council tenant keeps flooding my flat

blckbrd

While the council (housing) isn't liable for the behaviour of the tenant as such but they are responsible for enforcement of the tenancy conditions. There is more than likely an enforceable nusance clause in the TA that should be being actioned.

If you think there may be social services involvement, you could try contacting them to 'express your concerns' or your 'fear that he may harm himself'. They have a duty to investigate.

davmail wrote: »

Also complain to the local authority ombudsman,or threaten the council that you will contact them if they do not help.

Ummm...That would be jumping the gun. The ombudsman will not deal unless the internal complaints process has been exhausted.

Check the LA (or its housing management company's) website (or phone) for details of how to make a formal complaint and begin the process. There may well be three stages to plough through unless your complaint is upheld at stage 1. Ensure you detail all of the unsatisfactory responses you have received from staff. If calls are recorded, dates and (rough) times should be sufficient to track down the recordings although the length of time these are kept varies.

You might also contact your elected members - council departments hate this intensely and jump every which way to make members' enquiries go away.

Disputes can turn nasty but have you tried talking to your neighbour when he's sober? Some people really are oblivious to the misery they cause others but can respond to a good talkng to. Don't attempt it though if he may be volatile.

Saving_spree

I wonder how you have tolerated for 18 months...

poppysarah

Have you put it in writing each time to the council?

You should start now. Have you a list of dates.

benjo

I would be really tempted to contact the following...

Council housing department

Anti social behaviour team

Your insurer - get them onside

If you cant afford a lawyer, give CLS a ring, perhaps you may qualify for free legal advice.

Check if you have free legal advice with your house insurance.

Contact the local Community Mental Health Team and tell them exactly what is happening, this person might be 'forgetful' he might also be trying to drown himself , if you tell them that, they would almost certainly have to act.

Contact the police, this could be viewed if deliberate as criminal damage - or if there is enough water murder by drowning , Im sure the police will not want to become involved - but I would get them involved anyway.

Local newspaper - tell them how rubbish the council have been in managing their tenants safety and anti social behaviour.

Local MP.

Send it all in writing, signed for, keep a diary and photos - if all else fails, find the stop !!!! and cut the bu**ers water off.

Goodluck, sounds like a nightmare.

deborahmackay

Hello all who responded

Thanks for all your advice.

My flat is in Stirling in Scotland

I have notified his housing officer of the state of things regarding his mental state, and they say that they are working on this, but for obvious reasons I am not privy to what they are doing.

I have written to them on a few occasions, but will up my game regarding this.

I am sure that he doesn’t do it deliberately, and I have been to speak to him on a number of occasions, but he is totally detached from reality, I think he may have fried his brain with these crazy drugs! The last time I spoke to him, he was threatening to harm himself, and I went straight to see his housing officer in person to let him know of the situation.

I discovered the LG Ombudsman website after I posted here, so will give them a phone today.

Thanks for all your responses it is really appreciated

Deborah

Jowo_2

As an aside, Stirling council has a policy of never evicting its tenants for arrears. I'm not aware of any other council with this type of eviction ban.

Strangely enough, within 6 months of implementing this policy, rent arrears rose sharply...

http://www.stirlingobserver.co.uk/2009/11/11/stirling-council-tenant-rent-debt-rises-51226-25135916/

hothothot_3

From what I remember studying housing law - the council are obliged only to keep your house safe from the elements (wind rain etc). You are personally responsible for contents insurance for being flooded by another neighbour. In real world however, some councils will repair the damage themselves, although they are not legally bound to do so.

sleepless_saver

deborahmackay wrote: »

I have written to them on a few occasions, but will up my game regarding this.

...

I discovered the LG Ombudsman website after I posted here, so will give them a phone today.

You will find that the ombudsman will not act until you have exhausted all the council's complaints procedures, and given your local councillor an opportunity to try to resolve the situation as well. Don't know if you've contacted the councillor, but if not, I'd suggest you do it now.

planning303

deborahmackay wrote: »

hello


the problem is that in the last 18 months my upstairs neighbour has flooded my flat 9 times (4 times in the last 3 months!) he is a council tenant and is completly unable to maintain his tenancy due to drug abuse and mental illness.

If i could sell my flat i would, but at the moment with the market in the toilet that is not an option. my life is miserable at the moment, i cant go away over night as he may turn on the taps, and then pass out due to the Research chemicals he takes (these are not illeagal, so i cant get him on this fact). i have alearted him to the flooding several times, as he is so out of it he dosnt realise, and cant imagine what damage would have been done had i not been there to alert him to the problem.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8427439.stm

reheat

Whenever there's a situation you don't know who the right person is to talk to, Citizens Advice Bureau are usually a good place to start. Often good at seeing the wood for the trees. And they are a charity so, if same as it used to be, will accept nominal donation for help.