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Nuisance neighbours
henrygregory
Posts: 553 Forumite
Hi there, I wondered if any fellow forum members could offer some constructive suggestions or feedback.
I have been living in our council housing area of 17 homes for just over 22 years now. I have been a tenant there for this whole time. We have one shared communal car parking area which has no allocated parking, it is first come, first served. Parking has been difficult for years, but we all get along and do our best to fit in.
Recently, an elderly neighbour took the difficult decision to move into a care home. He didn't have a car whilst he lived here. The council have found a new couple who moved in a few months ago. They must be in their 60s. They have been as difficult as possible with regards parking since their arrival; parking obstructively and placing trailers in spaces so that other residents can’t use them. I have bared the brunt of this petty behaviour as I work in London and by the time I come home, the only spaces left are in the area they seem to think is theirs.
I have verified with the council who tell me that these nuisance neighbours have no jurisdiction over any area of the car park. I recently went to have a polite word with them as in addition to placing trailers and scrap metal up alongside my car in an effort to stop me parking near their area, they have now moved their bird feeder from the middle of their garden and placed it directly on the boundary line of their garden and our communal car park. They know that this is usually where I am forced to park my car as there is nowhere else left at the end of the evening. As a result, my car has been covered in bird poo. I went to speak with them to see if there was any chance they might be able to relocate their feeders and I was met with a tirade of abuse and insults. I explained that I had no choice but to park under them as by the time I come home, there is nowhere else to go and also that that level of bird excrement can’t be good for car paintwork. Particularly a car I still have two years of payments to pay off.
I mentioned this verbal attack to the council as I was shocked and upset by such an unprovoked outburst, though I did tell the council I did not want to formally report the matter as this would only agitate the situation. In conversation about other matters for our area, the council have told me that that there is nothing they likely to do about this situation as they cannot police ‘bad parking’ (deliberately bad in my opinion), and there is nothing that can be done about the very deliberate relocation of the bird feeders. I have highlighted with the council that it is not even one feeder but 7 feeders all above where I am usually having to park my car, along with scrap metal and a trailer when they fancy it. I personally feel that this constitutes antisocial behaviour, but at the moment, the council feel there is nothing that they can do. I have not asked for them to actually do anything at this point in time, as I don’t want to make matters even worse, but as a resident of many years, I find this really unfair and don’t think it is fair for some of the other older residents who have spent their lives here.
Can anyone suggest what else I can do?
I have tried speaking with these residents reasonably, and this has not worked
I also sent them a friendly, informal letter welcoming them and asking them if there was any chance they could relocate their feeders – it has been ignored.
I have tried everything that a friendly, reasonable neighbour should do and I just don’t know what to do next. We have never had bother with neighbours in the past so we have done quite well, but it feels as though we are hitting our heads against a brick wall, I really am at a loss.
I have been living in our council housing area of 17 homes for just over 22 years now. I have been a tenant there for this whole time. We have one shared communal car parking area which has no allocated parking, it is first come, first served. Parking has been difficult for years, but we all get along and do our best to fit in.
Recently, an elderly neighbour took the difficult decision to move into a care home. He didn't have a car whilst he lived here. The council have found a new couple who moved in a few months ago. They must be in their 60s. They have been as difficult as possible with regards parking since their arrival; parking obstructively and placing trailers in spaces so that other residents can’t use them. I have bared the brunt of this petty behaviour as I work in London and by the time I come home, the only spaces left are in the area they seem to think is theirs.
I have verified with the council who tell me that these nuisance neighbours have no jurisdiction over any area of the car park. I recently went to have a polite word with them as in addition to placing trailers and scrap metal up alongside my car in an effort to stop me parking near their area, they have now moved their bird feeder from the middle of their garden and placed it directly on the boundary line of their garden and our communal car park. They know that this is usually where I am forced to park my car as there is nowhere else left at the end of the evening. As a result, my car has been covered in bird poo. I went to speak with them to see if there was any chance they might be able to relocate their feeders and I was met with a tirade of abuse and insults. I explained that I had no choice but to park under them as by the time I come home, there is nowhere else to go and also that that level of bird excrement can’t be good for car paintwork. Particularly a car I still have two years of payments to pay off.
