To hate living in this council property?

[chokolateaddikt]

I know I am extremely lucky to live in this house but I have had nothing but issues since I have moved in and really want to give the property up for a number of reasons and just wanted input from others to see if AlBU?

Firstly my living room window is partially facing my neighbours driveway, her and her kids are in front of my window which makes me quite uncomfortable.
A lot of times they will look straight in.

Her kids will walk right past my window to get to her house instead of going round there own bit.

Constant screaming from her kids and often they will dump stuff on my driveway and stand on my plants.

On the other side my neighbour had decided to grow plants right next to my front door and again will hoover onto my driveway to water her plants, she had put planters right by where we park our car so if the wind blows it will blow them all on our drive and cars.

The other neighbours will cut across and walk across our driveway and often will be talking on our driveway.

This house is right in the middle and the worst one here as it has no privacy at all.

The kids will kick footballs at our living room windows, constantly chuck balls in our garden and the kids will be doing the bell constantly demanding their ball back.

We just can’t relax here.

The house for some reason has a very raised driveway on one side could cause an injury if one of our kids was to run on there (aged 1.5, 3 and 5).
The council said there is no defect even though a person could easily injure themselves as it’s quite high.

We are just so depressed living here.

We are now thinking of giving up the house as we don’t think we can be happy here.

Sounds like a fence and some privacy film/net curtains will solve most of those problems. Try that first

Don't give up the house girl

But maybe get on home swapper to look into moving - for example, someone might have a smaller house or a flat which is in a nicer area?

Life is too short to be unhappy - the one caveat is that you don't give up a council home xx

edit - agree with above

Net curtains?

can You afford to rent something else? Are you on the council swap website? Giving up the house is totally your decision but some of the issues could be easily solved, such as getting blinds/nets to stop people looking in.

It sounds like a neighbour problem than a house problem.

nets, fencing, ring door bell (just check if you need permission frist as its classed as CCTV and footage you provide if you don't have permission could land you in breach of your tenancy)
Internal move/swap.
There are options before you give it up.

Sorry to hear that op. It sounds like mostly a neighbour issue. Can you put a boundary in to stop them walking over your property? I had similar as the front garden is shared between me and upstairs. People would stand in my half, literally outside my front window and shout up to her. I've fenced off my side now so they can't get in. I had to put a padlock on the gate for the first few months until they took the hint!

Agree with pps, net curtains or blinds. A chain link fence to make boundaries clear to other residents or small wooden fence?

Get some net curtains, plant some Berberis, put a fence up.

If you can afford to buy or private rent a home big enough for your three children then by all means give up the house, so someone in need can have it.

Curtains or privacy film

strategic planting

grading the edge of the driveway with rocks, bricks, or railway ties. Or perhaps put up a small fence or planters along the edge to create a physical barrier so no one falls off.

start looking to swap if you want. I’d be very hesitant to just go to the open rental market. Do you have any hopes of using your time there to save for a deposit?

maybe this kind of fence its cheaper

https://www.bmgardenbuildings.co.uk/forest-6-x-3-wooden-pale-picket-fence-panel?gQT=1

and

https://www.shein.co.uk/1-Roll-Multi-Size-One-Way-Mirror-Window-Film-Privacy-Sun-Blocking-Window-Glass-Sticker-Heat-Control-Reflective-Window-Privacy-Film-Self-Adhesive-Window-Tint-For-Home-And-Office-p-44401208.html?src_identifier=st%3D2%60sc%3Dwindow%20film%60sr%3D0%60ps%3D1&src_module=search&src_tab_page_id=page_home1748015201379&mallCode=1&pageListType=4&imgRatio=3-4&pageListType=4

Have you asked them to stop?
How long have you been there?
Are you prepared to have your rent potentially hiked £££ every 12 months.
Your rent went up less than 8% last year, and less than 3% this year!
Some I know in rented have gone up more than 25%

You would be mad to give up controlled rent and a secure tenancy if you’d be private renting.

"Firstly my living room window is partially facing my neighbours driveway, her and her kids are in front of my window which makes me quite uncomfortable." - put up net curtains, or a blind, or plants, or film on the window.

"Her kids will walk right past my window to get to her house instead of going round there own bit." - annoying, but not the end of the world. Is it actually driveways or just a series of parking spaces outside?

