I have lived in my current house for over 4 years now and since the day I moved in, I have received nothing but verbal abuse, vandalism and hassle, all because I don't fit in with my next door neighbours.
I live in a semi-detached house and we share an adjoining wall. The situation flares up when the parents get pissed and let the children join in their drinking habits, which happens more over the lighter nights than in the winter.
On Saturday night I had to phone the police because of one their children were throwing wooden slats at the windows. My children were terrified and nearly in tears. If I had gone out to confront them (which I have done on previous occassions), it would of resulted in a slanging match which would of upset my children further). The police arrived 3pm the next day and warned the neighbours of their behaviour. They of course take no notice, laugh in their faces and the situation doesn't change. When I had gone outside the next day, the wooden slats were in my garden, along with pieces of my fence and they had smashed bottles on my path.
The above incident is like a drop in the ocean in the behaviour that I have had to endure from them. When I have spoke to the parents on previous occassions and asked to resolve the issues and when speaking to them, they can't see a problem in their childrens behaviour. It like the lights are on but nobody is at home.
As a student, I unfortunately can't get a mortgage until my studies are finished, so my options at the moment are limited. I rent my house from my local council and have looked into a house swap, but probably wont happen because who would move into a house that has problem neighbours?
I have started to write down their undesirable behaviour on a log sheet in the hope that the police/council will do something about them.
I believe I am a strong, independent person, but their behaviour has and is having a negative effect on my life.
Any suggestions?
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Problem Neighbours - any advice welcome!
Sex God
I don't know much about the legalities of this, but if your neighbours are coucil tenants, and their behaviour is clearly offensive, I'm sure the council will have powers to evict them as problem tenants. Have you tried speaking to the council about this. Keeping records of their behaviour is a good place to start. Taking photographs or videos of them would be a good thing to do to if that is possible.
Sex God
I can't offer much more than sympathy but I really feel for you Alex. This is so difficult to deal with. I would just keep building up the case as you are doing but I would let the Environmental Health Officer's Dept know so that eventually it'll be substantive. Do they rent from the council as well ? If so, they are at risk after the change in legislation - was it last year?. What about the neighbours on the other side of them? Corroboration is very powerful.
..so sorry to hear of your woes Alex...as well as keeping a log, it would be really useful if you could get pictures or set up a camcorder if you have one, ready for when they're behaving badly..I guess courts love evidence like that because it's generally indisputable...anti social behavour is taken seriously now by the police and the council (assuming they're council tenants) as Blue says
I wouldn't be tempted to challenge them again tho..they sound like the sort of people that enjoy confrontation...just discreetly monitor them over the next couple of weeks, if you can last that long!
Good luck
I wouldn't be tempted to challenge them again tho..they sound like the sort of people that enjoy confrontation...just discreetly monitor them over the next couple of weeks, if you can last that long!
Good luck
Sex God
Quote by Alex_Female
Yes blue, myself and another neighbour have handed in log sheets and videos to prove our claims, but the council do nothing at all about them :cry:
You could try threatening your Local Authority with a "Writ of Mandamus"
I'm not a lawyer but mandamus is applicable where a Statutory Authority is not discharging it's duties and obligations.
If they have the powers to act but do nothing then you can apply for a Writ to be issued against them. If they don't then act they are in breach of a court order.
Try a search on the internet for info about Mandamus. You won't neccessarily need to go through the process. A letter might suffice to kick start them into action.
Hope this helps!
You need to apply for an ASBO or ABC through your local council. Make sure you WRITE your complaint down and send or deliver it to them. Once it is in the system they are legally bound to investigate.
It will take a long time and you will need support from your neighbours. They will also have to commit themselves in joining you when WRITING. If you don't have enough people it is not seen as a PUBLIC nuisance.
So get serious and the system should come out in your favour.
It will take a long time and you will need support from your neighbours. They will also have to commit themselves in joining you when WRITING. If you don't have enough people it is not seen as a PUBLIC nuisance.
So get serious and the system should come out in your favour.
This is considered anti social behaviour,the council have to act,do you have a tenants handbook it should have terms on how tenants are to behave,you are doing the right thing on logging incidents but a video log would also be good,the police cannot really do anything unless a criminal act is commited.......council's are suppose to be coming down hard on Anti social behaviour.....remind them of that......before you snap!