I mentioned this verbal attack to the council as I was shocked and upset by such an unprovoked outburst, though I did tell the council I did not want to formally report the matter as this would only agitate the situation. In conversation about other matters for our area, the council have told me that that there is nothing they likely to do about this situation as they cannot police ‘bad parking’ (deliberately bad in my opinion), and there is nothing that can be done about the very deliberate relocation of the bird feeders. I have highlighted with the council that it is not even one feeder but 7 feeders all above where I am usually having to park my car, along with scrap metal and a trailer when they fancy it. I personally feel that this constitutes antisocial behaviour, but at the moment, the council feel there is nothing that they can do. I have not asked for them to actually do anything at this point in time, as I don’t want to make matters even worse, but as a resident of many years, I find this really unfair and don’t think it is fair for some of the other older residents who have spent their lives here.
Can anyone suggest what else I can do?
I have tried speaking with these residents reasonably, and this has not worked
I also sent them a friendly, informal letter welcoming them and asking them if there was any chance they could relocate their feeders – it has been ignored.
I have tried everything that a friendly, reasonable neighbour should do and I just don’t know what to do next. We have never had bother with neighbours in the past so we have done quite well, but it feels as though we are hitting our heads against a brick wall, I really am at a loss.
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Comments
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Perhaps it's time to report all the rats you have seen around the bird feeders
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Perhaps it's time to report all the rats you have seen around the bird feeders
Do you know what, that is not a bad idea because there genuinely have been a number of rats. I was talking to one of the neighbours the other day and three ran across the parking area. I have no idea if they would be attracted to the feeders, but it might be worth mentioning.0 -
Rats do get attracted to bird feeders: we've got one in our back garden, and we've seen a rat come in and try to get the food out of it.0
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I know it's a bit of expense/hassle, but what about a car cover? Seems a fairly non-confrontational next move...0
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As usually the last person home this must be a complete nightmare for you.
I don't understand why the council won't put in some rules. I own a private property with communal parking, which we pay a yearly rent for upkeep of grounds and parking areas. There is no allocated parking, each property is allowed to park 2 taxed vehicles, no boats, no trailers and no lorries.0 -
If the trailer is untaxed the council can make them move it. We had a problem with trailers and caravans in my town and with the rise in cars the council gave everybody a 2 weeks to move them.
Another avenue is fly tipping with regards to the scrap.
Another option is to write a large sign saying "scrap help yourself" the gypsies will soon clear it.0 -
What do your leases say? While they may not specifically police bad parking, do they say anything about what may be parked (I know when lived on an estate the use of the communal car park specifically forbade parking caravans, trailers and commercial vehicles.
Also, piling scrap metal etc maybe in breach of the lease.
Most leases have a clause relating the 'quiet enjoyment' which is intended to protect you from nuisance / anti-social behaviour (quiet in this context means peaceful, it's not just about noise)
I agree that a cheap car cover may be a short term solution for the bird mess issue.
I think you will need to report it formally and specifically ask the council to address it as anti social behaviour and (potentially) breach of the provision relating to quiet enjoyment.
Are other neighbours experiencing problems? If more than one person complains then the council is more likely to take matters seriously.
Are there as many spaces as there are properties? (i.e. are some people taking up more than one space?)All posts are my personal opinion, not formal advice Always get proper, professional advice (particularly about anything legal!)0 -
Yep, rats love bird food.
We had a rat problem once, and also had a bird feeder hanging from a stake. I watched Mum rat bring her youngsters and they climbed on top of each other to get at the feeder.0 -
It is the same as where we live. We have a democratic parking system, using the first past the post principle. First in, first served. Late comers, tuff.0
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Don't !!!! around. Tell them the bird feeders are causing damage to your car. Tell them you'll hold them liable for any damage caused to your vehicle. Report them to the council for antisocial behavior. ASBOs have been enforced for bird feeding.
It wouldn't hurt to tell the council you'd seen a few rats as well."Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance" - Confucius0
This discussion has been closed.
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