People Taking Drugs in communual area

Freckles2

Hello,

Im just looking for some advice.

I have just recently bought a new flat for myself after getting divorced.

In the last couple of weeks I have noticed that the front door does not always get closed properly and because of that people have been getting in and using the stairs down to the back garden as somewhere to drink and to take drugs.

I got a total shock the other day when I went down and noticed there are loads of needles and tissues with blood on them.

I contacted the police and they told me that there was nothing they could do about it, but they advised me to contact environmental health. I contacted them and they told me that they would only help if I paid them £100.

With just moving in I don't have a spare £100 to pay them! There are children in the building and I am really concerned that one of them is going to pick up one of these needles! I have been informed by environmental health that I am not to try and pick these up myself.

I am stuck as to what I am to do. As it is at the moment you can't get access to the back garden because of all these needles etc.

adouglasmhor

See your local councilor at their surgery, this is where they can really make a difference.
They might get things rolling quite quickly..

G_M

Get the front door fixed! Contact the building's freeholder and/or management company.

Go back to the police and speak to a more senior officer, + insist on a statement being taken.

I don't really see how this is EH issue. It's
a) trespass
b) criminal activity

Have you spoken to other leaseholders and residents? Group action is always more efficient.

davidmcn

Why is the front door not being closed properly? If a new spring/lock is what is needed, try to get that fixed. Otherwise, persuade the neighbours to make sure it gets shut. Is there a back door, and if so can that be locked too?

WestonDave

Take a photo of the drugs paraphernalia in situ - print that on a sign which says something like "If you leave the door open, this is what happens" and stick it on the door where people will see it as they leave.

Freckles2

This is in Scotland so there are no free holders or management. If the door is closed too hard it jumps out of the lock and for some strange reason at certain times of the day it unlocks. I have already put signs on the door asking people to ensure that it is locked and I have also put a sign on the wall where it is happening saying that the police have been informed.

I have contacted the police twice and they have said that they can't do anything about this, Environmental health have said that it is them that need to come out and clean it up, but as there are no council flats in the building we have to pay for this. All the other flats are rented out and the Landlords are not will to pay to get the door replaced or to get it cleaned.

I canot afford to pay for all of this on my own.

The only thing I can think to do is to try and clean it up myself

Pixie5740

Freckles2 wrote: »

This is in Scotland so there are no free holders or management. (

Is there a factor for the building? If so contact them about getting the door fixed.

Is it actually residents that are taking drugs or is it just drug users getting in because the door isn't being closed properly? If it's the former and the drug users are tenants then you can contact the LL directly as the LL has a legal responsibility to ensure that their tenants are doing this kind of thing.

Slinky

You say at certain times of day it unlocks, lots of flats have a trades button which people like the postman push to get in to deliver mail. They usually work in the morning. Could that be the reason then?

Freckles2

It is not anyone that lives in the building. I have spoken to a couple of the other tennants and they have said that they have called the police and EH as well and they were told the same thing.

The police have told me that this is a problem in the whole area, and it is not just our building that this has been happening in.

Freckles2

Hi Slinky, yeah I think that is what is happening and also people not making sure that it is closed properly. You need to make sure that you hold onto it to close it as if you just let it go it jumps out of the lock again

beecher2

I take it your flat doesn't have a factor? The door probably unlocks because of the service button settings - you might want to get this disconnected as it is unlikely the post turns up at the same time every day anyway. I'd pay a joiner to fix the door and forget about getting everyone else to pay.

It is going to be a potential problem if other things need fixed but that's a problem for another day.

There are private firms who will take the needles away, not sure how much they'd charge. Find out if your council would provide a community toolkit to clear up the area.