Renter needing advice

indigoblue11

Not saying this has happened yet but can my landlord kick me out for making complaints about a neighbour for several issues, noise, breaking covid rules and smoking cannabis. I overheard a conversation this neighbour was having that "he gets on very well with the landlord and they have said don't you worry" whilst moaning about me complaining.
My anxiety levels are through the roof

greatcrested

There are 2 ways the LL could 'kick you out'.

1) serve a S21 notice, giving 6 months notice (which could not expire before any fixed term contract you have), followed by a long wait for a court to grant a possession order (12+ months total at present?)

2) serve a S8 Notice using one of 18 grounds (see here), most commonly rent arrears (G8).

That's of course assuming he does it legally as opposed to risking prison for illegal eviction.

See also

Post 4: Ending/renewing an AST: what happens when a fixed term ends? How can a LL or tenant end a tenancy? What is a periodic tenancy?

indigoblue11

Thanks, this is really helpful. I rent for a housing association and was on a 6 month contract which is now a rolling month and I've been here over a year now. I hate all these problems, it's the last couple of months and I've never complained about anything before. My mental health is suffering quite badly right now. Its all getting too much.

greatcrested

The neighbour 'gets on well with the landlord', but your landlord is a Housing Association?

Seems unlikely....

indigoblue11

I guess yeah it sounds far fetched but now I’m paranoid that there’s some sort of relationship built up there. 

greatcrested said:

The neighbour 'gets on well with the landlord', but your landlord is a Housing Association?

Seems unlikely....

HampshireH

greatcrested said:

The neighbour 'gets on well with the landlord', but your landlord is a Housing Association?

Seems unlikely....

Agree. Housing Associations dont make friends with tenants. Except the neighbours landlord may be a private owner....

OP if you neighbour has a different landlord then your landlord isn't likely to care much.

To be honest it's low level and there is very little that will be done anyway.

Noise you can keep diary sheets and report to environmental health 

indigoblue11

Thank you everyone for helping put my mind at ease. The whole building is housing association. 

indigoblue11

I just got up to pop to the loo. It’s 12.30am and my whole flat stinks of cannabis. 😢😢😢 this is so bad I don’t want to be here anymore. 

gozaimasu

Get the housing association to re-locate you to another flat then.

[Deleted User]

I had a similar problem, only it wasn't cannabis, it was some rather strong and overwhelming sheep cooking something or other.  It was coming in through shared vents.  The council were sympathetic but said they could do nothing.  I did manage to move in the end but this was years ago. 

However, this is cannabis smells, not cooking smells.  I'd expect the HA to be more helpful.  What has been the reaction of the HA so far?  What advice, if any, have they given?

To be honest, if the neighbours are smoking cannabis.., probably live largely in their imagination (having been around people like this, none of whom were based very firmly in reality) - I'd just ignore what you heard.  Previous posters are correct, HA's are not known for forming friendships with tenants!

You could contact your councillor or MP and ask them for support if the HA aren't being helpful.  You could also explain to the HA the effect on your mental health and ask how you'd be able to put yourself forward for a move on health grounds.  This might not be easy though .., but its worth asking how.

princeofpounds

Cannabis is still a class B drug. There is nothing to stop you reporting it as a crime to the police every time it happens (ask for a crime reference number). Eventually there is a chance that they will take some action, if only to keep the stats under control. Enforcement is understandably low priority, but the chances are higher if the smoke is affecting vulnerable people (children, elderly, genuinely ill) or there is cultivation or dealing going on, so make sure to mention those factors if applicable (do NOT lie or exaggerate however).

As for the housing association - make official written complaints. Contact your councillor and MP about the lack of action. Don't be emotive, just make the point concisely and express disappointment. Reference their duty to investigate and their powers to take action. This hassle will increase the chances of them agreeing to a move. When you have built up a log of problems and efforts to complain, you can then escalate to the Housing Ombudsman.

(This is actually the local government ombudsman but sometimes they work with the housing ombudsman on cases and it's quite a good description of the process) https://www.lgo.org.uk/make-a-complaint/fact-sheets/housing/neighbour-nuisance-and-anti-social-behaviour

Really don't worry about the HA 'being friends'. That's either fantasy or was deliberately said so that you would overhear.