Help Problem Neighbours

[old.user4556]

Well I never thought it would happen to me and I could use some advice from others that have been down the road.

I live in a reasonably nice area in a newbuild block of flats on the top floor. However, someone with a lot of cash has invested in property in the block and owns the flat across the hall which is rented to the hilt with Polish people (I've had problems with Poles on the other floors of the block due to smoking).

However, in recent months, there has been an increase in antisocial behaviour from my neighbour as follows:

- lots of lound drunken behaviour at all times of the day and night
- pissing in broad daylight in the rear car park
- smoking in the hallways with fags stamped out on the hall carpet
- letting their dog shit at the bottom of the stairwell and at the back of the flats
- empty bottles of booze lying around the back of the block

The Police have been at the door on several occasions (I don't know what for, perhaps they've been called by the flat that joins theirs, or by the people below) and have even threatened to smash the door in, so it sounds pretty serious. There are also several of them living in this 2 bed flat and they come and go on a regular basis, so I suspect some sort of sub letting?

Tonight saw the biggest problem yet. I moved a chest of drawers into the hallway outside my front door as it was to be collected shortly by a local charity who recycle good furniture. Within minutes, the fuckers were out across the hall trying to pinch my chest of drawers (I could hear the accents and shuffling by my front door). I opened the door, confronted them, then they fucked off (stinking of drink).

I've managed to find out who the letting agent is, but other than write a strongly worded letter of complaint to them, what can I do next?

Any advice from those with problem neighbours is welcome.

 

[old.Tohtori]

Three things really;

- Write a compaint/call one in as disturbance happens.
- Move.
- The so called "grow a pair" option, where you either macho up and do something stupid, or just ignore the people(as it seems they're rather nice bad neighbours, could be worse).

 

[Raven]

I assume your block of flats has a management company? If the owner of the flat wont listen then contact them. I think there are usually terms and conditions that go with these places. Any tenants are also expected to follow them.

 

[Scouse]

You renting g?

Start with the management company - tell them that their property is being damaged. If no joy then you'll have to bite the bullet - and get out of there. :|

 

[old.user4556]

Three things really;

- Write a compaint/call one in as disturbance happens.
- Move.
- The so called "grow a pair" option, where you either macho up and do something stupid, or just ignore the people(as it seems they're rather nice bad neighbours, could be worse).

True, have been looking at moving for the past 6 months but was unsure of job security. I do suppose it could be worse, but my concern is that it's gradually getting worse. If someone shows up to their flat drunk, that's one thing, but when there's a crowd of them and Plod are showing up on several occasions then it's a cause for concern.

You renting g?

Start with the management company - tell them that their property is being damaged. If no joy then you'll have to bite the bullet - and get out of there. :|

Nah, I own / mortgage my place.

 

[DaGaffer]

You renting g?

Start with the management company - tell them that their property is being damaged. If no joy then you'll have to bite the bullet - and get out of there. :|

This. Management companies are often a waste of space but they can be useful in situations like this. They need to get on to the owner. Their only leverage over the owner is financial penalties but its worth a go. The pissing and dogshit are environmental health issues but be aware that if you make an official complaint it will turn up in the conveying searches if you decided to sell.

 

[Vasconcelos]

Believe me, it would be much much worse than a couple of butts in the carpet and some noise.

I got this Ecuador neighbours in the flat above mine, and it were a fukin nitemare, even had to move my bed to the other room just to have some sleep at nites.

After 3 weeks of tryin to speak with them and complaining to the building manager, I called the police one nite they were doin a masive amount of noise on a wednesday nite. The cops came, the drunk fuckers instead of behaving came back with an attitude, and got arrested and then deported for not having any visas and for threatening a cop. Luck was with me that time.

 

[Chilly]

Get on the land registry and find out who owns it, tell them it's being raped by the current tenants and to sort the management agent out. Any owner would not be happy with the situation you describe, it reduces it's value.

/edit - costs two quid to find a property owner (in the UK at least).

 

[Ch3tan]

Management company; the lease may prevent letting. Contact the council also and tell them the flat is being used as a HMO without a license. Pass on to the council all the details you can.

With the council on the landlords case, and the management company, he'll soon move them on.

