Housing Association complaint

Norman_Castle

Are other residents annoyed by tthis behaviour? Try to get them to speak up.

thegreenone

PinkPJs said:

The only thing they do is have cleaners once a week! 

Ae these contract cleaners for the communal areas?  Are you there when the cleaners arrive?  I'm wondering whether they need the socket your neighbours are using and if so, could they report back to the HA that  'it's constantly in use when they arrive'.  And about the state of the front door.  Just thinking as a back up to your complaint. IYSWIM?

penniejane

A few of the residents are also making complaints as I've found out they have similar issues. Do you think I would have problems if I cancel my direct debit for rent until someone does something about this? Don't want to shoot myself in the foot!

coffeehound

Have you contacted their dedicated ASB Team yet?

Norman_Castle

PinkPJs said:

A few of the residents are also making complaints as I've found out they have similar issues. Do you think I would have problems if I cancel my direct debit for rent until someone does something about this? Don't want to shoot myself in the foot!

You could be evicted, you will waste both your and others time. It won't make any difference to your complaint, the complaint and your rent arrears will be dealt with separately.

Jude57

PinkPJs said:

A few of the residents are also making complaints as I've found out they have similar issues. Do you think I would have problems if I cancel my direct debit for rent until someone does something about this? Don't want to shoot myself in the foot!

Don't stop paying your rent. There are very few legally acceptable reasons to stop paying rent and while your frustration with your HA is understandable, non-payment of rent isn't the way to go. However inefficient your HA are at dealing with the anti-social behaviour, I can guarantee they're much more efficient at dealing with rent arrears and you don't need the added stress.

Some of the behaviour you describe could be criminal so I'd suggest having a word with your neighbourhood policing team to find out if they can offer support or advice.

I'd be focusing on the fire safety aspect of the extension lead as no one can be certain that whatever it's being used to power is safe. Also, when keeping a diary on anti-social behaviour, be specific. Don't say ' the lads from flat 3B are always causing damage', that's not specific. Say: 'At 11pm on Tuesday 8th March 2022 I heard loud banging on the entry door to the block. I looked out of my peephole and saw Son 1 and Son 2 from flat 3B kicking the door. After five minutes of kicking, the entry door opened and Son 1 and Son 2 came into the lobby and went into flat 3B. On the morning of 9th March 2022 I noticed that the entry door was damaged, see attached photographs'. 

If you and your neighbours are persistent, specific in your complaints and willing to band together, this can be dealt with. Do you have a Resident's Association? Or a tenant group? If not, maybe it's time to start one. Most HA's love that kind of thing and will often help set it up because it ticks the Tenant Engagement box with little effort from them.

I notice that A2Dominion HA has a news article on their website about mediation and 'Good Neighbour' cards. I've read their Anti-Social Behaviour page, too and, though it's no help to you, it isn't anywhere near as proactive as my own HA's published page. I think that persistent reporting of ASB by you and your neighbours is going to be the only way forward.

Norman_Castle

If the extension lead is in place either regularly or constantly a few visits from the HA would confirm the use of the socket and obvious culprit.

marycanary

Have you exhausted the HA complaints procedure? If not you must do this and take it through all the stages. If you have been through all their complaint stages and are still not satisfied complain to the Housing Ombudsman.  You will have to have been through all the stages of the HA complaints procedure before the HO will look into the matter. 

https://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/

Good luck