Council Complaints between neighbours

emmy05

I was just wonderin if theres any such term as harrassment, my friend lives in council property, she is reported left, right an centre for all sorts of things, shes a single parent an is genuinely a lovely person as are her children, an i feel she is bein annoyed with council letters of complaint from neighbours, all the time, she has had 12 through in the last month! shes unfortunately had to rehome her dog, as he apparently barks nite an day, i dont really wanna go into things, i just wondered if there was anythin she could do about these things that arnt rightly correct, many thanks for any help

BitterAndTwisted

There certainly is such a thing as harassment and Local Authorities can take such accusations very seriously.

Have all of these 12 complaints she's received come from the Local Authority and were all of them to do with the dog?

If the complaints are without foundation, and these can be very hard to prove: you try arguing about the absence of something, then she should challenge every single one of them. Some witnesses would be handy or it's just one person's word against another. If the complaints have come from 12 different neighbours she might have a problem

emmy05

we have narrowed it down to 2 of her neighbours, an we are puttin it down to her bein a mum, whereas the last occupant was an elderly person on his own its very sad for the children when the dog has to go, but he has found a lovely home now, she had until this friday to find a home for it, we are also wonderin if its due to her bein actually in council housin and someone else with dogs have bought their home, but you have certainly helped, thanks for takin the time to answer

BitterAndTwisted

Honestly, it doesn't really matter who has made the complains. What matters is if they are true, reasonable and whether there's any justification for them.

A dog barking "apparently" day and night would be enough for me to get the Council involved. Why was it apparently? If she's never home, how would she know either way?

Brallaqueen

TBH if it is more than one person making the complaint I would assume there is some basis in truth

emmy05

shes a full time mum, the dog barks only when visitors approach, i only put apparently, as thats what the council have been told.

moremore

emmy05 wrote: »

shes a full time mum, the dog barks only when visitors approach, i only put apparently, as thats what the council have been told.

A friend of mine lives in a council flat in a block of 40 flats. On his floor there is a single mum with 2 small children. She lets children out to play in the corridor and the noise from the children playing there is like her children are in my friends flat playing, from the noise they make. My friend likes children but does not think it is right that other tenants in his block should have to listen to them playing in their corridors.

Also there is a dog that is sharing the small flat on bedroom flat with her and her two children and it is not a cuddly do either, my friend thinks it is Pit Bull Terrier and it barks in the flat when they are out and the bnarking echoes all through the block. When the young children get home in the evening time the boy take his ball and bounces in the corridors and then the dog comes out and barks at any resident that tried to into their flat in the same corridor.

My friend was so afraid when the dog come out and barks at him when trying to get into his flat, he had to go away and wait until they took the dog back into their flat and that is not fair to him or other tenant that they have to put with the dog barking and children playing in the corridor and the dog not letting them into their home. Why on earth is that woman keeping a dangerous dog in her flat with young children as the dog could turn on them as well. The flat is in the middle of the block and no garden for the dog to roam about in when they are out, so it stays inside their flat and barks.

Why have a dog like that in a small flat with two small children not very responsible is it....

Svenena

I think anyone would agree that 12 letters in a month is excessive - presumably they are sending one out every time someone submits a complaint.

I'd suggest to your friend that she writes to the head of the department which is sending out the letters, and explain that she is concerned that these complaints about her have been made, and that she is very worried by the situation. She could say that the large number of letters is adding to her distress, and she is keen to resolve matters as soon as possible as she does not wish to continue receiving these letters. She could then ask what can be done to improve the situation going forward, and ask for a meeting or a phone call to discuss things. Keep a copy of the letter!

Nothing will change unless she takes some action, and I've found the best way to get the council to act on things is to send them a letter. I hope your friend manages to resolve things.

emmy05

Thanks Svenena an others, moremore i appreciate you commentin, but i dont really see how that helps, i am a genuine person an i do voice out when somethin isnt rite with ppl, ive just simply come on here with the truth to ask for some info, she really is a brilliant mum, an her kids are fabulous, i just dont like the way shes puttin up with these letters an feels shes up against a brick wall, just wanted to see what i could do to help her really as shes always helpin others, thanks everyone really appreciate it xxx

BitterAndTwisted

She needs to give every impression that she's completely dismayed at the accusations levelled at her and her family and is resolved to reach some sort of compromise with her neighvours. Nothing else is likely to wash with the Council after so many complaints unless they have all been totally trivial or untrue

paddedjohn

emmy05 wrote: »

Thanks Svenena an others, moremore i appreciate you commentin, but i dont really see how that helps, i am a genuine person an i do voice out when somethin isnt rite with ppl, ive just simply come on here with the truth to ask for some info, she really is a brilliant mum, an her kids are fabulous, i just dont like the way shes puttin up with these letters an feels shes up against a brick wall, just wanted to see what i could do to help her really as shes always helpin others, thanks everyone really appreciate it xxx

Post #8 is what i would be showing my friend.