 

[old.user4556]

I've managed to get the letting agent and landlord from:

https://www.landlordregistrationscotland.gov.uk/Pages/Process.aspx?Command=ShowHomePage

Turns out that Letting Solutions no longer manage the property and it has been "unmanaged" since 2008; that could explain why things have gone down hill. I also have the landlord details from the same site, but the landlord doesn't necessarily mean the owner of the flat?

Worth writing to the landlord, or trying to phone him first to explain it? He could be mortified and a really decent bloke so I don't want to rub him up the wrong way by sending a strongly worded letter.

 

[Ch3tan]

Yes contact him, but contact the council NOW. It may take them a while to get going, so the sooner the better.

 

[old.Tohtori]

True, have been looking at moving for the past 6 months but was unsure of job security. I do suppose it could be worse, but my concern is that it's gradually getting worse. If someone shows up to their flat drunk, that's one thing, but when there's a crowd of them and Plod are showing up on several occasions then it's a cause for concern.

Yeah, didn't mean to demeen(?) the situation, just a silver lining perhaps. I lived in a hole for a good while and while i'm a patient man regarding annoying neighbours, sometimes it got right on the limit of ze tits.

Best to do something and not sit around i guess, atleast then you know your options. If action = nothing happens , then it comes down to moving. Which is a pain ofcourse and doesn't necessarily better the situation, but it's a chance.

Moving, as we know, always casn lead to living next to horny co-ed bi-sexual explorers.

 

[Huntingtons]

go party with em, polish people can drink!

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Create a diary-esque timeline of misdemeanors. Then instead of vague anecdotes you have an actual record of what was done and when. This information is very useful to councils when reporting to them, if you can prove a consistent pattern rather than isolated incidents they'll be checked up on much quicker. Would also recommend the management company too.

 

[Ch3tan]

When people say management company, they mean the company that manages the block itself, the people you pay a service charge to.

 

[MrHorus]

Are you not in Edinburgh Giles?

If so, the council have a good mediation service for neighbour disputes!

 

[Tom]

Bear in mind that once made official, arguments with your neighbours must be disclosed if you come to sell the property - which you might end up doing if things turn very sour.

 

[DaGaffer]

Bear in mind that once made official, arguments with your neighbours must be disclosed if you come to sell the property - which you might end up doing if things turn very sour.

I'm obviously talking to myself here.

 

[Fast]

As Tom said. You might be better saying nothing officially if your going to sell.

Some info here, Legal matters | Declaring neighbour disputes when selling - What do I have to declare? | Mumsnet Discussion

 

[Ch3tan]

Which is why he shouldn't declare it as a dispute, just dob in the landlord for letting it as a HMO, when it clearly isn't.

 

[old.user4556]

Thanks for all the help guys.

Well, yesterday it all came to a head. I went out to do some photography and as I went down the stairs of the block, I went into the car park to see a my very drunk Polish arsehole neighbour threatening my very decent neighbour's boyfriend. He was on the phone to the police as he pursued him across the car park. I went to my car, put my camera bag in the boot and watched in disbelief as the very, very drunk wanker got in his car, put the car in reverse and slammed it full whack across the car park into someone else's car.

I phoned 999, told them what was going on, other neighbours started to come to their windows, some of the men came to the back doors of the houses as myself and the other guy managed to get the keys out of the car (it was stationary enough to tackle). This time the Polish guy was really angry and chased after the decent guy. This is when I started filming on phone for evidence. The Polish guy swung for a punch, failed in the most epic fashion, and was taken down by the decent dude.

3 cars and 2 police vans came and arrested him. For some reason, he thought he could take the police on too, but again his face was owned by concrete.

Better still, his big fat fucking retarted Polish mate who tried to steal my furniture was nicked also because the car that was driven belongs to him. According to the police, he a) had his car stolen, so his mate is likely to go to jail or b) was an accomplice to the drink driving.

On reflection, there are a lot of young families in and around my block; someone could have been knocked down and killed.

So, this is the evidence I needed to get them ejected. I managed to speak to many of the residents yesterday and they're all totally fed up of them. I'm about to draft a letter to the council, property management and the landlord .

 

[MYstIC G]

I've managed to get the letting agent and landlord from:

https://www.landlordregistrationscotland.gov.uk/Pages/Process.aspx?Command=ShowHomePage

Turns out that Letting Solutions no longer manage the property and it has been "unmanaged" since 2008; that could explain why things have gone down hill. I also have the landlord details from the same site, but the landlord doesn't necessarily mean the owner of the flat?