"Constant screaming from her kids and often they will dump stuff on my driveway and stand on my plants." - the screaming is annoying as is standing on your plants. I'd suggest stuff to protect your plants (such as one of the frames for plants to climb up). Dumping stuff on your driveway, are we talking popping a toy/bike/shopping down for a few minutes, or dumping rubbish / discarded items for days? The first I don't think is a massive issue, the latter needs tackling.

"On the other side my neighbour had decided to grow plants right next to my front door and again will hoover onto my driveway to water her plants, she had put planters right by where we park our car so if the wind blows it will blow them all on our drive and cars." - honestly I don't think this is a reasonable complaint. If she's stepping on to your drive to water plants, it'll be for seconds. Surely the plants and planters look nice? How big are the planters? Planters full of earth, in between cars (ie protected from the wind blows to some extent) will take a lot to blow them over. But if it becomes an issue, you can ask her to move them during strong winds. At the moment your potential issue hasn't occurred.

"The other neighbours will cut across and walk across our driveway and often will be talking on our driveway." - again is it a series of parking spaces / drives in front of the houses, or more separate drives with front gardens? If it's the former I don't see the issue. If it's the latter, that'd different.

"The kids will kick footballs at our living room windows, constantly chuck balls in our garden and the kids will be doing the bell constantly demanding their ball back." - this is unreasonable behavior by the children, kicking football at windows is not ok. If it was an accidental ball that went astray and accidently hit a window that's different.

"The house for some reason has a very raised driveway on one side could cause an injury if one of our kids was to run on there (aged 1.5, 3 and 5)." - this isn't really a fair complaint, unless there's a large drop without an fence/railing. Otherwise it's your job as a parent to make them aware of the danger and stop them running on there.

We need a diagram of the front gardens op x

I don’t think she would . Living next to grim neighbours is so stressful and if she can afford it why wouldn’t she move . Having said that she could rent privately but still have shit neighbours.

Thank you for the replies and advice.

I have listed it on Home Swapper and I am also on Facebook Council Exchange, nobody has shown interest.
At first they are interested but when they see the layout of the drive I think it puts them off as living room window is partially opposite next doors driveway.

I did manage to speak to the council before they closed and they have advised me it would be classed as “anti social behaviour” as it happens on a repeated basis even though me and DH have spoken to the neighbours about it.

The lady advised I maybe eligible for a housing transfer or I can put my name down on the council waiting list again.

I have to wait for a call back of my housing officer.

It is such a shame as it is a lovely area but we are just sick of the lack of privacy.

We feel as if we can’t even go out the front door without a neighbour being on our drive or one of the kids messing around.

Agree with fence and blinds rather than moving. Unless you can easily afford to move in which case go for it - money buys choice.

I'm currently next door to 3 small boys (as it happens I've never lived next to children before and don't have any myself). The only solution I found to the balls constantly coming over is to give them permission to go into my garden and get balls as needed without asking - otherwise my doorbell would be going all Saturday and Sunday and I'm definitely not up for that!

how many beds do you have? have you been there over 12 months? are you overcrowded, or will became overcrowded once DC get older.

You can apply to go back on the list but are unlikely to get a high banding if you are adequately housed.

Your housing officer will advise you keep a diary of events. They may open an ASB case against the neighbour from what you have said.

Depending on how long you have been there you may be shocked at what your rent goes to even in a council house 🏠

If you put up a diagram of the house and driveway maybe people could suggest appropriate things to help.
Could you swap rooms so the living room is a dining room or playroom?

Also the chance of some twat landlord serving you a section 21 and not giving your deposit back

It is 3 neighbours from 3 different households responsible.
Its a 3 bedroom property and I have been here 14 months now.

We do have net curtains up but because they get so close to the window you can look in and I have stood outside myself and have been able to look in the living room.

We are quite private people and these neighbours are very clickey and think I’m ignorant because I don’t want to go round for a cuppa and nice versa.

I guess I will have to wait until Tuesday to see what they suggest.

You can put up very light cotton curtains that let light through but it’s not possible to see through.

other options are privacy film.

You can get window film that doesn't allow people to look in but you can see out, not expensive and easy to put up.