me. And some are psychotic weirdos with substance abuse problems who are incapable of interacting peacefully with other humans, and who regularly set off the smoke alarm at 3am because they’ve started cooking then fallen asleep in a gin induced slumber, like my neighbour. Sometimes it’s better the devil you know. Get some decent bolts for your door. You could get a ring doorbell, but if your door is internal and you’re doing it so soon after his arrest, then there might well be inferences drawn by your neighbour. I’d consider whether it’s worth possibly triggering a reaction. Give it a couple of months of silence, then get one.

Scentedjasmin · 17/05/2025 14:52

Jeezitneverends · 17/05/2025 13:33

But strangely enough she waits till the person’s been arrested and is in custody for at least the weekend pending a court appearance, before asking for advice…

Show quote history

Yes, because she was unaware of him living there before and that he is potentially a criminal. When exactly would you expect her to feel concerned. She's only just found out.

nebulae · 17/05/2025 14:55

Hwi · 17/05/2025 14:22

Buy a private well-secured property if you can afford it. If not, chill and enjoy your life.

That's a shitty thing to say. Do you think OP would be living in a HA flat with crappy neighbours if she could afford to "buy a private well-secured property"? You're basically saying HA tenants just have to put up and shut up.

LakieLady · 17/05/2025 15:04

crumblingschools · 17/05/2025 14:08

I wouldn’t like it if one of my neighbours had a dawn raid (and we live in a detached house!) Did you report the incident with the woman to the HA?

If there was a dawn raid where I live, it would probably be the most interesting thing to happen in my road since the houses were built in 1946.

Although there was the day the sheep in the neighbouring field got out and were roaming around at the same time as the lads from the racing stables were road working the horses and the bin men were trying to collect the rubbish. That was pretty exciting, now I come to think about it...

Butchyrestingface · 17/05/2025 15:13

A neighbour being arrested for failing to attend court isn't something I'd get my knickers in a knot over. If it was THAT serious, he'd have been on remand.

The attempted assault is another matter but you appear to have different priorities.

Coffeeishot · 17/05/2025 15:15

Hwi · 17/05/2025 14:22

Buy a private well-secured property if you can afford it. If not, chill and enjoy your life.

Are you OK ?

Seeyousoonboo · 17/05/2025 15:19

Jeezitneverends · 17/05/2025 13:26

You’re safer than you’ve ever been now he’s been arrested 😂

Yeah hilarious isn't it? Op worries about her safety in her home just so funny. Christ I despair at MN sometimes.

IberianBlackout · 17/05/2025 15:21

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 17/05/2025 14:05

You realise HAs powers are extremely limited right? They can't even evict their own residents, only a court can do that and the pre-actions protocols even required to get to that point are huge!!

Has she reported the assault to the HA? They would tell her to report to the police, if the neighbour is then convicted it allows the HA to issue tenancy warnings or serve a NOSP if serious enough.

But just hand wringing because a neighbour was nicked, and for all we know is because he didn't attend court for anything from being an OCG member to a driving offence, isn't enough for a HA to take action.

HAs have fewer powers under the ASB Crime and Policing Act 2014 than councils and the Police do.

Show quote history

I wasn’t saying about a neighbour being nicked, I meant the overall situation as OP has also been assaulted before.

I have a downstairs neighbour that obviously deals, random people have started getting into the building and harassing other doors, his poor next door neighbour can barely sleep due to the constant in and out, not to mention the absolute stench in the whole building because that guy hasn’t seen a bath in ages, and nothing happens no matter how much people report. He was offered a different place (a house! Not even a flat) and turned it down apparently.

It sucks all around, I appreciate HA can have difficult tasks at hand sometimes but there should be a speedier way to deal with these types.

LakieLady · 17/05/2025 15:21

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 17/05/2025 13:41

The housing association has a duty to put a roof over their head.

The police has the duty to keep people safe. Given he's been nicked, they seem to have upheld their part of that deal..

Show quote history

I don't know if it's ever happened with an HA, but there has been at least one case where a council's failure to take adequate steps to deal with ASB has led to the ombudsman finding against them and them having to compensate neighbours.

It's one of the reasons why a lot of councils tightened up their ASB procedures in the 90s. I can't see that a council's responsibilities as a landlord are significantly different from an HA's.