Worth writing to the landlord, or trying to phone him first to explain it? He could be mortified and a really decent bloke so I don't want to rub him up the wrong way by sending a strongly worded letter.

You can get owners name from the Land Registry website by ordering the title for £4. This may not give you a better address though as most property is registered with the Owner @ Property Address style.

 

[Edmond]

Thanks for all the help guys.

Well, yesterday it all came to a head. I went out to do some photography and as I went down the stairs of the block, I went into the car park to see a my very drunk Polish arsehole neighbour threatening my very decent neighbour's boyfriend. He was on the phone to the police as he pursued him across the car park. I went to my car, put my camera bag in the boot and watched in disbelief as the very, very drunk wanker got in his car, put the car in reverse and slammed it full whack across the car park into someone else's car.

I phoned 999, told them what was going on, other neighbours started to come to their windows, some of the men came to the back doors of the houses as myself and the other guy managed to get the keys out of the car (it was stationary enough to tackle). This time the Polish guy was really angry and chased after the decent guy. This is when I started filming on phone for evidence. The Polish guy swung for a punch, failed in the most epic fashion, and was taken down by the decent dude.

3 cars and 2 police vans came and arrested him. For some reason, he thought he could take the police on too, but again his face was owned by concrete.

Better still, his big fat fucking retarted Polish mate who tried to steal my furniture was nicked also because the car that was driven belongs to him. According to the police, he a) had his car stolen, so his mate is likely to go to jail or b) was an accomplice to the drink driving.

On reflection, there are a lot of young families in and around my block; someone could have been knocked down and killed.

So, this is the evidence I needed to get them ejected. I managed to speak to many of the residents yesterday and they're all totally fed up of them. I'm about to draft a letter to the council, property management and the landlord .

Thats good news, although its a shame that this incidents have to occur to make the authorities take notice

Hopefully its the beginning of the end

 

[Gumbo]

Post the vid!

 

[ECA]

Ya seriously, like it even needs saying

 

[Scouse]

Agree - it's good|bad that something concrete's happened and hopefully you'll get a bit of movement now. It suckketh.


And:

Post the vid!

This

 

[TdC]

Thanks for all the help guys.

Well, yesterday it all came to a head. I went out to do some photography and as I went down the stairs of the block, I went into the car park to see a my very drunk Polish arsehole neighbour threatening my very decent neighbour's boyfriend. He was on the phone to the police as he pursued him across the car park. I went to my car, put my camera bag in the boot and watched in disbelief as the very, very drunk wanker got in his car, put the car in reverse and slammed it full whack across the car park into someone else's car.

I phoned 999, told them what was going on, other neighbours started to come to their windows, some of the men came to the back doors of the houses as myself and the other guy managed to get the keys out of the car (it was stationary enough to tackle). This time the Polish guy was really angry and chased after the decent guy. This is when I started filming on phone for evidence. The Polish guy swung for a punch, failed in the most epic fashion, and was taken down by the decent dude.

3 cars and 2 police vans came and arrested him. For some reason, he thought he could take the police on too, but again his face was owned by concrete.

Better still, his big fat fucking retarted Polish mate who tried to steal my furniture was nicked also because the car that was driven belongs to him. According to the police, he a) had his car stolen, so his mate is likely to go to jail or b) was an accomplice to the drink driving.

On reflection, there are a lot of young families in and around my block; someone could have been knocked down and killed.

So, this is the evidence I needed to get them ejected. I managed to speak to many of the residents yesterday and they're all totally fed up of them. I'm about to draft a letter to the council, property management and the landlord .

wow, just wow. I thought this only happened in America. sorry you had to go through all that, but I am seriously relieved that in one mad stroke of luck you got what you were hoping for mate

 

[Scouse]

wow, just wow. I thought this only happened in America.

To all intents and purposes we are America. Centre of capitalism n'all that.

Anyway. More importantly - you forgot to demand the vid teeds

 

[TdC]

oh shit yeah!

MOAR VIDZ!!!!!

 

[old.user4556]

Maybe - help me out with my virus thread that I'm about to post, and I just might post the vid .