Help - Unmarketable House due to problem neighbours

Clare50

Can anyone please help. We have had problems with a local housing association tenant ever since they moved in next to us 4 years ago. Abusive anti-social behaviour, rubbish everywhere, scrapped cars on driveway etc - despite the complaints to the Housing Association, nothing every done.

Last year they moved a large twin axle caravan into their small rear garden, for use of their two teenage daughters to sleep/entertain in - we complained to the HA, but were told nothing could be done....

A month ago, they shoehorned/moved in a HUGE 45ft long static caravan/mobile home, into the garden, taking up over half of the garden and space into their driveway. Its a monster, looms 4 ft over our 6' fence panels with its three side windows. Housing Association duly notified, seem reluctant to do anything, is not UNBELIEVABLY breaching any planning conditions.

We are now in a position where we want to move, we have had enough - local opinion being that if we every even managed to get a buyer for the house, we would have to take a cut of around 25-30k off the value of our house.

I think it is now the tenants goal to make our lives as unbearable as possible, we are being intimidated everytime we leave the house - is there anyway out of the hopeless situation?

geordiescouse

OMG, you have my deepest sympathy it's hard enough to sell in this market without that added burden. And why should you have move in the first place.....? It's probably been a very happy home prior to their arrival. Keep us posted on what you do

poppysarah

Do they need planning permission for such large items? Really?
That's horrid.

You probably need to get the local councillor involved to chase up a y infringements there may be. There should surely be restrictions on what they can have in their garden.

annie123

Difficult one,
I would contact your local council by phone and explain to them that you think they have family members living in the caravans.
There are rules and regulations that cover this and the council may be able to do something to help.
Do not put a complaint in writing if you can help it, you will have to declare a neighbour dispute on the legal paperwork when you sell. The fines are very heavy for being caught denying it. some solicitors check automatically with the council for complaints.
You can store a caravan on your property unless the rental/title deeds prevent it but you can not automatically use it as housing which I think they are doing.

You may also have local byelaw's that prevent this which the HA may not be aware of anyway.

Good luck

djm1972

Hello Clare,

You don't mention your financial situation at all, but would a possible interim solution be to let out your current house and rent somewhere else yourself?

Tenants are generally more accommodating of "neighbours from hell" as there is far less emotional attachment to the property, and even if it means you don't get one tenant for more than 6 months; at least you're living somewhere nicer with the NFH out of sight and fingers crossed out of mind.

Even if you're on a residential mortgage at the moment, most lenders have standard terms for giving permission to rent (for example a 0.5% loading on your interest rate) and whilst overall it may cost you more per month for the time being, it might tide things over until NFH move out as an alternative to selling up...

Clare50

Thank you guys for all of your responses, it is nice to know it is not just us being 'hyper sensitive'! Trust me, we think we have exhausted all avenues, our local Councillor has been informed and I would like to think he is doing all he can, although things apparently have been passed to our local MP to progress, nothing has apparently be done as yet.

As far as the HA are concerned we are the only ones who have complained and have a problem with it, having spoken with a number of residents in the street, people are too in fear of repercussions to come forward, there has been a lot of tyre slashing in the street recently, no-one is able to prove anything, just waiting for ours to be done.....

Unbelievably, the tenants have every right to live in the caravan - the local Council planning department have said that as long as it is used solely by the occupants as an extension of the dwelling, not used for visitors or monetory gain,this is perfectly acceptable (I beg to differ!)

The HA take on it is that their tenant is hard done by, they have two teenage daughters and they are living in a two bedroomed house, despite an extension to the rear which the HA foot the bill for - has it taken them four years to realise this! Our immediate neighbours are far worse off, they have four children in a two bedroom house - they will probably get a static next....!

The latest development is, that the HA have admitted that the tenant is in breach of their tenancy, and they have given them 28 days to remedy the situation, if they fail to do so they will take them to Court to get an injunction. This will not be to evict them, just to get the caravan moved... HA have said that the Judges decision on which way it goes is determined by the level of distress and complaints received - our thoughts are that no-one will complain if the problem family are to remain in the community and potentially their details will be in the public domain through the court process...(?).

Our only hope we think is possibly that the HA will buy the house from us, although the local Housing Officer has point blank turned this down, we know for a fact that elsewhere within their organisation, they are actively looking for properties to buy, and have in fact purchased a private house just 3 miles down the road.

Thanks again for all of your replies, I am new to this forum lark, it is quite theraputic getting it all off my chest so to speak!

Clare50

Just a bit further - it was a good idea about renting, might be a possible solution. With regard to our home being a happy one before, this is a definite yes. We LOVE our home, we have done so much to it, we live in a lovely rural area, my two kids are settled in the local primary school and are very happy, we have been here for 10 years.

Wordsmith

Awful situation Clare50 - I really feel for you. When I tried renting out my house I found it really difficult as the next-door neighbour had cars all over his front lawn. One couple drew up outside and wouldn't even go into the house to look at it. This went on for several months and left me very out of pocket, so I steeled my nerves and spoke to neighbour. He was nice as pie and started tidying up straight away - although his idea of tidying up was not the same as mine, but at least he did try. Even so, I had to drop the rent £50 a month to get someone in. I recently had the house valued and the valuer said that he had to put a lower price than he would like to on the house because of the neighbour.

This isn't helping you at all - sorry, but just wanted to let you know that I sympathise with all my heart. At least my neighbour is reasonable, and once you get to know him actually a very good neighbour.

Good luck.

SingleSue

Blimey, they have a lax HA...I live in HA housing and we can't even have a skip out front when doing essential repairs!

We even had to get permission to have a shed in the backgarden (I don't mean a big one, just a little 6 x 4 one) AND they check the gardens regularly to make sure you don't have any items that are without permission.

Mind you, makes it a nice area to live in....gardens have to be kept neat and tidy too.

tomstickland

It's sad when people won't come forwards to complain, because if everyone did then the problem could be removed.

benjo

Perhaps a thought, but why dont you ask if the HA want to buy your house?

In terms of planning permission for static caravans, the council are right, it isnt needed if it is used as an annex to the main residence - but they failed to explain what might be an important point - ie it cannot be used for cooking or have plumbed in toilet/shower facilities, if they cook in it/use the toilet/shower then it ceases to be an annex and becomes totally self contained then requiring planning permission and being liable to separate council tax - although how you would check up on their bowel habits I dont know!

Good luck in getting away from your aweful neighbours.