Need advice: bad neighbours

corell

Hello.

I'm hoping someone can give some advice on our current situation please, as I'm really struggling and unsure where to turn.

Recently we had new neighbours move in. They seemed fine at first, but it quickly became apparent these are not good people. Both recently out of jail, one possibly still on probation. (Burglary, gang violence, threats to kill/harm to name a few).

They are extremely noisy. Impact noise, loud music day and night, they talk at full volume outside in the early hours which wakes us up. Recently, 7 out of 10 nights we were woken up once or twice a night between 1-5am. I have spoken to one of them about this, but they put the blame on others not living at the property.
There's violence, which at times is taken out into the street, screaming, crying, shouting etc.
There are drugs being delivered during the day and night, and other drug users visiting and then trespassing onto our fenced/gated property.

The houses are very close together, and surrounded on all sides. They have started to have fires in the garden which has caused issue with an adjoining neighbour and has led to aggression and insults from the problem neighbours. I feel they are deliberately antagonising neighbours, and have overheard their comments about complaints, they don't care if they get complaints, they will do what they want etc.

The main issue for me is the violence, as the majority of times it is in the day and I work from home. The area is mostly working families, the new neighbours don't work so are home a lot. This is impacting my job as the noise is unbearable meaning I leave the house. It's impacting my mental health more though, it's the screams and crying I can't handle. It has my anxiety through the roof to the point of being in tears. I'm dreading the school holidays when the children are home and the possibility of them hearing this too. My children can't even go out into the garden without them trying to engage in conversation about what we have in the house (games consoles etc).

(TL;DR) My main point is, what is the best route to take to have them removed from the property? They rent from a private landlord, as do we. We have lived here 5 years so I don't want to have to move. I have started to keep a diary, and other neighbours are also aware or have witnessed the issues themselves. No one as of yet has contacted police etc as far as I'm aware, I think we all hope someone else will do it as we all fear what they will do. Given the violence and aggression, I'm wary and unsure about what to do or where to go from here. I'm aware if we do nothing they will stay longer creating more issues, however I'm scared of retaliation as it would be obvious who is reporting it.

walwyn1978

Although I do get the 'why should I move, I've lived here 5 years' thing, since you're renting, you give notice and you move. Far quicker than trying to get them removed. Sorry, I know it's not what you want to hear.

kinger101

You can report things anonymously using Crimestoppers. Though they may suspect it's you. But if they are on probation, being caught in possession of drugs will get them recalled.

But as walwyn suggests, moving out might be your best option. You're lucky you don't own the place.

corell

walwyn1978 wrote: »

Although I do get the 'why should I move, I've lived here 5 years' thing, since you're renting, you give notice and you move. Far quicker than trying to get them removed. Sorry, I know it's not what you want to hear.

I get where you are coming from, and it's the advice I would most likely give if I were to be reading this as someone else's problem. The issue is we have family here in the same street who we need to be near, and we also financially at the moment couldn't afford another deposit etc. It's a nice area too, and local for school etc. The only downside are the new neighbours.

Red-Squirrel_2

I assume you are calling the police for the violent incidents and the drug dealing?

corell

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

I assume you are calling the police for the violent incidents and the drug dealing?

As I've said in my post, I haven't called anyone yet but neither has anyone else. I'm worried if I do this the wrong way. I have a family to consider so it's not so easy as to call the police when it's obvious where it's come from and given their past convictions which I have read about in the newspapers. I'm looking for advice/help for what route to take to have this taken care of swiftly, and avoid any retaliation on us. I'm unsure where to turn, do I contact the police? Council? Landlord? Which is the best route? All 3? 1 before another? Do I go anonymous, do I give my name? I don't want to take the wrong route. Do you have experience of this, if so what did you do? I'm keeping a diary as I read the council want you to do this before they will get involved. However the council also seem to always offer mediation, and this isn't an option with these people.

kinger101

If it's a private landlord, the council are unlikely to be interested. It's hard enough to get their interest even when something is their business (unless it's a parking fine).

If it's domestic violence, you need to call the police.

moneyistooshorttomention

I'm also thinking the landlord/lady themselves presumably wouldnt want them as tenants if they knew what they were like??

FBaby

There are only two options, you take it full on, involve the police, joint complaints with other neighbours etc..., although this will be stressful and no assurance that it will lead to them going, at least not for some time.... or you move.

Understand you don't want to move and shouldn't have to move, but the reality is that people like your neighbours rule the roost and society protects them whilst people like you have to be the one to suffer. That's how it is sadly.

In your case, I would start saving for a deposit and look around for places close by. You don't have to live on that street and the blessing is that indeed, you can move and forget about it. Your LL will have to pick of the stress of finding new tenants willing to put up with these neighbours.

Red-Squirrel_2

corell wrote: »

As I've said in my post, I haven't called anyone yet but neither has anyone else. I'm worried if I do this the wrong way. I have a family to consider so it's not so easy as to call the police when it's obvious where it's come from and given their past convictions which I have read about in the newspapers. I'm looking for advice/help for what route to take to have this taken care of swiftly, and avoid any retaliation on us. I'm unsure where to turn, do I contact the police? Council? Landlord? Which is the best route? All 3? 1 before another? Do I go anonymous, do I give my name? I don't want to take the wrong route. Do you have experience of this, if so what did you do? I'm keeping a diary as I read the council want you to do this before they will get involved. However the council also seem to always offer mediation, and this isn't an option with these people.

If you witness violence you call 999, that should be a given.

What if someone dies or comes to serious harm and you had known but hadn!!!8217;t bothered to raise the alarm?

You don!!!8217;t have to give your name if you!!!8217;re scared.

k4ren2006

There may be some hope of them moving on their own accord or their landlord may evict. If they arent paying their rent, for example, they may do a runner...anything is possible. I'm with you on the why should we be the ones to move as we're in the same boat with nightmare neighbours ourselves but don't pin your hopes on the authorities as they can be useless (three year battle ourselves going around in circles). Sadly, there's no easy fix...I hope you'll get some luck soon x