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Housing Association - Nightmare Neighbours

4 replies

lilly40 · 17/03/2013 15:08

I have a huge dilema. I've lived in my 1st floor flat Housing Association for almost 10 years. There are 2 flats on each floor, 6 flats in total and two floors. Downstairs neighbours were overly friendly when we first moved in, saying last people who lived here were crazy, mad etc. Neighbour opposite me warned me about downstairs neighbours, saying if they don't like you they'll do everything in their power to drive you away as they did with previous neighbour. We keep ourselves to ourselves, are polite to neighbours, say hi etc, but don't socialise. As time went on downstairs neighbours seemed to try and control how I behaved in my flat. I received letters from my landlord regarding noise etc. So I don't now use washing machine after 7pm, don't vacuum after 7pm etc. Again I was annoyed, but not overly so. Returning from work one night, I was clearing up after a bit of quiet DIY. Time was early evening. I was vacuuming up some mess. My intercom starting noisily buzzing continually, so my then 12 year old son answered, to hear lots of obscene swearing. I went out onto the main landing and downstairs neighbour, husband, wife and son all shouting and swearing at me to shut the 'f**k up'. Shocked, I replied that they are not my landlord, don't pay my rent, and to stop being so abusive, and I went back inside.

This is where the nightmare with them started. I received almost weekly complaints from them, via my landlord eg. washing machine causing neighbour to be hospitalized due to noise and making her whole flat shake. Landlord checked out my 'new' machine, and told me not to worry, but to not use it after 7pm.

Upon returning from work one evening, I was shocked to see that someone had attempted to break into my flat. Luckily the lock I had put on was strong enough to prevent them breaking in. Police said that someone had been lying down kicking my door repeatedly, and the frame had split badly, causing over £400 of damage. None of the neighbours heard anything.

I spoke to my neighbour opposite and was told this week, that my attempted break in was the responsibility of downstairs neighbours. They said they don't want to get involved, and warned me to please be careful.

What am I supposed to do??? I have no proof, am faced with dagger looks every time I see downstairs neighbours, which I ignore, and can't go to Police as I have no evidence.

I'm pregnant, and worried how they will behave once baby is born due to noise it will make. They've driven away three sets of neighbours before me, and opposite neighbours say they keep on their good side as they don't want to be their next target.

What do I do???

OP posts:
ediblewoman · 17/03/2013 15:43

You need to speak to your Housing Officer, I bet they knew/know what the neighbours are like.

lalalonglegs · 17/03/2013 17:53

Install CCTV - you can get some tiny, hidden devices. Keep a diary of any harassment.

Boomboomboomboom · 17/03/2013 19:43

I agree with the others. Contact your housing officer, or if you have one anti-social behaviour team. Arrange a face to face meeting (likely to have more impact than speaking on the phone). Explain all your concerns, walking on eggs shells etc. Tell them that the other neighbours knows if was the downstairs flat that tried to kick in your door.

Ask if the housing association will repair the door free of charge. Ask if they will install CCTV, or do so yourself.

Ask them to provide you with diary sheets so you can record any further incidents.

Ask them what they are going to do at the moment - they have powers themselves to get injunctions to stop false allegations (harassment) and damage to others property. They may not feel there is enough evidence to do so just yet, but they may write to the downstairs tenant and warn them that if the behaviour continues, legal action may occur. The downstairs neighbour should be able to put up with a reasonable amount of every day living noise, and as a poster said above, you can bet they complained about the previous tenants.

Explain how vulnerable you feel, given your pregnancy.

Fingers crossed things will improve.

Potterer · 18/03/2013 13:16

CCTV wise, you can get a peep hole camera if you have a peep hole in your front door. And it comes with a recording device DVR so you can film it whilst you are out.

We had CCTV installed at the front of our house after my car was broken into on my drive. I am a SAHM and my house is quite private. The DVR records the whole time but I can look to see when a camera has been activated.

I agree with boomboom keep a diary of it all. I am very sad for you, nothing worse than hating to go home Sad

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