Help! Neighbour from hell is secretary of residents association - advice needed pls!

BitterAndTwisted

joolsybools wrote: »

I am quite aware what the policies are on noise etc. I have not joined the tenants association as I have no interest in it whatsoever as they are totally ineffective, ie do nothing. The trouble is with her being the secretary of the residents association, she knows all the antisocial behaviour enforcing people and it's just laughed off. I think the Council noise nuisance team and police are the next step. In writing.

Thanks for all the replies

So, you don't see anything self-defeating and circular about your argument, then? *sigh*

Things only get done when people get off their @rses and expend a bit of time and trouble. In your place I would be canvassing every single neighbour in your street to join the association and get active in it. That's one way to get this biatch booted out of the association and spoil her cozy relationship with whoever you are alleging she's too cozy with.

I suspect that the antisocial behaviour enforcing people would be less inclined to laugh the accusations off if you and your neighbours are prepared to put your complaints in writing.

pjcox2005

So just to confirm:

You feel your neighbour makes excessive noise but none of your other neighbours have felt the need to complain (potentially intimidated)

If you report them, then the excessive noise has always stopped when the council come out to measure it.

They have gone to the trouble of being an active part of the residents association which you do want to join.

You don't want to talk to them directly (you assume they will give a load of attidue back) as you are worried that you won't be able to bite your tongue and be the better person.

Not meaning to be rude, and playing devils advocate, but are you sure that a realistic noise issue does exist. Perhaps you have low tolerance to neighbourhood noise. Likewise, if an issue does exist then surely the best course of action is just to mention it to them in conversation and see if they'll be more considerate going forward? (Obviously you know the situation and the type of person you are dealing with but perhaps its worth taking a step back to revaluate the situation?)

poppysarah

joolsybools wrote: »

Thanks. What do you mean about filming them when they are on the public highway, does that imply I should not film them if they are on their own property?

Record from your house. Be subtle.

What do they do in their garden that annoys you?
Dance, sing, play loud music?


Keep a diary and get video evidence.

But take a step back and ask why no one else complains ... Do they think it's a lost cause too?

If you can get evidence of her being a noise nuisance then you might get somewhere.

poppysarah

INCIDENT DIARY

DATE OF INCIDENT
TIME START...............am/pm FINISH...............am/pm
LOCATION .....................................................................................(inside/outside)
WHO WAS INVOLVED?
(Name, nickname or description).............................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
DETAILS OF INCIDENT
(Include exact wording, actions etc.) .......................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
HOW HAS THIS INCIDENT AFFECTED YOU?
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................

Signed ................................................ Date .........................................

poppysarah

serious_saver wrote: »

You could also ask you local police force for guidance on this. My mantra is to always get it in writing. If they tell you that you can film then it is fine to do so and you have the written evidence to prove it.

If you complain to the council about the noise they will likely ask you to keep a noise diary so it may be a good idea to start that straight away.

You can film anything happening in a public area.
However if you start pointing it at people's houses then you might be seen as being intrusive.

If it's noisy enough to hear inside your house with the windows shut then film it from inside your house.

Flyboy152

serious_saver wrote: »

On the filming side of things, it's a very grey area. A general rule of thumb is you can film provided it is visible from the highway and not intruding into their house. So you can film if they are being noisy in the front garden but not through their windows, doors or into their back garden. As F_T_Buyer suggested it may be worth filming inside you house/ garden to give an indication of what you are dealing with. You could also ask you local police force for guidance on this. My mantra is to always get it in writing. If they tell you that you can film then it is fine to do so and you have the written evidence to prove it.

If you complain to the council about the noise they will likely ask you to keep a noise diary so it may be a good idea to start that straight away.

Seriously, forget that. The police have no more idea on these laws than anyone here. Your bet bet is to contact your local CAB or environmental health department for advice on surveillance laws or google RIPA. But forget the police, they haven't a clue.

Flyboy152

poppysarah wrote: »

You can film anything happening in a public area.
However if you start pointing it at people's houses then you might be seen as being intrusive.

If it's noisy enough to hear inside your house with the windows shut then film it from inside your house.

There is nothing unlawful, as far as I am aware, about filming someone in their garden, or filming the outside of their house, as long as it can be seen from the highway.

poppysarah

Flyboy152 wrote: »

There is nothing unlawful, as far as I am aware, about filming someone in their garden, or filming the outside of their house, as long as it can be seen from the highway.

But it's best to be subtle about getting video evidence ...

The more public the noise the better in terms of complaining