In a very bad situation

pimento

marksoton wrote: »

Why should a tenant suffer whilst an owner occupier shouldn't?

Bizarre post.

My main thought would be that a tenant has the easy option to put up or leave more easily than an owner occupier.

david1951

If it were me, I would try to find out the cost of a security patrol, with an active presence throughout the evening and nights on Friday and Saturday (or whenever the kids seem to be hanging around). The management company could split the cost between the owners. I can see how this might make the problem worse (the kids start goading the security etc) but it maybe worth a try.

The classical music idea is novel too!

...just to add, in some areas council flats have been knocked down so that expensive new builds can go up in their place. This has caused a lot of animosity towards the new build, and it wouldn't surprise me if the parents are turning a blind eye on purpose.

Bogalot

ThemeOne wrote: »

I know playing classical music has been found quite an effective deterrent in other cases, and I think you can also play some kind of high pitched tone which is supposedly only audible to people under a certain age, and isn't very pleasant.

Blocks of flats, however, are by their nature subject to certain issues, even if the building is of a more "exclusive" kind. Unless you have some kind of human security e.g. a 24 hour concierge / security person it's always difficult to control access i.e. those who want to get in nearly always can somehow.

Problems are not confined to less desirable areas either - for example, I once knew of people in a very expensive block in Wimbledon whose life was made a misery by a call girl service being run from one of the flats.

On the high pitched tone, it is also audible to some adults with hearing difficulties, which could amount to a disability. It might solve the problem, but could generate more of an issue.

Personally I like the idea of classical music, as a resident I'd quite like coming home to that too. Although you'd have to investigate how to generate the music without giving the children something to steal!

david1951 makes a really good point too, could some of these people have previously been living where you now are? Is it a brand new building or a renovation?

bmthmark

I was in a similar situation to you but not as bad. We moved in to a lovely house in a nice road, all properties were occupied by the home owners and renting was very rare.
Over the years I noticed many of the houses were being sold to landlords and new young families started renting. Whilst the kids were young all was fine, then as they got older the street took a dramatic turn. The families just didn't care, the land lords didn't care that the properties were getting abused.
The final straw for me was when I stepped in to help a woman as she was getting pushed around by her partner. He then decided to pull out a knife and threaten me. The police were called and he ran off, helicopters and police dogs chased him. I then had to live near this mad man whilst the police were dealing with it. As you can imagine this was not pleasant when all I worried about was keeping my family safe.
In the end we sold and moved to a new area and it was the best move we have done.

To cut a long story short, you know deep down if an area is getting bad. Most people will hold out and try and hope that things change. It most cases it won't.

Good luck

Okydoky25

Not sure if it helps but we just moved 2 years into a 5 year fixed rate with Santander and we kept the same mortgage. We borrowed additional money which is a separate mortgage with them along side the original. We were still able to use the equity as a deposit.

Mortgage_Moog

What kind of amounts are you talking about when you say there's a hefty fee for leaving early? I'm two months into a 5 year fixed mortgage and the amount it would cost me to leave is only in the hundreds of pounds. I had an annual statement the other day with it in writing, I just thought I'd mention this in case it's not as much as you're thinking. I have a tiny mortgage but I thought it was worth asking just in case you've been told it'll cost thousands when it might not.

sturgeon

Just a note that the £20k you're planning on paying back to the government, surely with a HTB equity loan (presumbably what this is) you need to pay the % back that you borrowed so this £20k could be more if the value has increased?


What area is this in if you don't mind me asking?

jjbrunton

getmore4less wrote: »

If there is any further attempts to start fires call out the fire brigade not the police.
None of you are qualified to be sure any fire is properly extinguished.

if there are attempt to tailgate then maybe the active group could agree to respond to calls for help, maybe sharing mobile numbers so people can text for help.
Not suggesting you go as far as letting them in then ambushing them in the building all suitably masked and very angry.

If the doors can be forced then they are not good enough.
Is the lighting adequate at the entrance

I suspect CCTV and good lighting could make this building less of a target.

This also seems an ideal candidate for regular Community support officer patrol.

Essentially these are the suggested steps (except the CCTV as previously mentioned) that are beginning to take track.

The doors are being looked at next week with the intention to replace them and upgrade the locks.

There have already been two evictions via First Wessex in area because of the children linked to the abuse so action is being taken but it take a long time.

The area is in Gosport, it should be fairly easy to guess the development if you are local to the area.

marksoton

jjbrunton wrote: »

Essentially these are the suggested steps (except the CCTV as previously mentioned) that are beginning to take track.

The doors are being looked at next week with the intention to replace them and upgrade the locks.

There have already been two evictions via First Wessex in area because of the children linked to the abuse so action is being taken but it take a long time.

The area is in Gosport, it should be fairly easy to guess the development if you are local to the area.

Why didn't you say. I can have a team there in less than 5 minutes!