Do Councils / Housing Associations Buy Houses?

Pay_me

mimi1234 wrote: »

PAY_ME: I work for the Council anyway and I thought they would have "sided with me" (is that even a thing these days), but no. I'm also part of a forum where people suffer nasty neighbours and they have all been given the same answer. Non stop door slamming is fine. Hmmm.

Anyway, I never did it officially. I specifically said it was just an enquiry and they said they could not do a thing. I mentioned hoovering at random times, like first thing in the morning or late at night, and he said "your soundproofing must be really bad, we can't help, sorry". LOL.

Unfortunately, they can't side with anyone it is an evidence based assessment. Statutory Nuisance is in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 so it's a criminal legislation. All evidence to allow action has to be beyond reasonable doubt.

If a notice is served the source of the noise has 21 days to challenge the notice in court. If the notice is kept in tact by the court or not challenged and the source breaches the conditions they are then subjected to a breach of notice investigation which may result in them being prosecuted through a court. The council cannot take sides.

I understand what you are saying and can see why you are frustrated but there has to be other reasons why the Council are giving you that advice. Slamming of doors non stop is not fine and many people have had notices served on them for it and some even prosecuted for breaching the notice etc.........I am saying this from professional experience with many years experience in the field. I have personally served notices for impact noises including slamming of doors etc.

The problem is without knowing your full particular circumstances I can't fully advise, nor do I know the policy for your local authority etc. Though if you can hear things like hoovering etc. then sound insulation may be an issue.

marksoton

Pay_me wrote: »

Just to advise any noise can potentially be a Statutory Nuisance (s79 Environmental Protection Act 1990).

S79 is not a thing LA's treat lightly.

They will generally only invoke its conditions if an F10 is required.

Pay_me

In reply to marksoton:

I am very aware of the use of Statutory Nuisance as I work in the field and have served more notices than I can remember

Normal procedure (where I work) in the domestic setting above would be.

1) Issue advisory
2) Await return of log sheets from complainant
3) Issue warning
4) Await 2nd log sheets to show warning not worked
5) Carry out noise investigation
6) Depending on results serve notice or close case etc


The law does not require Local authorities to prosecute but does require them to serve a notice if they are satisfied that a nuisance exists or likely to occur etc.

The issue is gaining the evidence to support the serving of the notice

patman99

There's more than one way to deal with a nuiscence neighbour.
My friend's life was made a misery for nearly 9 years by a family from hell.

In the end, I got involved after observing their three children bouncing off the furniture in the front room for 45 minutes whilst mum was upstairs watching TV. I sent an email to social services raising my concerns about the safety of the children. Within 10 days, the neighbours from hell had fled to a relative's house and put theirs up for rent.

It is worth also noting that your mum may be classed as a vulnerable adult. In which case, the Council would have to tread very carefully when dealing with the issues that she raises or they could be in serious trouble.

Just thinking. A house that size would make a good B&B.

Running_Horse

As you say you have never raised the neighbour issue officially, there is nothing to declare. Just sell the house in the normal manner.

Lioness_Twinkletoes

To answer the original question, yes my LA does buy private homes. Not a lot of use for you though as you are unlikely to live in my borough. Call your Council and ask. Some are using very creative methods to ease the housing crisis.

mimi1234

Thank you all.

I will definitely be chasing it up. If the house doesn't sell normally, then I guess an auction will be the best option.

Now the hunt goes on for a nice bungalow. The only bungalows in this area are Council run and they are very high in demand. Everyone seems to want one these days.

I fully agree that the soundproofing is awful in these houses, but I would have thought people would have a bit of humanity and respect for their neighbours, moreso that they have lived next to us for like 40 years and they know my Mother lost her husband not too long ago!

Let's hope my Mother doesn't go back to her "we will not be driven out of this house" pallarva again!!!

[Deleted User]

I do have to say.., how do you know there is 'not anything wrong' with the neighbours mentally etc. Are you qualified to judge.., have you assessed them?

I would advise contacting your MP for advice on whether the council should be taking your/your mother's complaint seriously and start keeping a log.

mimi1234

Hi Deana. You are right. I haven't assessed them but they all work or worked as they are now pensioners so I just thought they can't have been unwell mentally. I understand that people can have mental health problems and still work so I was wrong to say what I did.

I will discuss it with Mother if she wants to take it further or not. For some unknown reason she seems to want to put up with it. God knows why. She thinks it's a test from God or something like that.

Thanks for your advice.

mimi1234

Oh and it may sound like I am trying to push Mother out of her own house but I am not. I am just thinking of the harassment she has to put up with and it's not fair on her. It was an all night party last night with heaps of unnecessary door slamming and all day today too. She was trying to nod off during the day but they kept power slamming the doors. I'd like to think it was not on purpose but I think I would just be kidding myself.