Shared Ownership - Very concerning ASB

talksr

Hi all, I will try and keep this as short as I can as there is a lot of info.

• Myself and fellow neighbours purchased our Shared Ownership properties 4 years ago.
• Since the first few weeks in our properties, we experienced concerning levels of anti social behaviour. We reported these matters to the Housing Association but little was done and we were often told individually that nobody else had reported these issues when we knew this not to be the case as we each individually reported the issues. 
• ASB issues have developed to the point that last year a council HA tenant attempted to attack several neighbours and then ran into the street with a knife. The tenant ended up stabbing himself several times in front of several terrified residents and children before running off. He was eventually caught and tazed by the police. The same tenant has had their door smashed down by the police on two occasions and is currently in prison though his partner continues to live in the property and smokes large amounts of drugs every day, leaving our neighbourhood stinking of drugs. 
• At the same time, the tenant's partner brought back a very vicious animal with no permission from HA. The animal has been residing at the property since, despite both myself and other neighbours reporting this and stating that the dog is very dangerous, the HA did not take any action. 
• Three weeks ago, the dog in question attacked and killed a neighbour's dog. The HA claim that they were not aware about the dangerous dog and no neighbours had made them aware - this is a total lie and I have evidence to prove so along with ref numbers the provided me with to confirm the dangerous dog issue had been logged.
• In between this time, there have been repeated serious ASB incidents, the police have been involved so many times we have lost track. 
• There is a constant drug dealing and drug supply operation in place at the property.
• I have myself involved my MP 3 times and she is told every time by the HA that they have not had any reports of issues, despite so many of us reporting these problems. I just don't know if this is lies or an incredibly poorly mismanaged HA.

I would like to write a group complaint to the HA as it is clearly failing us. Can anyone help me with wording this?

Can anyone advise me on if I might have a legal case against the HA as I have reported so many issues and problems and I have kept all records of this. As a shared ownership owner, I had intended on staircasing and buying all of my home, but I am now not doing so as I feel I have more leverage with my HA whilst they own a share of the home. I am also very concerned, like my neighbours about our ability to sell our homes with this going on.

I am sick and tired of this taking my life over and whilst the easy option is to move, I do not have the funds to do this and should not be in this dreadful position. I do however have good home insurance which includes £50k of legal time to pursue any issues and I am wondering if it might be time to make the most of this and take the HA to court as the affect this has had on me and other neighbours is huge. I have had to regularly visit my doctor regarding this, lost time from work and so many hours of sleep.

Any responses would be greatly appreciated. I would love to name and shame the HA but would rather keep them anonymous for now until I decide if legal action would be worth it.

tinytiddles

Whilst the Housing Association needs to be involved if the perpetrator is a tenant of theirs, as a homeowner (which you are really even though it’s a shared ownership home), you’re better off reporting it to the Local Authority. The first thing they will ask you to do is to keep a diary of everything that you consider to be ASB - this will need to be over a period of time, not say, a week or even a month. Taking action against someone for ASB is a very tricky and long process unfortunately which is grossly unfair on the victims but sadly it is what it is. Make sure you provide everything in writing either by email or letter sent tracked so that they cannot allege that nothing has been reported.

Mardle

If you and your neighbours have reported at least 3 incidents within the last 6 months maybe you should activate the 'Community Trigger' .

. https://asbhelp.co.uk/community-trigger/

HampshireH

talksr said:

Hi all, I will try and keep this as short as I can as there is a lot of info.

• Myself and fellow neighbours purchased our Shared Ownership properties 4 years ago.
• Since the first few weeks in our properties, we experienced concerning levels of anti social behaviour. We reported these matters to the Housing Association but little was done and we were often told individually that nobody else had reported these issues when we knew this not to be the case as we each individually reported the issues. 
• ASB issues have developed to the point that last year a council HA tenant attempted to attack several neighbours and then ran into the street with a knife. The tenant ended up stabbing himself several times in front of several terrified residents and children before running off. He was eventually caught and tazed by the police. The same tenant has had their door smashed down by the police on two occasions and is currently in prison though his partner continues to live in the property and smokes large amounts of drugs every day, leaving our neighbourhood stinking of drugs. 
• At the same time, the tenant's partner brought back a very vicious animal with no permission from HA. The animal has been residing at the property since, despite both myself and other neighbours reporting this and stating that the dog is very dangerous, the HA did not take any action. 
• Three weeks ago, the dog in question attacked and killed a neighbour's dog. The HA claim that they were not aware about the dangerous dog and no neighbours had made them aware - this is a total lie and I have evidence to prove so along with ref numbers the provided me with to confirm the dangerous dog issue had been logged.
• In between this time, there have been repeated serious ASB incidents, the police have been involved so many times we have lost track. 
• There is a constant drug dealing and drug supply operation in place at the property.
• I have myself involved my MP 3 times and she is told every time by the HA that they have not had any reports of issues, despite so many of us reporting these problems. I just don't know if this is lies or an incredibly poorly mismanaged HA.