Alex,
I sympathise with you, I really do, I've had noisy neighbour problems and I know how disruptive it can be.
There is a group called Neighbours From Hell in Britain who run a forum full of legal advice and moral support. You can find it at
You should be able to find out exactly what you can do, and keeping a log of the evidence is an excellent start.
I hope you can persuade your council to own up to their responsibilities.
Badger
I sympathise with you, I really do, I've had noisy neighbour problems and I know how disruptive it can be.
There is a group called Neighbours From Hell in Britain who run a forum full of legal advice and moral support. You can find it at
You should be able to find out exactly what you can do, and keeping a log of the evidence is an excellent start.
I hope you can persuade your council to own up to their responsibilities.
Badger
On a negative side to reporting offensive neighbours from hell is the fact that if you sell your home, you now have to declare any legal procedures you have taken against them.
So any prospective buyers are aware (before they sign the contract) that the neighbours are troublesome.
If however you are renting, then its much easier to walk away.
Ian
So any prospective buyers are aware (before they sign the contract) that the neighbours are troublesome.
If however you are renting, then its much easier to walk away.
Ian
Sex God
We have problem neighbours too Alex, so I can understand exactly what you're going through. You are actually in a better position than us because you are a council tenant. The council/environmental health said they couldn't do anything because it's private housing. Make sure that each time you get the police out, you get an incident number and log that with the date. We were told by the police to do that. Get photographic evidence if you can, but be careful when taking pictures of children - we were told it's very dodgy ground. Likewise with video cameras/surveillance etc. As long as it's recording what's happening on your property as a result of their actions, you're ok. But don't point any security cameras at their property - it's invasion of their privacy or something like that (ridiculous eh). You can also go to a solicitor (low/no income means you get a half hour consultation free) who will be able to draft you a letter of complaint to your neighbours and threaten them with civil action for nuisance. They can be evicted for that (I think) and other councils/housing associations take this into account when considering future applications from them for housing. Our neighbour had been continually verbally abusing me and decided to take things one step further one evening. He pushed me in the chest whilst in the off license near to us. It was caught on their security camera and he was cautioned. Haven't heard a peep from them since (fingers crossed). They told him that next time I will be able to press charges for assault and he will be locked up - it was enough to make him behave. You must report everything to the police, no matter how minor you think it seems.
Orgasminator
I am very sorry to hear of your troubles. Why not go to your local CAB (Citizens Advice Bureau) and get some info on your rights and the council's obligations? I have found them to be invaluable help and besides their vast knowledge and links to other parties that can help, they offer a listening ear which can take the tension away and give you hope.
Hope you find some joy soon.
Hope you find some joy soon.
Sex God
I have a small part in our local council and under the Nuisance Neighbour Act passed last April (2004), you can obtain from your council, a form to fill out for each incident.
Don't bother doing it on scraps of paper. The council won't accept it. You must have their own form. Ask for a nuisance neighbour log sheet.
Once this has been filled for a period of six weeks, the council will be forced to act upon it within 14 days of your handing it to them.
Call the police when necessary and log the dates, times, incident numbers etc on it too. Don't forget to take a copy for yourself incase the form *gets lost* once it's been handed in.
If the council do not act within the 14 days, you can them instruct a solicitor to deal with it for you. If you're on student grants etc you should qualify for Legal Aid and although you may have to pay a small amount, it will be worth it in the long run.
These people have no legal standing to continue their unsavoury behaviour and the sooner you force your council to do what is their legal duty, the better for your family.
Feel free to pm me if you want any further advice.
Tracy-Jayne
Don't bother doing it on scraps of paper. The council won't accept it. You must have their own form. Ask for a nuisance neighbour log sheet.
Once this has been filled for a period of six weeks, the council will be forced to act upon it within 14 days of your handing it to them.
Call the police when necessary and log the dates, times, incident numbers etc on it too. Don't forget to take a copy for yourself incase the form *gets lost* once it's been handed in.
If the council do not act within the 14 days, you can them instruct a solicitor to deal with it for you. If you're on student grants etc you should qualify for Legal Aid and although you may have to pay a small amount, it will be worth it in the long run.
These people have no legal standing to continue their unsavoury behaviour and the sooner you force your council to do what is their legal duty, the better for your family.
