Neighbour

Trebor01

A friend has a neighbour that is constantly getting involved in my friends private business and life. She has sadly had some bad tenants but as she does not get on with the neighbour the neighbour has been telling lies to new tenants and prospective tenants trying to cause trouble. We have this information in writing so its not here-say its factual now.

Is there anyway she can be stopped legally, especially with these super injunctions being banded about, i.e. legally gag her and stop this nonsense ?

Any constructive ideas would be most welcome.

Mojisola

A visit to the police station with the evidence would be a start. They should visit her and warn her.

scooby088

I doubt the police would treat this as serious, they would more thank likely call it a civil matter(the polices excuse not to do anything)

gunsandbanjos

Trebor01 wrote: »

Is there anyway she can be stopped legally,especially with these super injunctions being banded about, i.e. legally gag her and stop this nonsense ?

Any constructive ideas would be most welcome.

Do you have a spare £50000?

Trebor01

Errrr no, I was thinking more along the line of defamation of character/slander/libel etc on a no win no fee basis..........has anyone had any experience with this and could anyone suggest a good company to take this on.....?

Pee

I don't think you'd get defamation on no win no fee. Ring around a few solicitors and see what unenthusiastic responses you get.

heretolearn_2

Also if by having it in writing you mean that someone she has spoken to has written a statement of what was said, that's still only hearsay, I'm afraid.

If you have something the neighbour has written themselves, then that could be evidence, but of libel and you have no hope with a libel case (which is civil and not available no win no fee etc) unless you have very deep pockets.

Best for your friend just to warn people that the neighbour might tell a few tall tales.

But if she's had 'difficult' tenants, presumably the neighbour is the one who's had to live with a nightmare neighbour thanks to your friend, so she's just getting her own back....can't your friend go and see the neighbour, apologise for any trouble that's been caused by her tenants, and try to build a few bridges.

I'd say a few unfriendly things about the bloke who used to own two illegal HMOs in our little street including next door to me, due to all the trouble caused by his tenants.

Trebor01

Thanks for this. The point about what has been written is that the ex tenant has named the neighbour and states what she has said in writing, so surely someone is guilty of something hear, as it has been used to cause my friend to loose a new tenant.

For the record the neighbour is just a complainer with nothing else better to do. None of the tenants have caused her any trouble, so that is just an assumption. She has taken a dis-like to my friends because she had some work done on her house that the neighbours objected to, complained about to the council and lost, so has got a bag on about it, and has done now for many years.

bargainbetty

Your friend needs to engage with her first. Drop over and politely explain that rumours have got back to your friend that the neighbour has been saying some awful things - say that your friend really doesn't believe someone would be that nasty, so wants to warn the neighbour of what people are accusing her of.... had their differences etc, but how could people think she is such a malicious old trout and so forth.... shame her into shutting up, or at least coming out with what is really troubling her.

If she continues to spread rumours, find out if the neighbour owns her property or rent it? If she rents it, contact her Landlord/landlady and advise them that their tenant is behaving as she is and ask them to have a word.

The last resort is the police. They may claim it is a civil matter, but your friend should cite the Anti-Social Behaviour Act, wherein a person may be guilty of harassment if 'they cause distress or alarm' with their conduct. The neighbour is doing both, and causing financial harm at the same time. A quiet word from Plod, pointing out that she is entitled to her opinion, but spreading lies and rumours is out of line might be enough to calm her down. I would strongly recommend engaging with her first.

Trebor01

Thanks for this, I have contacted the police, and thy said it is more slander/libel which I think it is to, but as pointed out the anti-social behaviours act it could be deemed as harassment and as such I have asked the police to visit my neighbour. Can I insist that they do, because I am now concerned they can't be bothered.

Mojisola

I don't think you can insist because the police will rank your problem as fairly low priority for them. It would be worth your friend getting to know the neighbourhood officer. Ours have an open session once a week in the library where you can go and chat to them. When these kind of problems are first presented to them, the police don't know which neighbour is really the source of the problems or whether both are aggravating each other. If they see that your friend is a calm, reasonable person, they're more likely to have a quiet word with the other party.