I would like to write a group complaint to the HA as it is clearly failing us. Can anyone help me with wording this?

Can anyone advise me on if I might have a legal case against the HA as I have reported so many issues and problems and I have kept all records of this. As a shared ownership owner, I had intended on staircasing and buying all of my home, but I am now not doing so as I feel I have more leverage with my HA whilst they own a share of the home. I am also very concerned, like my neighbours about our ability to sell our homes with this going on.

I am sick and tired of this taking my life over and whilst the easy option is to move, I do not have the funds to do this and should not be in this dreadful position. I do however have good home insurance which includes £50k of legal time to pursue any issues and I am wondering if it might be time to make the most of this and take the HA to court as the affect this has had on me and other neighbours is huge. I have had to regularly visit my doctor regarding this, lost time from work and so many hours of sleep.

Any responses would be greatly appreciated. I would love to name and shame the HA but would rather keep them anonymous for now until I decide if legal action would be worth it.

Sounds to me more like a police issue. 
Drug dealing  = Police

Knife crime = Police

Dangerous dog = Police

Dog attack = Police

Have you put your complaint in to them for their lack of action?

Don't get me wrong the HA should be logged all your Comms etc and if not then yes that's a complaint but to evict they will be relying on the police actioning / dealing with the above as part of any case before a judge.

What are the police doing about the above?

TripleH

Collect up the evidence of complaints to the HA from your neighbours as part of your diary of issues.

Multiple parties making multiple complaints I assume would help your position. Also maybe now deal as a collective with the HA or the collective bcc / cc others in on further complaints so you all have a record and evidence the HA are lying.

Maskface

More importantly you need to make sure your own and your neighbours reports are going to the right place and not just the general front desk enquiries. If you haven't already done so find out who the housing officer is for the specific property and make sure all complaints from yourself and others go to the right person. If numerous complaints have been made but the HA say they haven't received any then I'm wondering if those complaints are not getting to the right person or department. For example there were drug dealing issues with a council tenant where I live and people were making anonymous complaints to general enquiries which were not getting passed on, rather than to the housing officer in question.

flyingv

Mardle said:

If you and your neighbours have reported at least 3 incidents within the last 6 months maybe you should activate the 'Community Trigger' .

. https://asbhelp.co.uk/community-trigger/

This!

I had a similar situation in the flat I lived in up until last year.  OP, your experience sounds very like what me and my neighbours had to put up with (minus the dangerous dog!), but the definite drug dealing, constant fighting and police being called.  Each time someone complained to the LA they said 'no-one else is complaining' and 'this seems like neighbour disputes' and even 'telling tales' (yes, one neighbour was accused of this).  They flat out refused to act.  Another neighbour involved a local councillor who initially seemed like she would help, but then the trail went cold.  The same neighbour eventually invoked the community trigger and lo, the LA decided to get off their proverbial.  Turned out said tenant had come into a shed load of money and bought a house outright but thought she could keep her council 'party' home.

Hang in there, hopefully you and your neighbours can get together to force some kind of action.  It's appalling how this can affect every aspect of your life.

Norman_Castle

As above try the community trigger and get the neighbours to speak up. Many people prefer to hide and hope someone else will complain. It is likely your complaints haven't been directed properly. Complaints handled through the community trigger should land on the right desk. Unfortunately landlords can't police their tenants behavior but can take action when there are clear, provable breaches of the tenancy.

Good luck. This will be resolved, its just unfortunate you and others will have to waste a portion of your life dealing with this.

Carrera74

My local authority have a department that deal with anti social behaviour and 'nuisance' neighbours which then links in with the ASB team at the Police and other organisations.  I have had to contact them about similiar incidents and they have taken it further with just my concerns, no other neighbours needed to complain but obviously this strengthens your case if they do. You can also report via Crimestoppers if you want to stay anon although any complaints made via your LA will be dealt with anon too

 Report a crime or antisocial behaviour - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

andy444

Talk to your local newspaper about what you and your neighbours have had to put up with. If there is negative media coverage on the HA then it might encourage them to do something about it.

Hedgepigs

andy444 said:

Talk to your local newspaper about what you and your neighbours have had to put up with. If there is negative media coverage on the HA then it might encourage them to do something about it.

Though even if the issue gets resolved, the dramatised ins-and-outs of the problem being easily found online might not make selling the house any easier in the future. I'd probably look at other avenues first.