bad neighbours threatening my health

Lookingforcalm2

Hi everyone it's Lookingforcalm, I had trouble logging in the second time and contacted the administratior this morning but had no reply so decided to re-register so sorry about confusion!

I did say I'd try to be breif when I wrote my first post last night and I'm also new to this site, although I have lurked previously on the Internet code:coupon forum, anyway I will try to answer everyone it's not been easy for me to write this as I have such anxiety and I missed out a lot of things.

Lookingforcalm2

pmlindyloo wrote: »

I think the OP feels that any follow through will result in the neighbours becoming threatening and making the situation far worse than it is already.

The truth of the matter, despite the ability to be able to follow the procedures out lined in the adviceguide link, is that very little is done without a great deal of hassle and endless 'authorities' passing you from one department to another.

Unfortunately 'neighbours from hell' are not easy to deal with. The bottom line is that these people causing the problem have to be housed somewhere and any authority has to follow the 'rules' to start any eviction process or action by the police. The bottom line is that very little can be done.

In the OP's circumstances they seem to be in a position, financially at least, to be able to rent privately. Without a doubt this is the best option.

It is not easy to give up the security of a council property and there is always an element of 'why should I be made to move when others are causing the problem?' (Seems the OP's partner feels this way.) In these situations for the benefit of the OP's health and well being this is the best option with no shadow of a doubt.

Hi thanks for your reply,

Truth is we have complained about these neighbours, it's difficult as we are living in a converted house, them at the bottom and us at the top, so when I make complaints they know it's me.

A few days after we moved in the 'boyfriend' neighbour told me that they had evicted previous tenets because of noise and disrespect they caused, he said they had evicted two in a row. And that he hope he won't have problems with us.
But it was the other way round within the first week they left the teenage daughter in charge while they were out for the night and they had a huge party, it was a disaster because they began fighting so I called police, the police came and followed through. The next thing is the 'girlfriend' neighbour shouting at me, she was not pleased police were called and has given me hell since.

The other complaints I made were the fights in the street, all her cats, the kids in poor condition, drug taking and smoking weed, bad language, cat food and litter tray being dumped in the garden....I could go on.

Each time I complain the problems with the neighbours were getting worse but nothing seemed to be done about them.
From my complaints the results I've had are

RSPCA removing some of the cats
Social worker involved with children
PCSO comes around twice a day
Police car to drive around the road between 6-8 pm

I have been told the council make visits with the neighbours and there is either 'no further action' or I get a phone call to say they spoke to them.

Sometimes they complain about us after I made a complaint and it all turns very childish to the pont where I can't be bothered.

So I've had results from my complaints but now everything just gets logged, last night they smoked weed and had people round and I reported this in the morning...but nothing will be done.

My husband is wanting to buy the flat with assistance and has sought out the information he needs. But his idea is to sub let this flat once brought and for us to move somewhere else, but I can't wait for this I need to move now. Right now I don't really know how this will all work out.

After I graduate next year I'm hoping to stay in at my current placement as full time (in a sector of children's services and health)
And will finally have a professional position, when we lost our flat I was full time student not contributing at all, my husband lost his business due to a dispute but is currently working full time, he hopes to open another but that's in the future but he says according to finances at the time of buying this flat we will be in a position to do so (sorry if that doesn't make sense)

In the meantime I am struggling and so is our son. I think we will move, and I think my husband can stay in this flat because we can't put our health and well being last before his choices.

Lookingforcalm2

Bantex wrote: »

The police will do nothing.

Any other ideas on what to do about this I have called police in the past about it and these neighbours have been raided twice since we've been here, it's a gross smell and when I tell them I can smell it they either deny it or say 'yeah whatever'

Lookingforcalm2

ANGLICANPAT wrote: »

You work all day, go to classes, look after your child. Your husband works long hours then goes off to a cafe till late --leaving you to suffer your frightening unpleasant neighbours alone ....

He wants to go ahead and buy the place as hes not really bothered by the environment that much , despite you and your childs suffering......

You say youve been offered a place in your friend's house. Does this offer mean you all, or you and your son?

"He knows me and my son are having such difficulties and has agreed if we really need to move out we can but he's worried about losing the flat and if there is a chance we will lose the flat then no we can't go.
I've tried to look into this and I think we are able to keep it as its jointly in both our names."

