Neighbours making my life hell

AnnieO1234

Not trying to be awkward OP but when you speak with the council et al, please refrain from comments such as "they shouldn't be there". Firstly, that's pretty much how everyone feels when they're shoved next to neighbours who share a different lifestyle (being polite!). But more worryingly is if that could possibly be construed as racism or similar by someone at the council, or indeed by your neighbours if they caught wind of it.

Presumably they've been living their life the same way throughout the last ten years, and now the seeming newcomers are causing issues. As has already been said, cannabis use has been virtually decriminalised. Their behaviours are, unfortunately, within the normal social spectrum. Just because they're unsavoury to some doesn't mean that they're especially wrong or worthy of eviction etc.

I'm not trying to sound awful but it really doesn't seem that anything will be done about said neighbours, especially given how long they've been there. It is probably going to be easier for you to simply move. Yes, I know that's not fair and I know it shouldn't be you having to etc etc, but sometimes the stress of these situations really isn't worth it. Xxxx

brodawel

I think you need to change your approach to this immediately or it will get much worse for you and your husband. Unfortunately you have now become a target and a focus for their behaviour. You have given them a reason to carry on and they will be enjoying it. Strange as it may sound but you would be better to become matey with them and appear to like them as neighbours. Take them some beer and apologise along with some excuse for being under stress at the moment because of blah blah blah (just make something up). Then move at the earliest opportunity.

spottycat

AnnieO1234 wrote: »

Not trying to be awkward OP but when you speak with the council et al, please refrain from comments such as "they shouldn't be there". Firstly, that's pretty much how everyone feels when they're shoved next to neighbours who share a different lifestyle (being polite!). But more worryingly is if that could possibly be construed as racism or similar by someone at the council, or indeed by your neighbours if they caught wind of it.

Presumably they've been living their life the same way throughout the last ten years, and now the seeming newcomers are causing issues. As has already been said, cannabis use has been virtually decriminalised. Their behaviours are, unfortunately, within the normal social spectrum. Just because they're unsavoury to some doesn't mean that they're especially wrong or worthy of eviction etc.

I'm not trying to sound awful but it really doesn't seem that anything will be done about said neighbours, especially given how long they've been there. It is probably going to be easier for you to simply move. Yes, I know that's not fair and I know it shouldn't be you having to etc etc, but sometimes the stress of these situations really isn't worth it. Xxxx

When I speak to council or police I just report as it happened and don't make comments!

It's a difficult situation and to be fair we have not reported everything that has gone on.
Sometimes police go over when we have not reported but I think people like the have such a huge network...especially when drugs are involved they are bound to have enemies.

This property we are in has been empty for 3 years previous to us moving in. The previous tenants were friends with our neighbours and were evicted for drug dealing.

When we first moved in and her boyfriend lived with her, the boyfriend often talked about the people upstairs, said he decorated the flat really nice but when we moved in the place was a mess. We put a new toilet and sink in and he claimed the previous people had done that...not us.

We have a shared garden which is full of their rubbish, in 3 years they have never done garden work. I'm the one who cuts the grass. When we put flowers pots around the patio her sisters kids pulled all the flowers up and made a mess of the pots.

They have been here longer but I don't think living here a while and living an 'alternative lifestyle' is any excuse to threaten, bully and make life hell for your neighbours.

Our plan as of last year was to try and buy this flat through right to buy as they changed eligibility to three years. Now we are just saving to get out. The only good thing about living here is, it has given us an opportunity to be able to save money but it probably wouldn't be until next year we could move...

spottycat

brodawel wrote: »

I think you need to change your approach to this immediately or it will get much worse for you and your husband. Unfortunately you have now become a target and a focus for their behaviour. You have given them a reason to carry on and they will be enjoying it. Strange as it may sound but you would be better to become matey with them and appear to like them as neighbours. Take them some beer and apologise along with some excuse for being under stress at the moment because of blah blah blah (just make something up). Then move at the earliest opportunity.

It's true, this is so much fun to them. Since the police visit last night they have been so quiet.
They are a family known by police, they are afraid of losing their tenancy.

I understand from a council visit last year they had breached their tenancy twice...I wonder how many times you breach it until you have to leave?

We can't leave until next year, I believe the best option now it's to completely ignore them all together. Just walk straight past when they are all smoking on the wall.

They made a few loud threats yesterday after police had left but I have had the quietest morning in a long time. I think they are worried

spottycat

An update...
This morning I called the non emergency police number to get the crime references.

I had the one we have reported Friday night but I wanted the other that someone else had reported yesterday.

Unfortunately they couldn't give me that but she asked what was going on and I told her everything.
We made a whole report and she said they were indeed being very antisocial.
She gave me advice on how people who are anti social behave...such as the threats they made last night after the police visit were them lashing back out worry but could be interpreted as them thinking it's fun.
I told her they were having fun then she asked how they were behaving now and I said very quiet, she said you see they are worried. Whether she was saying this to calm my nerves or not??

Anyway she said she thinks the police need to visit us and take some details which I agreed.

My only worry now is that none of this is anonymous anymore. It's us and they know it.

brodawel

spottycat wrote: »

An update...
This morning I called the non emergency police number to get the crime references.

I had the one we have reported Friday night but I wanted the other that someone else had reported yesterday.

Unfortunately they couldn't give me that but she asked what was going on and I told her everything.
We made a whole report and she said they were indeed being very antisocial.
She gave me advice on how people who are anti social behave...such as the threats they made last night after the police visit were them lashing back out worry but could be interpreted as them thinking it's fun.
I told her they were having fun then she asked how they were behaving now and I said very quiet, she said you see they are worried. Whether she was saying this to calm my nerves or not??

Anyway she said she thinks the police need to visit us and take some details which I agreed.

My only worry now is that none of this is anonymous anymore. It's us and they know it.

You are right to be worried and I would avoid this. Be wise, don't make enemies here. Everyone has their own agenda including the authorities and it's not necessarily in your best interests so you need to look out for yourself.

vivatifosi

spottycat wrote: »

Anyway she said she thinks the police need to visit us and take some details which I agreed.

My only worry now is that none of this is anonymous anymore. It's us and they know it.

Can you call them back and arrange to meet either at a police station or a neutral venue where your conversation is less likely to be noticed?

spottycat

vivatifosi wrote: »

Can you call them back and arrange to meet either at a police station or a neutral venue where your conversation is less likely to be noticed?

Good idea, thank you

david_a

Why not get some other neighbours to go to.

spottycat

Last night was probably one of the quietest since living here...
Considering they thought the police visiting was fun and spoke loudly so we could purposely here them of how 'police can't touch them' 'we are stupid so and so's' 'they are perfect, we are wrong' etc etc

So if it was a funny experience for them why are they being so deathly quiet?

I'm not sure if police did do a visit with them as we went out all day yesterday.

Could they be scared?? Of being reported? Knowing they have been in plenty of trouble before with council, they think if they behave I might not report them?

I'm pleased they are behaving and I only write this as I was just considering NOT reporting them because of the quiet.