The end of the road

happymoneysaver79 · 15 September 2011 at 5:55PM

I know this is probably not the best place for this post but I could really do with some support or advice. I will be as breif as possible.
10 years ago I got into 25K debt due to various factors, mainly job loss . We own our own house (mortgage) but the house is in negative equity. We went down the debt management route and are paying what we can afford every month. We own another house which was left to us which due to current house prices has no equity but is not in negative equity.
No one knows about our situation although people probably wonder as there is hardly and furniture in the house and everything has been sold. There is no way I could tell my parents I feel so ashamed.
Now here is the problem......
10 years ago the house in which we live was quite nice and the street quiet, we had never intended to stay long term but now I cannot stand to live her it is literally breaking me.
We have an awful neighbour who is making our lives hell. Single parent with no control over numerous kids basically. My kids are below 5 and are in bed before 8pm, hers go at about 1am, they have made friends with another obnoxious neighbour who has loads of kids and in a similar situation (hubby in jail) and they are on the street shouting and screeming and banging doors literally all evening from 6pm until 2am sometimes. Having lived next to a mad woman for 10 years previously who played music all day and night and smashed up our property I cannot beleive my bad luck. To make matters worse they are intimidating towards me when my husband is at work (he works nights) and our children attend the same school so we frequently bump into each other. We have asked them to be quiet on numerous occasions but to no avail. I don't want to involve the police or environmental as it will be recorded against my property should I sell in the future.
I have got to the point where I dare not take the kids to school for fear of attack. They are out on the street with a baseball bat as we speak. We live in terraced housing but no one else seems willing to step forward and complain. My parents live next to me and my mum is ill, the stress of this is making her worse. I want to rent this house out and rent somewhere else but I think that I cant because we are in negative equity. I have only got £200 in savings so cant even afford the deposit or first months rent.
I feel like such a fool for being in this position and dont know how much more I can take. My kids cry every night because they cant get to sleep for the noise and I cry every nigh because I feel so helpless.
sorry for the long and boring post, I just dont know what to do.
Can someone please help x

RAS · 15 September 2011 at 5:59PM

HI

Got to go but hugs right now. Back tomorrow.

lemonpopsicle · 15 September 2011 at 6:20PM

Hi, couldn't just read and run. It sounds like you are living in a nightmare, no one should be forced to live like that with such horrible neighbours. Do they own their houses or are they tenants? And you say that you own another house which was left to you, but has it got a mortgage on it because you say it's not in negative equity but surely that's only relevant if it's mortgaged. Someone will be along to offer more knowledgeable advice. Sending a virtual hug.

EssexHebridean · 15 September 2011 at 6:33PM

Complain. Police, council, their landlord, absolutely whoever - the here and now is more important than what might (or indeed might not) affect you in the future, and your and your childrens wellbeing right now is the most important thing at the moment. You say that "no-one else seems willing to step forward and complain" - once you have you may well find that is the push others need - for now though I think you have to be the one to take the step forwards. Good luck.

happymoneysaver79 · 15 September 2011 at 6:34PM

Thanks guys, the other house has a mortgage on it too, it was tied into a business of my partners dad, he died and we were lumbered with the house - doesn't sound grateful i know but its needed tons of work and weve had a few bad tenants, its a hastle and on interest only but in the future we would like to pay down the mortgage and i suppose it will be our pension if ever we are in a position to do it.

happymoneysaver79 · 15 September 2011 at 6:40PM

The problem is that when you complain and it is logged it affects the sale of your property. If you dont declare what has happened you can be taken to court and god knows what else. We had virtually no interest in our other house when it came to be sold because of all the environmental complaints. We had to vastly reduce our asking price and lost a lot of money which has contributed to our current situation. The law only protects the villans and the good guys bear the brunt. It would be easy to do as you say but why should I? I am worried about contacting their landlord because of what might be their revenge. These are not the sort of people who are concerned about the police. I wouldnt put it past them to burn my house down.

happymoneysaver79 · 15 September 2011 at 6:43PM

oh ... and i did complain to my immediate neighbours landlord and they actually said that if this lot left they would put in someone worse. They are out there now all over the front of my house, its awful.

happymoneysaver79 · 15 September 2011 at 6:46PM

Also....If I did complain how would anyone else step forward and join forces with me, they wouldn't know about my complaint would they or would the police investigate to see if it was affecting others?

lemonpopsicle · 15 September 2011 at 7:09PM

Why should these people get away with terrorising you, your family and the other decent neighbours. I'm sure a phone call to the council for advice would be a good start.

happymoneysaver79 · 15 September 2011 at 7:20PM

The council will not deal with anti social behaviour. They wont contact the landlord of the property unless you go through environmental and then everything is recorded. I cant see a way of getting round it. My local council are not helpful in any way about these issues and I have personal experience.

happymoneysaver79 · 15 September 2011 at 7:24PM

Three months ago I tried to contact my local pcso. I was unable to speak to someone directy as their switchboard is through the main police switchboard. I was asked to explain my problem, when I did I was very clear that I would need over the phone help as a police office seen to be visiting my house would make the situation worse so guess what... they sent one to my house. I didn't answer the door. It is not a case of dealing with a normal rational neighbour - these people are horrendous.