Sounds like your husband is far more interested in making sure your presence helps him keep and capitalise on the property than in the welfare of his family. If your friends offer is to you and son, if it was me, Id be on my way. Good luck.

I like you you can speak it how it is, I wish I was like that!
The place at my friends was for all of us, she had a converted house and we were having the attic part but my husband wants to stay solely so we can buy the flat and be back on the property ladder, when I spoke to my doctor last she said my husband sounds like the man with the plan! Yes his own plan!
She did refer me to someone from citizens advice who told me as long as we had a joint tenency and not claiming things like housing or council tax benefit I could move out and he could stay and keep the flat, which gave me the idea for me and my son just to go.
It's a really sad situation and I feel so sick and panicky daily just trying to decided what's best.

fairy_lights

Aren't there rules against letting out property purchased through right to buy? That might scupper your husbands plans, and you could be left owning a flat you don't want to live in but can't rent out or sell.
TBH I think you and your son need to move out, its pretty selfish of your husband to ignore your well being and just focus on his desire to own property again.

TBagpuss

Are the local authority aware that the police have raised the property? Do you know whether they were charged /convicted.

Most leases have a clause about 'quite enjoyment' which does not simply refer to noise, but to, in effect, being able to live your life - it sounds as though your neighbours are in breach of that clause (I assume they are also council tenants?)

If so, you may need to push the LA to ask them why they are not taking steps. You might find it useful to speak to Shelter to see if they can offer any further advice.

thesaint

You need to focus your energy on speaking to your husband.
You are not going to change your neighbours behaviour.

plumfin

It sounds awful and not worth your health. It also sounds like you have different priorities than your husband, so you are going to have to choose, I think. Safe place to live, good health and peace of mind for you and your son vs maybe a possible profit after years of abuse if you stay with a husband who clearly knows the score and spends his time at the cafe to avoid dealing with the issues.

Not much of a choice put that way.

Lookingforcalm

TBagpuss wrote: »

Are the local authority aware that the police have raised the property? Do you know whether they were charged /convicted.

Most leases have a clause about 'quite enjoyment' which does not simply refer to noise, but to, in effect, being able to live your life - it sounds as though your neighbours are in breach of that clause (I assume they are also council tenants?)

If so, you may need to push the LA to ask them why they are not taking steps. You might find it useful to speak to Shelter to see if they can offer any further advice.

I'm back, finally sorted the issue with not being able to log in.

Ok so I had a case with shelter that I can re open and I think I might, they were able to contact the LA on my behalf and would send me statement of the conversations.
From this this they talked about neighbours being intimidating-not threatening and that we were being bullied by local children, they said whenever I have an issue I should log it with the council even if I didn't take the complaint forward it would still be on their system.

She said it would be fine for me and my son to leave as long as no benefits were involved and I think this is to do with bedroom tax and under occupying? But the CAB told me this is wrong and as long as one of the joint tenants stays in the property all is fine, so I will contact the LA to confirm this conflicting information.

One reason for me leaving is we live on the catchment line to the local school where the bullying children go to and although my son wouldn't be going here for two years, it makes me sick to think he might if we stay and this is my main trigger for panic attacks.

What I would like ideally is for the LA to realise living here has put me on medications I never thought I'd be taking in my life and I simply can't continue, I'm not as strong as some people. Whenever I hear them downstairs swearing, slamming doors, drug taking...I just want to die and can't help but think somehow I've failed.

I will try and push the LA into moving us but I feel this will take a long time...

SamDunham

Hi lookingforcalm, I just wanted to offer you some support after reading your posts as I have just been through an almost identical situation to yours. Me and my other half were living in a first floor flat and, like you, had neighbours from hell below. They were smoking pot and making our house stink, having all night and all day raves, unsavoury people turning up at all hours, shouting, swearing, fighting, etc. I ended up being a bag of nerves. We don't have any children to think about at least, you must be very concerned about your son.
Our local authority advised us NOT to complain as if we did they'd have to inform the nightmare neighbours that it was us that had complained and they said this often escaletes the problem and makes things worse. The police were not in the slightest bit interested about the drug use or fighting, although I didn't actually make a complaint for the same reason as not complaining to the council.
In the end, we moved in with my parents who luckily have the room and were kind enough to have us. Five months later, we've found somewhere else and hopefully will be moving next month.
I just wanted to say you're not on your own and your health and sanity are way more important than being on the property ladder!! Please look after yourself and find somewhere quieter and healthier to live