Feel free to pm me if you want any further advice.
Tracy-Jayne
Orgasminator
When you write to the council complainging about the lack of response and that the problems are still on going, CC (carbon copy) the complaint letter and deatails to the local MP and councilors and also the locak news papers... when you CC make sure you state on all the letters where the other copys have been sent so each is aware the other knows... Councils are notorious for doing feck all untill they think they are going to get bad press or be found out by someone higher up the shit heap.
Sex God
Thats disgusting, we went through a phase of having bad neighbours but luckily they were Housing Association whilst we owned ours and they were eventually kicked out!! 
All I can say it:-
Keeping videoing anything and everything you can, even filming the vandalism whilst being carried out if you can.
Keep a diary of all events
Keep pestering the police and the council and also keep a log of when you do.
When sending in letters to council, get them registered or get someone to sign for them if hand delivery yourself.
Good luck, hope this is resolved quickly for you :rose:
All I can say it:-
Keeping videoing anything and everything you can, even filming the vandalism whilst being carried out if you can.
Keep a diary of all events
Keep pestering the police and the council and also keep a log of when you do.
When sending in letters to council, get them registered or get someone to sign for them if hand delivery yourself.
Good luck, hope this is resolved quickly for you :rose:
Do they have pets? If so - I can lend you my cat!!! He is very proficient at beating up neighbours cats, dogs and kids. No - i kid you not. Has cost me a fortune in vets fees that weren't his!!! And my friends borrow him every now and then to beat up the kids next door.
Hmmmm - he's a love really!! NOT!!
Sorry - being serious now. I don't have ay advice - just loads of sympathy!!!
:kiss:
Hope you manage to sort it!
Rs :color:
Hmmmm - he's a love really!! NOT!!
Sorry - being serious now. I don't have ay advice - just loads of sympathy!!!
:kiss: Hope you manage to sort it!
Rs :color:
:? :? :? Hi - I'm new on this site - not new to the problem of having problem neighbours. The property next door is rented via an estate agents, and when I had a noisy neighbour I complained to estate agents in writing and they did nothing, but then I tracked down the owners and started to phone them everytime I had problem. They owners soon got fed up with myself ringing at all hours in the morning, and the estate agents also got very annoyed becuase I kept going in to their shop, and complaining about their tenants- not what a potential customer wants to hear whilst their waiting.
So, my suggestion would be 1st find out who owns the property, either local authority, social housing or privately owned. If it is rented out privately, then find out which estate agents collects the rent, and then find out who pays the rent, whether they pay or the local authority. If they pay rent themselves to the estate agents, start notifying the estate agents of the trouble but do it in writing keeping a copy. If the local authority is paying the rent, then send a letter to Local Authority and cc it to estate agents. Keep a diary of the events detailing, date, disturbance, start time , duration cause of nuisence.
Going back - if the property has been rented out via an estate agents, and you've found out with estate agent it is, get a friend to ring up and say they have a property that they are considering renting out and would they mind sending out a letting packs, at this stage, you dont want anyone to come out from the estate agents. Get your friends to ask "what happens if they rent the property out and the tenants become or are anti social, what would they do", and ask you friend if they could in turn ask the estate agents for a copy of a lease agreement that, they would make a tenant sign. Then you can use their own lease agreement against them.
Private rental and local authority lease agreements all have some clause about anti social behaviour built into them.
I havent finished yet, but my fingers are aching fom typing all this, and I'm sorry it is so long, but if you want to know more them pm or try the links below, they all have a bit of useful info, expecially the last link.
Hope this is useful, for the time being
So, my suggestion would be 1st find out who owns the property, either local authority, social housing or privately owned. If it is rented out privately, then find out which estate agents collects the rent, and then find out who pays the rent, whether they pay or the local authority. If they pay rent themselves to the estate agents, start notifying the estate agents of the trouble but do it in writing keeping a copy. If the local authority is paying the rent, then send a letter to Local Authority and cc it to estate agents. Keep a diary of the events detailing, date, disturbance, start time , duration cause of nuisence.
