Neighbours from Hell

cupcake4

:mad:HELP! I've been in my ex-Local Authority 1 bedroom flat since 1991 (I bought it in 1999). It is 1st floor. The flat below me has recently been sold and is now being rented out to a couple with a 7 yr old handicapped child (all in the 1 bedroom). The child seems to be there all day (I am retired) and makes the most dreadful noises which I can hear in my flat even though it is very well built. Worse still is on my lovely balcony which I turned into an outdoor dining area with table and chairs, lounger etc.
The tenant erected a huge gazebo and the child goes in and out and is often playing in the gazebo, so I now cannot eat any meals outside because of the dreadful noises - like an animal in pain.
The tenant was drinking outside with a friend on the 2nd night after they had moved in and when I very politely asked if they could keep the noise down, the friend told me to "f... off and if I didn't like it I could move." Later on, the friend had to be helped up off the ground by the tenant as he was so drunk.
I told the local police about being sworn at as, being a woman here alone, I now feel very vulnerable.
I have spoken to the Letting Agents who really don't want to know. They have told me that the flat is let for a year.
I have also spoken to the local ASB team, but whenever the words "handicapped child" come up, it seems that no-one wants to know.
I was woken up at 1.30 am last week by the child making terrible noises.
My neighbour opposite said that she could hear a noise "like a predatory animal" when she came out of her front door, but when I asked the Letting Agent if we could both come into the offices to speak to them, they replied that neighbours were ganging up on this family and that they had had them on their books for the last 7 yrs without any problems.
I am suffering from stress as my father died very recently and I have been driven to stay out of the flat as I cannot stand these noises.
I really cannot afford to move and fear that no-one viewing would want to buy my flat given these noises below.
What can I do?

flower24

They are the neighbours from hell because they have a disabled child who makes noises you don't like?

Erm...wow...

Gigglepig

Tough one. While the noise impacts your quality of life, it is not like they are deliberately noisy/screaming/have parties - the noise is made by a disabled child.

I don't see why the letting agent, police or ASB teams would be interested, unless there are more incidents like the drunken friend swearing at you.

If you keep complaining about noise made by a disabled child, it may even come across as you harassing this family for something they can't help?

CH27

As you are retired have you considered applying for a sheltered housing place?
They cannot help the noises the poor child makes.

sussexchick

Whilst I do have sympathy for you, this situation is not going to go away for at least 12 months. So personally I'd invest in some ear plugs.

The child has no control over whether it shouts, screams, swears, whatever, maybe you could pop down and meet them and introduce yourself ? The child may be frightened being in new surroundings and meeting a new friendly neighbour might be a good thing ?

Good luck

carefullycautious

You have been very fortunate if you have lived in your flat noise free for the many years you have been there.

I don't think you will be able to do anything about this poor child who can't help their disability and has a right to live where the parents can afford without being ganged up on.

Do you get sleepless nights or is it just the daytime that you are complaining about.

Calien27

I think I sort of know what noise you mean and yes, I suppose it can by quite unsettling if you're not used to it, but they can't help it, they don't do on purpose to annoy people or scare them.

The neighbors friend swearing at you is out of line but honestly, complaining about a disabled child making noise isn't going to do anything but create animosity.

thorsoak

cupcake4 wrote: »

:mad:HELP! I've been in my ex-Local Authority 1 bedroom flat since 1991 (I bought it in 1999). It is 1st floor. The flat below me has recently been sold and is now being rented out to a couple with a 7 yr old handicapped child (all in the 1 bedroom). The child seems to be there all day (I am retired) and makes the most dreadful noises which I can hear in my flat even though it is very well built. Worse still is on my lovely balcony which I turned into an outdoor dining area with table and chairs, lounger etc.
The tenant erected a huge gazebo and the child goes in and out and is often playing in the gazebo, so I now cannot eat any meals outside because of the dreadful noises - like an animal in pain.
The tenant was drinking outside with a friend on the 2nd night after they had moved in and when I very politely asked if they could keep the noise down, the friend told me to "f... off and if I didn't like it I could move." Later on, the friend had to be helped up off the ground by the tenant as he was so drunk.
I told the local police about being sworn at as, being a woman here alone, I now feel very vulnerable.
I have spoken to the Letting Agents who really don't want to know. They have told me that the flat is let for a year.
I have also spoken to the local ASB team, but whenever the words "handicapped child" come up, it seems that no-one wants to know.
I was woken up at 1.30 am last week by the child making terrible noises.
My neighbour opposite said that she could hear a noise "like a predatory animal" when she came out of her front door, but when I asked the Letting Agent if we could both come into the offices to speak to them, they replied that neighbours were ganging up on this family and that they had had them on their books for the last 7 yrs without any problems.
I am suffering from stress as my father died very recently and I have been driven to stay out of the flat as I cannot stand these noises.
I really cannot afford to move and fear that no-one viewing would want to buy my flat given these noises below.
What can I do?

How do you think the family themselves feel, being saddled with a neighbour who thinks that they are from hell? Do you not think that having a disabled child probably makes them feel that they are living in hell sometimes?

You do not appear to show them any compassion - but you expect sympathy from us?

flower24

Also, you do realise, any home with a child in is going to generate some noise, my 6 year old girl shouts & screams and stamps her feet sometimes!

cupcake4

I retired young through ill health.
Why should I move when I have been settled here for so long.
If you heard the noises, perhaps you would have more sympathy.
Who wants to be woken up in the middle of the night?

thorsoak

cupcake4 wrote: »

I retired young through ill health.
Why should I move when I have been settled here for so long.
If you heard the noises, perhaps you would have more sympathy.
Who wants to be woken up in the middle of the night?

No-one wants to be woken up in the middle of the night - have you no compassion for the parents of the child who wakes them up?

I don't like to be rude to a poster, but you are not generating any sympathy in this quarter - you appear to be completely and utterly selfish.