social housing and anti social behaviour/harassment help

[Crazyhousewife23]

So my friend contacted me tonight and she has not seemed herself for months and I have been concerned but aware she has had some problems with neighbours. it is a cul-de-sac and there are two drug dealers and a house full of drug addicts doors away from her. she has had drug addicts knocking on her door at 2am (by herself with two disabled children) and kicking off to buy "gear" despite her saying she has none. one of the houses is a private house according to the council but im not sure if its owned or long term landlord, I would possibly say long term landlord. she has begged our local council to move her as the drug addicts knock several times a day to cut the grass to get money for one of the drug dealers, she politely declines but its several times day every day, she is trying to not get angry but they come at 6-7pm at night when she is preparing tea or settling her children for the night. ive tried to see if I can find the landlords details but no idea how and when ive googled the names of these individuals, they have lived here a long time and have made the papers several times for threatening and violent anti social behaviour even near the local schools but they always get a warning or a fine in court. they are pinching items but because its one of those areas where nobody sees anything, the police can't do anything. im just so worried for her mental health as she has so much going on with her children that its unfair for her to deal with this on top and its unfair for the children as she is constantly ignoring the door but they knock on her windows and then come into the back garden, she has previously given into paying them even though they don't even cut the grass but this is only solves the problem for 3/4 days and they are back again. she really shouldn't feel pressured into giving them money but im not sure what advice to give her as im not sure how it works in social housing and the council saying they won't do anything as its a private resident. she tried to speak to the police but they even advised her against being stood talking to them at the car for too Long for fear of escalation from these individuals. she has spoken to the housing manager, got a letter from her gp, she has spoken to the councillors and the mp but all are saying to keep reporting to the police even though these are violent individuals who went into a house near a school with knives as teenagers. they are 37-40 years of age I would guess. please help with any advice im not sure who to contact to help her anymore and the private rent in our area is unaffordable with her being on benefits (youngest child is waiting on a specialist school and has had no school place for a while- unsure of waiting times so she can go back to work), the rent is double what universal credit pay her and she is already paying for b&bs on a weekend and during the week during the holidays due to how bad the threats are. they are constantly chasing each other with knives and threatening to stab each other, she won't leave the house anymore for fear of bumping into them

Is there no housing community group who advocates for law abiding residents? Has she contacted housing association regarding these people? They can take action I believe. Keep reporting and also ask to move! She should have dc in school though.

Does the council have an antisocial behaviour team? Here in Scotland there is, but not sure elsewhere. Keep a note of everything, dates and times. Police incident number if police called, even if they don't attend. Think back and backdate as much as possible. Write a long.list of incidents.pwrsist. council, local councillors, community councillors, MP, local.parties who may have a chance of election on the area.
Good luck!

school holidays here and unfortunately it is a waiting game with our council which she is trying to push to get her child into school, there is only one specialist school in the area and the waiting list is so high she can't go until next year. its council not housing association an she has contacted the housing manager, the anti social behaviour team, the housing team who do the house moves, they all say to contact the police which she is doing but there's nothing they will do with it being a private tenant. they have warned the drug dealers as they are council tenants and they keep getting mixed up with her address and theirs. there is a pact meeting but she is at the drug addict house so attends regularly to intimidate anyone who complains about her sons terrorising the estate. the council also say they are unaware of any antisocial behaviour in her street but when she spoke to the police they said the reason they were patrolling the area was because of the drug activities in the street. I have even reported for her to anyone I can think of but I really don't know what else to advise and it is really getting her down that she may be stuck there longer.

yes all of these things the antisocial behaviour, housing manager, customer services, housing application team, gp, councillor for the ward, mp, a social type family worker she works with and we have sadly tried even environmental health as that's all the anti social behaviour advised. she has noted several occassions via emails of the incidents but im getting her to write it down daily but im just not sure who else she's contacted several of the police team and also the chief executive of the council. she has just said on the days she has turned them away to not cut the grass they have become abusive and are back again now despite knocking on the windows at the front and back door an hour ago, she dreads the gate opening

I have no more advice than previous posters I’m afraid. Your poor friend. They really should have streets of houses reserved especially for feral people like this who can’t or won’t behave decently. Then they could all make each other miserable and unhappy, and the rest of us could be left in peace.

Also, get her to install a ring door bell.

Has her life been threatened? Try the Guardian newspaper, the local press, plus keep a diary and put in writing, to every agency and organisation, that she fears for her physical safety and that of her children and is putting it in writing to those who've failed to help, despite repeated cries for help from a vulnerable adult, that, in the event the harm takes place to her or her family, all will know thatcshe has been failed, and that no one helped her. Lay it on thick in the letter! List all of the names, agencies, organisations on the letter, copy in the Police Commissioner, MP, CE of the council, everyone and see if publicly shaming and naming works. I worked in housing and the apathy / lack of action due to ASB and drug usage disgusted me. I hope someone helps.

If she has to stay at the property for longer, here are some ideas, but they do come with a cost...

• put a ring camera or doorbell up, to automatically record any anti social behaviour. That could also act as a deterrent, as it would be evidence of harassment if the people continue to knock when they've been asked not to
• Maybe get a sticker on her door... One of those 'please do not knock' ones, saying no cold callers etc, then she should just not answer
• Get a dog if she has the capacity/money to care for one
• Ask for advice and support from citizens advice
• Ask her landlord to make the property back garden secure - better fencing or secure side gate, which is locked etc. ... Same for front door
• Call the police immediately if anyone enters her back garden
• if she has debt, get in touch with Christians against poverty. They offer excellent practical support, as well as financial support (but you can only use them if you have debt)

I suspect they feel they can target her and pressure her into giving more money, because she's done it before. I'm so sorry OP. Your poor friend.

I have no more advice than previous posters I’m afraid. Your poor friend. They really should have streets of houses reserved especially for feral people like this who can’t or won’t behave decently. Then they could all make each other miserable and unhappy, and the rest of us could be left in peace.

They really should have streets of houses reserved especially for feral people like this who can’t or won’t behave decently.

They do, prisons.

I absolutely hate how these low life’s ruin homes for people.

I would suggest a Ring doorbell and getting a male friend or family member to tell them not to come back in the mean time.

I also hate how no one in authority deals with them. They should lose their tenancy rights. I think they can be removed for illegal activities. I’d be setting up a community group!

thank you for all of the advice, ive wrote down everything said and we are grabbing some ring door bells today and she has been writing down over the weekend a log of everything. I was quite shocked at what just a weekend looked like, ive contacted our local council but with data protection they won't speak to me. she is going to try and see who else she can contact, she even has an eyp/support worker who is trying to help with the situation and ive advised she should probably talk to them about how much this is affecting her as well as the children. she has received a letter asking her to detail the incidents and told that as the property is private they can't help her only the council ones and she noticed last week the neighbours had chucked her charity bags all over her front garden and (she thinks this may have been after she turned down her grass being cut again and the drug addicts and drug dealer speaking about her on the front), she even faced abuse because she went out to smoke in the garden (apparently something she does when stressed but these are enclosed gardens and she doesn't like to smoke near her children, i don't think she wants them to know she smokes). I feel she is just a target for them now and they are looking for any excuse to bully her with her being by herself and not knowing anyone on that estate where as they all have known each other for decades as most have grown up on there.

Good luck op.