Harassed by neighbour

Jeepers_Creepers

stand272 said:

Thank you for your detailed and extremely useful response. Although awful to hear, other people’s experiences can be very useful.

Reporting them to the police for harassment just a couple of days ago has certainly helped. Both the police and the council are now communicating with each other and have the full history. Of course their noise nuisance investigation still has to go ahead, but we’re ok with that now that they are aware of all of his awful behaviour that dates back years. The statements from a previous occupant and 3 other households on the street have really helped also. Some of the examples of his behaviour in our neighbours statements were truly eye opening. The police were surprised why they hadn’t had more reports in the past, but I think the average family on the street wants to avoid that at all costs, just like we did. People are scared of confrontation, reluctant to create further animosity and of complications involved with declarations on house purchase paperwork. However, I believe this sort of behaviour will always catch up with you in the end!

Absolutely.

There are a number of reasons why folk don't want to act, and you've listed them there. Often added to that is the fear that nothing will be done by the authorities, and the problem will then only become worse as the antagonist will know this.

In reality - these days especially - most councils and police are fully aware of the distress such things cause, and know they have a responsibility to act.

Keep calm. Keep positive. You be the perfect neighbour - normal. Never lose your cool. Don't get sucked in to arguments. Stand your ground - absolutely. Show you are not intimidated. Record everything.

These folk have seemingly got away with it with previous occupants, and also with other neighbs. That will have emboldened them - but also make them more likely to be silly now they are actually being challenged. Eg; they will be more likely to exaggerate and invent claims of other folk's behaviour (as you have found), but this will be recognised by the authorities as being clearly ridiculous.

Don't give them any excuse - be utterly neighbourly and polite if talking to them.

DO YOU HAVE LP ON YOUR INSURANCE?!

MrsStepford

When we had neighbours from Hell 2002-2016, police told us that only complaints to council are included in searches.during a sale. If you have legal expenses insurance on your household insurance, that can be really helpful. Our neighnours were bullies and three families in the street moved out. 
 

stand272

I checked and we do have LP on our home insurance. We have asked the solicitor that did our conveyancing to look into historical complaints, but they weren’t very useful and just referred us to the page in the pack that advised no disputes. They also told us to ask the council for any records of previous complaints, but they aren’t obliged to provide this. They said it’s very difficult to chase the previous owner for not disclosing this information. We’re a bit stuck on this front.

Rosa_Damascena

stand272 said:

I checked and we do have LP on our home insurance. We have asked the solicitor that did our conveyancing to look into historical complaints, but they weren’t very useful and just referred us to the page in the pack that advised no disputes. They also told us to ask the council for any records of previous complaints, but they aren’t obliged to provide this. They said it’s very difficult to chase the previous owner for not disclosing this information. We’re a bit stuck on this front.

You're stuck because your solicitors are busy covering their own backs.

You can at least NOT recommend them.

williamgriffin

stand272 said:

I checked and we do have LP on our home insurance. We have asked the solicitor that did our conveyancing to look into historical complaints, but they weren’t very useful and just referred us to the page in the pack that advised no disputes. They also told us to ask the council for any records of previous complaints, but they aren’t obliged to provide this. They said it’s very difficult to chase the previous owner for not disclosing this information. We’re a bit stuck on this front.

Some council won't give previous complaints to the police so I don't think you have a chance of getting any information. 

williamgriffin

Rosa_Damascena said:

stand272 said:

I checked and we do have LP on our home insurance. We have asked the solicitor that did our conveyancing to look into historical complaints, but they weren’t very useful and just referred us to the page in the pack that advised no disputes. They also told us to ask the council for any records of previous complaints, but they aren’t obliged to provide this. They said it’s very difficult to chase the previous owner for not disclosing this information. We’re a bit stuck on this front.

You're stuck because your solicitors are busy covering their own backs.

You can at least NOT recommend them.

If it's accepted practice to take the word of the seller that their are no disputes then the solicitor don't need to cover their back. Do you know they done something wrong?

stand272

Statements from nearby neighbours say there were significant issues between them. The most recent altercation was actually recorded by this neighbour, but I agree, I think we’re stuck 

Rosa_Damascena

williamgriffin said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

stand272 said:

I checked and we do have LP on our home insurance. We have asked the solicitor that did our conveyancing to look into historical complaints, but they weren’t very useful and just referred us to the page in the pack that advised no disputes. They also told us to ask the council for any records of previous complaints, but they aren’t obliged to provide this. They said it’s very difficult to chase the previous owner for not disclosing this information. We’re a bit stuck on this front.

You're stuck because your solicitors are busy covering their own backs.

You can at least NOT recommend them.

If it's accepted practice to take the word of the seller that their are no disputes then the solicitor don't need to cover their back. Do you know they done something wrong?

I sat down and went through the whole TA6 and TA10 with the vendor line by line, wasn't willing to leave anything to chance - may have p'd them off but they wanted to sell, and fast. And needless to say I don't trust solicitors to do more than the bare minimum.

williamgriffin

Rosa_Damascena said:

williamgriffin said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

stand272 said:

I checked and we do have LP on our home insurance. We have asked the solicitor that did our conveyancing to look into historical complaints, but they weren’t very useful and just referred us to the page in the pack that advised no disputes. They also told us to ask the council for any records of previous complaints, but they aren’t obliged to provide this. They said it’s very difficult to chase the previous owner for not disclosing this information. We’re a bit stuck on this front.

You're stuck because your solicitors are busy covering their own backs.

You can at least NOT recommend them.

If it's accepted practice to take the word of the seller that their are no disputes then the solicitor don't need to cover their back. Do you know they done something wrong?

I sat down and went through the whole TA6 and TA10 with the vendor line by line, wasn't willing to leave anything to chance - may have p'd them off but they wanted to sell, and fast. And needless to say I don't trust solicitors to do more than the bare minimum.

So you've no evidence the solicitor has done anything wrong?

If your vendor lied on the form then they were unlikely to come clean face to face.

I don't see why solicitors or any business should do more than is contracted for no more money. 

Tippytoes

MrsStepford said:

When we had neighbours from Hell 2002-2016, police told us that only complaints to council are included in searches.during a sale. If you have legal expenses insurance on your household insurance, that can be really helpful. Our neighnours were bullies and three families in the street moved out. 
 

I don't wish to sound like a doom monger but I wouldn't rely one jot on insurance legal cover.  They are very good at giving initial general advice - no better than you can get for yourself from websites such as Citizens Advice.  But just try getting them to act for you.  They ask you for this and that, all paperwork, diary entries, anything and everything to support your claim.  You give it, because you've been so good at collating evidence, for so long.  They review, then tell you that as they don't think you have a more than 51% chance of winning your case, your claim is declined.  Then, of course, even if they do think you have a cast iron case, if there's not enough money for them to make out of it, they'll reject you anyway.  

Paying a premium for legal cover is, in my experience, a total waste of money.