Eviction Timescales for Anti-Social Behaviour

LocoLoco

Hi,

I'm aware that there's a big backlog of eviction cases and a long wait for things to go through, but I wondered if that applies to all types of eviction or if they prioritise anti-social behaviour cases?  We're having terrible problems with a neighbour and I know the housing association are gathering evidence to have them thrown out but I wondered if we'd have to wait ages for the case to be heard anyway?

Many thanks for any responses.

HampshireH

Yes they will have to wait their turn.

Social housing evictions can take years with no guarantee a judge will agree the eviction (happens a lot)

If your HA are just gathering evidence they could be at the beginning of the process or at the end evidencing breach of an injunction or whatever 

It won't be quick. 

babyblade41

HA will probably be longer than private rentals , and ASB will not be prioritised or jump the queue 

LocoLoco

Okay, thank you for that, so once they've got evidence together it could be one to two years before it gets to court (that's what I'm hearing the backlog is)?  And might not be granted anyway. Thank you, at least I'm getting a better idea of what I'm dealing with.

Titus_Wadd

OP has the Housing Association asked you to keep a log and report any incidents?  If they haven't it is something you can do to support your own complaints to the HA.  That said we were asked to keep a log of ASB by our neighbour from hell by the local council; 2 years on they're still at the "gathering info" stage.  You have my sympathies; it's hard work getting any authority or body interested enough to act.  Then you have to keep them interested.

LocoLoco

Titus_Wadd said:

OP has the Housing Association asked you to keep a log and report any incidents?  If they haven't it is something you can do to support your own complaints to the HA.  That said we were asked to keep a log of ASB by our neighbour from hell by the local council; 2 years on they're still at the "gathering info" stage.  You have my sympathies; it's hard work getting any authority or body interested enough to act.  Then you have to keep them interested.

Thank you, they have and I have been doing so but we've only been here three weeks and I'm already broken.  I've never known or experienced anything like it and I have always lived in the cheapest kind of housing so I'm used to having to give and take a bit and having to put up with other people's habits and so on.  It seems it's been going on for years; the lady underneath has apparently had this for two years and has now left.  Two other long term neighbours have apparently also left as they couldn't stand it any more.  We are just ringing around organising stays with friends and somewhere to board our cat as I've never been so ill or so frightened and I can't cope.  My son has multiple disabilities and needs 24 hour care and trying to do that without sleep or any peace and quiet has kicked all my symptoms off (I have PTSD) and we both look like extras from The Walking Dead at the moment.  I'm trying to get legal advice but it's very difficult getting hold of anyone as everyone's so busy so it looks like we'll stay with friends when we can, here for as many days at a time as we can manage until either they agree to move us (they've said no once already) or we find a private let and start all over again.  We've waited six years on the housing list to get this place and the last three were with nuisance neighbours who also drove me mad, although compared to this lot they seem like angels now.  Sorry, I'm rambling, I'm just so broken and feel so hopeless.  Thank you for your post, I hope your situation improves as well.

HampshireH

If you are also a tenant

Go back to our HA/Council and tell them you have been housed in unsuitable accommodation. 

Ask to go back on the list and see if they can support you with a management move on medical grounds due to the ASB.

That said if you've had problems with your last four sets of neighbours that's seems very unfortunate... Are you particularly sensitive to noise etc or is it a different type of asb? 

(Obviously you haven't given examples of the behaviour so my question is quite general)

LocoLoco

Thank you Hampshire H, that's the road I'm going down, I've been trying to speak to someone about it though as I've never done it before.  Shelter so busy, as you can imagine, I've found a local solicitor and I'm waiting for them to get back to me.  My post wasn't clear, sorry, I was rambling, it's only one set of previous neighbours I've had a problem with (endlessly barking dogs), there are three sets here who have moved out due to the household we are having problems with, including the people who had our flat before.  The man's violent so whether people haven't complained because they're scared or whether they did complain and the HA didn't do enough I don't know.  I've made a written request for a move and have been sending in reports of everything that's happened plus recordings of noise but I would like to get some proper legal advice as well just to make sure I tick all the right boxes.  Thank you for the help.  We're going to stay with friends for a few days just to get some sleep and I'm trying to get friends to come here as well so I'm not on my own while we try to get a move sorted out.  I was so happy that we were given it - it's a lovely flat, great location, so much cheaper than a private rental.  I couldn't believe our luck.  And within a week I was thinking we might need to leave quite quickly.  Awful people.  Anyway, I'm rambling again, thank you.

HampshireH

LocoLoco said:

Thank you Hampshire H, that's the road I'm going down, I've been trying to speak to someone about it though as I've never done it before.  Shelter so busy, as you can imagine, I've found a local solicitor and I'm waiting for them to get back to me.  My post wasn't clear, sorry, I was rambling, it's only one set of previous neighbours I've had a problem with (endlessly barking dogs), there are three sets here who have moved out due to the household we are having problems with, including the people who had our flat before.  The man's violent so whether people haven't complained because they're scared or whether they did complain and the HA didn't do enough I don't know.  I've made a written request for a move and have been sending in reports of everything that's happened plus recordings of noise but I would like to get some proper legal advice as well just to make sure I tick all the right boxes.  Thank you for the help.  We're going to stay with friends for a few days just to get some sleep and I'm trying to get friends to come here as well so I'm not on my own while we try to get a move sorted out.  I was so happy that we were given it - it's a lovely flat, great location, so much cheaper than a private rental.  I couldn't believe our luck.  And within a week I was thinking we might need to leave quite quickly.  Awful people.  Anyway, I'm rambling again, thank you.

Phew! It read like you'd had problems with last four sets of neighbours.

Your not going to be moved quickly as you will be deemed adequately housed.

Some people wait for management moves for years ago 

Did you bid on his property? Or were you just allocated it?  (Different systems different areas)

No remedy will be quick unless you go back to private rental. But I do not recommend this as you will lose your right to social housing a d may not be allowed back on the list (for having one and giving it up)

Ratkin007

Is it also having an impact on your son, is there any social worker that can provide support. If not already done, have a look at the Authority's allocations procedure for information on moves on management grounds, if that might be an option but depending on area, could be a long wait.

Titus_Wadd

LocoLoco, I sincerely hope you find a peaceful home soon for you and your son.  We've been reporting serious incidents to the Police and other nuisance to the council but we have to fight to keep the case "open".  They tried to close the case with no action this week (a mental low point for me and my husband) we pleaded with him to actually view the CCTV clips we had submitted.  It's full time job keeping any authority interested.  What they don't realise is how much we have modified our life to avoid confrontation and to minimise the affects of living next to thugs and bullies.  I told the copper yesterday that if we had stood up to our neighbour consistently from day one, one of us would have been physically attacked or property damaged forcing the Police to act!  All he could suggest is that we keep the 6 CCTV cameras on all day and night and to have our mobile phones already recording whenever we leave the house.  Then we have to find someone willing to watch the world's most tedious boxed set! 

I'm so glad you have supportive friends, but sofa-surfing isn't a solution and even close friends can't keep you long-term.  It adds another layer of stress to your situation.  I hope you find the strength to keep going.  I am sure there are many tragedies like the Fiona Pilkington case where folk can no longer carry on.