Going back - if the property has been rented out via an estate agents, and you've found out with estate agent it is, get a friend to ring up and say they have a property that they are considering renting out and would they mind sending out a letting packs, at this stage, you dont want anyone to come out from the estate agents. Get your friends to ask "what happens if they rent the property out and the tenants become or are anti social, what would they do", and ask you friend if they could in turn ask the estate agents for a copy of a lease agreement that, they would make a tenant sign. Then you can use their own lease agreement against them.
Private rental and local authority lease agreements all have some clause about anti social behaviour built into them.
I havent finished yet, but my fingers are aching fom typing all this, and I'm sorry it is so long, but if you want to know more them pm or try the links below, they all have a bit of useful info, expecially the last link.
Hope this is useful, for the time being
Thank you all for your advice and suggestions.
My neighbours are also renting their property from the council. Despite constantly calling the police and community wardens, of which they go and visit them as well as me, nothing at all gets done.
As I a live alone with my children, they take advantage of the fact that I am vulnerable. Common decency bypasses my neighbours and the only thing that they react to is violence.
If I had a 6' 2" partner, who looked mean and built like a brick shit house, I could envisage that this problem would never exist.
My neighbours are also renting their property from the council. Despite constantly calling the police and community wardens, of which they go and visit them as well as me, nothing at all gets done.
As I a live alone with my children, they take advantage of the fact that I am vulnerable. Common decency bypasses my neighbours and the only thing that they react to is violence.
If I had a 6' 2" partner, who looked mean and built like a brick shit house, I could envisage that this problem would never exist.
Quote by Alex_Female
Yes blue, myself and another neighbour have handed in log sheets and videos to prove our claims, but the council do nothing at all about them :cry:
it can take the council a long long time to do anything, they have a whole mess of paperwork they have to wade through, they are required also to mail the offenders warning them that their actions are causing problems and need to be addressed. That mail gives them a period of time to clean up therir act which varies usually between 3 and 6 months, after that they get invited to see the housing officer for the area to discuss it. If they dont show up, the regs say that the housing officer must make another attempt to get thrm to come to the office, there is another few months wasted.
After that, then they can approach the officers in charge of the department which deals with antisocial neighbours . Its a long winded process, very hard on innocents, but designed to provide everybody with a fair deal
The logs are a great idea, the more evidence you can supply the sooner sufficient is in hand to request a notice of intention to evict, that notice quite often will quiet everything down without the neeed to perform the eviction per se.
I reckon _mat_ had it right.
I used to have a problem neighbour....he kept beating his wife up and making her and the baby cry.......I fought my knightly urges for about a week but one particularly bad night I blew my stack....called a mate for backup and we both went into the house and leathered him.....We told him we'd do this every time we heard them argue, and guess what?
yep
I got done for A.B.H off the law....sigh
Still..He moved out shortly after and she still lives happily next door.
Happy ending?
I used to have a problem neighbour....he kept beating his wife up and making her and the baby cry.......I fought my knightly urges for about a week but one particularly bad night I blew my stack....called a mate for backup and we both went into the house and leathered him.....We told him we'd do this every time we heard them argue, and guess what?
yep
I got done for A.B.H off the law....sigh
Still..He moved out shortly after and she still lives happily next door.
Happy ending?
I have just had a visit from the police because next door neighbours have made a complaint about me because they overheard me calling them a wanker whilst talking to another neighbour 
.
Spoke to my local councellor and a lady from the council offices. She nicely told me of another neighbour problem she was dealing with in which a single lady had drug problems. The problem had been ongoing for 5 years. Her neighbours had six months worth of log sheets and have been to court three times to evict her, but the judge refused. She indicated that the chances of evicting my neighbours are about nil.
House transfer....... where do i begin!!! The council officer told me that if i wanted a house transfer, to be honest with the potential swappers about the reason why i want to move. What planet is this woman on i wonder?
The bottomless pit of hopelessness is looming ever closer to me :cry:
.Spoke to my local councellor and a lady from the council offices. She nicely told me of another neighbour problem she was dealing with in which a single lady had drug problems. The problem had been ongoing for 5 years. Her neighbours had six months worth of log sheets and have been to court three times to evict her, but the judge refused. She indicated that the chances of evicting my neighbours are about nil.
House transfer....... where do i begin!!! The council officer told me that if i wanted a house transfer, to be honest with the potential swappers about the reason why i want to move. What planet is this woman on i wonder?
The bottomless pit of hopelessness is looming ever closer to me :cry:
