Annoying Neighbours - Advice please

sooz

Check on your local council website for additional licencing for HMOs.
It has nothing to do with the number of bedrooms, but everything to do with the number of unrelated people and number of floors in the building. Normal HMO licencing is for 5 or more people on 3 or more floors sharing facilities (and living as more than one household). Some councils operate additonal or selective licencing which means it could be 3 people on 1 floor needs a licence. It really depends on the council, but is worth a quick call or email to their HMO dept. Will be listed under housing.

If you are in a conservation area, the council will be interested in the satellite dish too. Ask to speak to the relevant department. Email the planning dept some photos, & refer to the conservation area.

Re the noise, speak to enviromental health.They will send you out a diary sheet & give you details of how to properly contact the out of hours number, with a complaint reference. This means every problem is logged, so they will eventually take some action, even if it's a letter first, then monitoring etc. They may also write to the landlord of the problem property. Don't call the police. They no longer deal with noise disturbances. It's enviromental health, & they will have an out of office number, & staff on night shift who come out for visits.

Polaroid_2

Oxid8uk wrote: »

I know exactly how you feel.

My last house was a semi-detached and my neighbour was really quiet (house was mine, neighbour was renting) then all of a sudden 2 women and 7 children moved in with him (it was only a two bed!). They made my life hell. During the day the kids were in and out the back door all the time, and no word of a lie slammed the door about every 30 seconds. They slammed it so hard all my nik naks on my shelves rattled, and one day a couple of drinking glasses actually fell off the kitchen worktop and smashed because the slamming of the door had made them move across the worktop!

I tried calling the landlord but he had given me the wrong number! I didn't call EH as I didn't want to have to declare I had trouble with my neighbours in case I came to sell.

My life was a living hell - I couldn't sleep because of the stress and everytime the door slammed I felt like ripping my hair out. I started staying at friends houses to get some sleep and respite from it all. It was so unfair that I had to leave my own home to get some peace!

Thankfully the landlord eventually found out and evicted them straightaway (not sure how he managed that!) but it was so nice to be able to enjoy my home again.

I know it seems awful now but stick it out a while longer and try the different avenues suggested. Although you might not want to, at least you are able to move if need be.

Yes! That's exactly how I feel! It'll be quiet for 10 mins then BANG :mad: Oh gawd they are now banging with hammers now I think. It's relentless! What is left to bang?!

So glad it worked out OK for you. It's maddening!

I really hope their landlady sees sense and suggests they leave. I know they work for her so maybe they don't even have a tenancy agreement. Fingers crossed!

Polaroid_2

dorisday wrote: »

if its a one bedroomed flat and there are more than several people living there it could be classed as a house of multiple occupants and may well not have a license for this worth checking it out.
I had this problem last year - spoke to tennants spoke to landlady and when that didnt do any good spoke to enviromental health office and that did the trick - they left within 6 weeks.
The owner of the flat will not also want a dispute against their property as on selling this has to be risen and I wouldnt want to buy any property with a dispute against it.
Best of luck and dont give up why should you move.

You're completely right, I shouldn't have to move but work is so stressful at the moment I need to know a peaceful place is waiting for me at home.

I've just emailed the council and asked what the rules on HMO are. At this point I don't care what makes them leave I just want them gone!

Polaroid_2

sooz wrote: »

Check on your local council website for additional licencing for HMOs.
It has nothing to do with the number of bedrooms, but everything to do with the number of people and number of floors in the building. Normal HMO licencing is for 5 or more people on 3 or more floors sharing facilities. Some councils operate additonal or selective licencing which means it could be 3 people on 1 floor needs a licence. It really depends on the council, but is worth a quick call or email to their HMO dept. Will be listed under housing.

If you are in a conservation area, the council will be interested in the satellite dish too. Ask to speak to the relevant department. Email the planning dept some photos, & refer to the conservation area.

Re the noise, speak to enviromental health.They will send you out a diary sheet & give you details of how to properly contact the out of hours number, with a complaint reference. This means every problem is logged, so they will eventually take some action, even if it's a letter first, then monitoring etc. They may also write to the landlord of the problem property. Don't call the police. They no longer deal with noise disturbances. It's enviromental health, & they will have an out of office number, & staff on night shift who come out for visits.

Thank you! I have just emailed them regarding the number of people living there and what are the rules regarding HMOs. It was a very small 1 bed so as a 2 bed it must be pretty extreme down there.

If that doesn't work I will mention the dish. It's masssssive! Wider than my arm span and doesn't look secure (I'm meant to park under it).

Oh they are tapping away now, great. Urgh I hate them!

lizzielondon

Polaroid wrote: »

I.. dropped down a bin rota slammed the door).

.

um. Is this a bin rota for your properties where you take each others bins out? or the times when the bin men come?

camptownraces

Polaroid wrote: »

If that doesn't work I will mention the dish. It's masssssive! Wider than my arm span and doesn't look secure (I'm meant to park under it).

Mention the dish anyway - landlord should have cleared it with planning before it was installed.

Is dish visible from the road? if so it's not likely to have been permitted, so politely ask council to enforce the conservation area consent.

Polaroid_2

lizzielondon wrote: »

um. Is this a bin rota for your properties where you take each others bins out? or the times when the bin men come?

A rota to say which flat takes the bins out each week. They asked one of the other residents for one earlier in the evening.

Polaroid_2

camptownraces wrote: »

Mention the dish anyway - landlord should have cleared it with planning before it was installed.

Is dish visible from the road? if so it's not likely to have been permitted, so politely ask council to enforce the conservation area consent.

Yes it's visible from space!

Update - My slightly nutty neighbour has told them that I'm having trouble sleeping and they claim they can hear me but I've not been in the flat for 2 weeks. Spooky...

Apparently there is a couple living there & 'their uncle who is a solicitor' is staying. The chap in the couple is meant to be very pleasant but the 'uncle who is a solicitor' looks about 20 & I've never seen him out of jogging bottoms... The 'uncle who is a solicitor' mention came from the landlady so she'll be no help with moving them on. Ho hum.

On the plus side they are abroad from nearly 3 weeks soon :T Being able to sleep in my own bed is such a luxury!

sooz

oops, I word missed from my post

For HMO the people have to be unrelated. Family can cram in as many as possible I understand.

If they are really 'uncles' & 'cousins' this may be their get out clause. But no harm in the council investigating

dorisday

Then if hes a solicitor he definately wont want any disputes against him (the guys above me one was a solicitor) you can also taker action against them yourself through the small claims court just need to keep notes of everything even tape the noise etc.