Problem upstairs tenant, shared entrance & harassment

Greymug

AdrianC said:

Greymug said:

this is an anonymous forum so you can tell us....did you steal his fish or not?

Do you have a cat...?

A cat would also explain all the food shops being stolen. It's common knowledge cats are vicious and opportunistic creatures.

If OP has a cat, I'm siding with the upstairs tenant!

Jude57

I feel for you @gentlecleanser. The neighbour opposite me has mental health issues but is, fortunately for us, only usually a danger to himself when he periodically goes off his medication. The last time, the fire service were called as he'd left a pan on and gone out. I actually have a spare key as for some reason he trusts me with that, so the firemen were able to get in without breaking his door down. When they returned the key, they asked if I'd ever been in his flat, which I haven't, and said 'he really shouldn't be living alone', which worried me somewhat so I called social services. They obviously wouldn't discuss with me, not even to say whether they knew my neighbour, but did say they'd look into my concerns which hopefully they did. There's been no further problems.

All that is to say that, whatever sympathy you may have with your neighbour, his problems should not become yours. I'd say, report, report, report. To police for harassment, and keep reporting it every single time. To social services because you are afraid he is endangering himself and others, leaving pans on when he goes out. To the landlord in writing, again because of the risk to property although the landlord isn't usually responsible for his tenant's behaviour, and again to his brother because you're worried about your neighbour's safety as well as your own. The main problem is that if your neighbour won't engage with mental health services, there's not much they can do.

There's no quick fix to this but if you're tenacious, hopefully someone will at least try to help you even if only to stop you complaining.

Skiddaw1

I'm absolutely with @Jude57 on this one. There's absolutely nothing amusing about being in a situation such as this. The neighbour clearly has mental health issues but that isn't the OP's responsibility. Things could potentially escalate if something isn't done. OP, absolutely- keep rattling the cage on a regular basis (for his sake- sounds to me that he clearly requires more ongoing support than he's receiving currently- as well as yours).

TBagpuss

Harassment can be dealt with as a criminal matter. It's very difficult, as it does sound in this case as though the under lying reason is mental health problems rather than intentional malice, but that doesn't help you.

The relevant bit of law is the protection from harassment act, and harassment is defined as "an ongoing course of conduct amounting to harassment" 

The 'course of conduct' element means that police normally need to have had more than one incident reported before they can do anything, and whether or not something amounts to harassment is deliberately vague, as it means that things can be harassment dependent on circumstances.

It's often helpful if you can show that you have specifically warned the person that you see their behaviour as harassment - a letter (keep a copy) that says something to the effect that you will regard it as harassments if he:
- makes comments or accusations to you or about you, about food deliveries being missing/stolen
- makes comments or accusations to you or about you, about post or other deliveries 
- makes comments or accusations to you or about you about any alleged theft  or missing items
- approaches you in the common areas or enters or attempts to enter your home, including knocking or banging or your door.
- contacts you except in writing  or via his landlord 

This probably won't stop the behaviour but it may make it easier for the police to approach it as harassment. They can give him warnings and it is ultimately possible for a restraining order to be made  - it's possible that even if he believes you have done the things that he will reduce the number of times he approaches you directly about it. 

In terms of social services you can contact you local adult team and report your concerns and the fact that he is causing you to feel unsafe.
Unfortunately I don't think they can do anything unless he himself looks for support. 

if at any time you feel in danger then do call the police - my understanding is that the situations where a person can be detained under the Mental Health Act are where they pose a risk to themselves or to others, so if he is actively threatening then call the police.

I am not certain of the mechanism but I think that they would be able to arrest him for threatening behaviour, and can then arrange for an appropriate mental health assessment 

How does he react if you respond to him? Have you ever tried speaking to him at a time he isn't actively making accusations, or explicitly telling him to leave you alone? 

robatwork

Someone has decided he can live on his own.

Someone is paying his rent.

Can you engage with him long enough to work out who that "someone" is?  (Social services, parents, carers, whoever).

Then you could appeal to that person instead. Horrid situation and I sympathise with you and family.

NameUnavailable

Back in the 80's Thatcher and her cronies decided to close and sell off many of the psychiatric hospitals (one my mother worked at is now a luxury housing development) in favour of 'care in the community'. The problem is that the 'care' is often left to people like the OP, who by way of the situation becomes some kind of de facto carer (even if that is just reporting them to social services/police when their behaviour becomes too much to tolerate).

The guy in Portsmouth who ended up gunning down a load of his neighbours is a more extreme example of why this policy is so very very wrong.

another_casualty

I really am sorry to hear of you situation op . 

I'm trying to phathom out how/ why you were on good terms with the landlord .
It says a lot about him/ her that they are avoiding you and leaving you to deal with this horrible situation , while they still rake in the cash ! 

On top of that, they seem to be the type that would Chuck anybody in there , after this individual has eventually been moved on . 

That tenant is dangerous , and you should not be put into that situation . 

I live in a similar flat to yours , so I understand the layout etc . ( I think ) 
what I would do ( which may not be popular but you are in a desperate situation )..
A) Contact the managing agents ASAP , by email and telephone explaining everything.... b)
Contact the landlord advising them that you will be visiting them everytime  you have harassment whatever time that is ..and do so . Plus contact lettings agents .

C) If you know someone else who can bang on the landlords home then do so .
D) contact the police as advised above at every opportunity . 

Only this time mention that he was talking about guns . They'll soon be round and maybe prioritise getting him moved on . 

Sorry to say , I did find the Chandler and cat posts funny though 😼

Slithery

another_casualty said:

I really am sorry to hear of you situation op . 

I'm trying to phathom out how/ why you were on good terms with the landlord .
It says a lot about him/ her that they are avoiding you and leaving you to deal with this horrible situation , while they still rake in the cash ! 

On top of that, they seem to be the type that would Chuck anybody in there , after this individual has eventually been moved on . 

That tenant is dangerous , and you should not be put into that situation . 

I live in a similar flat to yours , so I understand the layout etc . ( I think ) 
what I would do ( which may not be popular but you are in a desperate situation )..
A) Contact the managing agents ASAP , by email and telephone explaining everything.... b)
Contact the landlord advising them that you will be visiting them everytime  you have harassment whatever time that is ..and do so . Plus contact lettings agents .

C) If you know someone else who can bang on the landlords home then do so .
D) contact the police as advised above at every opportunity . 

Only this time mention that he was talking about guns . They'll soon be round and maybe prioritise getting him moved on . 

Sorry to say , I did find the Chandler and cat posts funny though 😼

It's absolutely nothing to do with the LL or agents. Would it be the mortgage companies fault if they owned the place instead of being tenants?
What you suggest would be harrasment of the landlord.

theoretica

Can you alter your doorbell so it is less audible upstairs?  Only a small thing, but something you can control.

SDLT_Geek

another_casualty said:

D) contact the police as advised above at every opportunity . 

Only this time mention that he was talking about guns . They'll soon be round and maybe prioritise getting him moved on . 

Highly irresponsible!