Housing Assn not dealing with our complaints

dori2o

Posting on behalf of MIL/FIL.

They moved into a Local Authority GF Flat last October after FIL was left unable to walk following an operation on his back. The area they moved into had always been for those over 50 or with disabilities.

Everything was great until January this year when a new tenant moved into the flat above, ever since then there has been trouble. The tenant is in their 30's with a small child and a large dog, no disabilities. It seems that the HA has decided the area is no longer for those 50+ and will let out the upper flats to anyone.

There is constant noise, there have been physical confrontations with other neighbours by the BF/friends of the tenant. There are constant verbal threats made towards MIL/FIL, the latest yesterday during the England game where there were 10 people in a 1 bedroom flat loud music, shouting , banging etc, and when FIL went out to ask them to please try and keep the noise to a minimum and was told to F Off by one of the tenants friends.

So far in excess of 15 complaints have been made against the tenant, 3 times the police have been called and MIL/FIL have the crime numbers that go with these visits.

The HA has been round today and said there is nothing they can do as they don't have enough evidence to build a case against the tenant despite MIL/FIL keeping a very accurate diary for the past 3 months and handing a copy of this to the HA.

MIL/FIL have now had enough and are actively seeking further accommodation as both are very stressed/upset and it is adversely affecting their health.

They want to know if they have any chance of claiming back from the LA the money they have paid to have the flat decorated/carpeted etc.

They spent the money believing that this would be their home for the rest of their lives, less than 12 months on they are being forced to move due to the refusal of the LA to do anything about their situation.

Any advice would be appreciated.

BitterAndTwisted

dori2o wrote: »

Posting on behalf of MIL/FIL.

They moved into a Local Authority GF Flat last October after FIL was left unable to walk following an operation on his back. The area they moved into had always been for those over 50 or with disabilities.

Everything was great until January this year when a new tenant moved into the flat above, ever since then there has been trouble. The tenant is in their 30's with a small child and a large dog, no disabilities. It seems that the HA has decided the area is no longer for those 50+ and will let out the upper flats to anyone.

Their policy, if there ever was one, may have had to be changed or modified in order to house those who qualify for housing.

There is constant noise, there have been physical confrontations with other neighbours by the BF/friends of the tenant.

In which case, every neighbour who has had a problem with these tenants needs to lodge a complaint as well. IN WRITING.

There are constant verbal threats made towards MIL/FIL, the latest yesterday during the England game where there were 10 people in a 1 bedroom flat loud music, shouting , banging etc, and when FIL went out to ask them to please try and keep the noise to a minimum and was told to F Off by one of the tenants friends.

It's very difficult to attach blame to the tenant for their guest's behaviour. Everything depends on how the approach was made. Your FIL may not have sounded quite as polite or as reasonable as they may have led you to believe.

So far in excess of 15 complaints have been made against the tenant, 3 times the police have been called and MIL/FIL have the crime numbers that go with these visits.

The HA has been round today and said there is nothing they can do as they don't have enough evidence to build a case against the tenant despite MIL/FIL keeping a very accurate diary for the past 3 months and handing a copy of this to the HA.

They don't have enough evidence YET. Not that they are unwilling to do anything about it, ever.

MIL/FIL have now had enough and are actively seeking further accommodation as both are very stressed/upset and it is adversely affecting their health.

They want to know if they have any chance of claiming back from the LA the money they have paid to have the flat decorated/carpeted etc.

No chance whatsoever. They spent the money of their own free3 will, and they are seeking alternative accommodation of their own free will as well.

They spent the money believing that this would be their home for the rest of their lives, less than 12 months on they are being forced to move due to the refusal of the LA to do anything about their situation.

Any advice would be appreciated.

They are not being "forced" to move. That is a choice they are making for themselves. I suggest that they speak to all of the other neighbours and ask them to lodge their own complaints if they are being inconvenienced by these new tenants. And every single one of them should be keeping their own log of everything which happens.

All HAs have their own policies about how to deal with anti-social tenants and your in-laws should be mindful of what those policies and procedures are. Until and unless the HA has enough evidence they are not going to be able to do anything about these people.

In the meantime I suggest your in-laws count their blessings: they have been housed in appropriate accommodation and if they were in a private tenancy they would have absolutely no recourse against these tenants whatsoever or be entitled to expect any cooperation from their landlord either. They would have the choice of either having to grin and bear it or find their own alternative accommodation elsewhere at their own expense.

poorlittlefish

Most public sector tenancy agreements these days stipulate that tenants are responsible for not only their own conduct, but that of family and invited visitors. It definitely will say that nuisance must not be caused to neighbouring properties. It is difficult to evict an assured or secure tenant without there being plenty of evidence to support the application so I would agree that all those being affected need to group together to keep logs of events - the type of noise/disturbance, times, witnesses etc.

cattie

I do empathise, my mother was housed in a small sheltered housing block intended for over 55's in Islington after family had all grown and her health deteriorated. She was very happy there until the council decided that any flats in the block that became empty, (all one bedroom) be made available to anybody on their housing list. They started moving single mothers in and of course this upset the quiet nature of the block and the community feel of the block disappeared completely, along with the warden who kept an eye on the block and the original residents.

Though I have no advice to offer, maybe worth a try contacting your MP and local councillor as sometimes an mp getting involved gives the council a dig in the ribs to try to make an effort to sort things out. Even if it does mean finding somewhere else for MIL and FIL to live.

Locana

cattie wrote: »

They started moving single mothers in and of course this upset the quiet nature of the block and the community feel of the block disappeared completely

Us single mothers, eh? We just ruin the neighbourhood. :eek: