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Is there anything else I can do?

Fishcake_Random
Posts: 1,159 Forumite

UPDATED AT END
Hello all,
My and my lovely OH have lived in a rented one bedroom flat for almost 2 years now. It is one of 10 in a block in a nice area and everyone was on nodding and "good morning" terms when we met in the corriders etc. Quiet and safe and lovely.
Untill about 2 almost 3 months ago someone new moved in, for the first few days after they moved in we noticed a large number of people comming and going into the flat, at first we ignored it think it was well wishers or people helping with moving etc etc. But 2 weeks after they moved in it was still happening and not just during the day but all day and all night, typically people in singles or in twos that stay in the flat for about 5-10 minutes. I was immediately suspicious of a drug dealer but obviously I have no proof just a suspicion, but mentioned it to LA and also local police.
Since then things have been getting worse, if the new person is not in their flat people wait for hours, and I meen hours, outside. Last night someone stayed in the hallway overnight, leaving their beercans and pile of cig ends stubbed out in the carpet. Several of the struts on stair rail have been kicked out and the whole landing smells of urine.
One of our neighbours popped in to ask we knew anything about it and I hadn't noticed as I hadnt left the flat but we looked at it together and both again called the LA and left a message. My neighbour informs me that he now finds used needles in the carpark and binshed most days and that people wait outside for hours if they cannot get let into the building. Also outside the main entrance there are now constantly notes with phone numbers attached to the door and numbers even scratched into the bricks etc around the door asking him to call them.
Needless to say these events are freaking me out, I no longer feel safe walking out of my flat alone as there are always people in the stairways etc asking if I know him, have seen him etc. And knowing people are spending the night outside my front door is very frightening to me. I am also 6 months pregnant and the stress is making me ill.
I have reported all this to the police and the LA including todays observations. I`m currently on the council housing list and was thinking of informing them as it may help us move out quicker, hopefully before baby is here. But is there anyone else I can contact/inform or any steps I can take to keep myself safer in my flat? I never answer the door untill I know who it is, keep the door deadlocked constantly when I am in etc. OH doesnt like me home alone so I normally sit at his workplace or visit a friend during his working hours.
Sorry this is so epic but I'm so scared.
x x x x
Hello all,
My and my lovely OH have lived in a rented one bedroom flat for almost 2 years now. It is one of 10 in a block in a nice area and everyone was on nodding and "good morning" terms when we met in the corriders etc. Quiet and safe and lovely.
Untill about 2 almost 3 months ago someone new moved in, for the first few days after they moved in we noticed a large number of people comming and going into the flat, at first we ignored it think it was well wishers or people helping with moving etc etc. But 2 weeks after they moved in it was still happening and not just during the day but all day and all night, typically people in singles or in twos that stay in the flat for about 5-10 minutes. I was immediately suspicious of a drug dealer but obviously I have no proof just a suspicion, but mentioned it to LA and also local police.
Since then things have been getting worse, if the new person is not in their flat people wait for hours, and I meen hours, outside. Last night someone stayed in the hallway overnight, leaving their beercans and pile of cig ends stubbed out in the carpet. Several of the struts on stair rail have been kicked out and the whole landing smells of urine.
One of our neighbours popped in to ask we knew anything about it and I hadn't noticed as I hadnt left the flat but we looked at it together and both again called the LA and left a message. My neighbour informs me that he now finds used needles in the carpark and binshed most days and that people wait outside for hours if they cannot get let into the building. Also outside the main entrance there are now constantly notes with phone numbers attached to the door and numbers even scratched into the bricks etc around the door asking him to call them.
Needless to say these events are freaking me out, I no longer feel safe walking out of my flat alone as there are always people in the stairways etc asking if I know him, have seen him etc. And knowing people are spending the night outside my front door is very frightening to me. I am also 6 months pregnant and the stress is making me ill.
I have reported all this to the police and the LA including todays observations. I`m currently on the council housing list and was thinking of informing them as it may help us move out quicker, hopefully before baby is here. But is there anyone else I can contact/inform or any steps I can take to keep myself safer in my flat? I never answer the door untill I know who it is, keep the door deadlocked constantly when I am in etc. OH doesnt like me home alone so I normally sit at his workplace or visit a friend during his working hours.
Sorry this is so epic but I'm so scared.
x x x x
Happily married mama of 5
0
Comments
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What a horrible situation. Is the flat rented, if it is can you find out who the LL is and contact them?Pawpurrs x0
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The Shelter website has a good section about environmental and neighbourhood/neighbour problems and how to deal with them.
Are you in England/Wales or Scotland? In Scotland, a landlord is obliged to register their contact details on the scottish landlord registration website.0 -
I'd be contacting the police every single day. Having a heroin dealer in the building is bad enough without their "clients" making a nuisance of themselves 24/7. I'd also be contacting the LL every day as well. It's time to make a nuisance of yourself now and I'd encourage your neighbours to do the same.0
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report it to environmental health and get them on board - they will hopefully come and then provide evidence of needles etc for the police (health and safety issues etc)
so sorry you are too frightened to stay at home.
i had a dealer/junkie in one of my properties and it was most unpleasant for the neighbours until we got her evicted, but that can take months.
if you are determined to stay, then start a "Diary of events" now - so that you record everything that happens, as this will add to your case.
could you move ? it might be better in the long run......0 -
Thank you for all the suggestions, you guys are really sweet.
I will get in contact with shelter tomorrow or monday, and I will keep on at the LA and the police.
Some one mentioned to me as well that I can possibly get a note from the doctor explaining the effect my surroundings are having on me and the baby which may help get us attention from the council.
I do feel a bit "why me" about the whole thing as everything here was pretty perfect before all this happened.
x x x xHappily married mama of 50 -
We are looking into all possible avenues for moving out asap, being so close to xmas isnt to helpfull lol but hopefully just after new year there will be a rush of places to look at. Although some landlords have issues with babies/children in some flats due to health and safety, our current landlord is aware we are looking for a 2 bedroom flat away from this one but refused to house young familys unless they are on a ground floor which I can understand. So we are keeping ours eyes open and the day after boxing day I will begin packing wether we have found somewhere or not!!!
We live in the south of the Uk if that helps matters....... a few people have asked.
x x x xHappily married mama of 50 -
Check out:
"Crack House Closure Orders"
.Living Sober.
Some methods A.A. members have used for not drinking.
"A simple book for complicated people"0 -
It is the police who will (or ought) to be intertested in this information. I work in that field and they can obtain a warrant to raid the house if they have intelligence whic is reasonably sound. It need not be 'proof'. If they are not taking your issue seriously then one of two things are possible. Firtly they are carrying out surveilance on the flat and do not want to jeopardise that or the person to whom you are complaining is not doing their job properly. The problem is, you have no way of knowing to whom your information is being passed to.0
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RA; I have just googled the above and found that a house was shut in a local-ish area and that the timing is oddly coincidental.
P__G; I don't think the flat is under surveillance but I have been waiting for a raid, I may have been watching to many of those tv police programs though lol.
Thank you everyone for your continued help.Happily married mama of 50 -
Got a digital camera? Photograph the evidence- writings on the wall, discarded needles etc. Record the dates you photograph them.
If you're feeling brave, photograph the 'visitors' too.....0
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