This is an occasional series where I publish stories which have been sent to me by a reader. This story is about problem anti social neighbours and has been sent by Joan Airey.
I bought my flat 29 years ago. The one below mine is owned by a property company and has consistently ignored me when I have complained about criminal damage on the part of its tenant and other anti social acts.
I have had to report various things to the police over the years and they don’t want to know either. Even my MP has been very evasive. I traced the male to a previous address where a neighbour of his had to move due to similar tendencies to those exhibited here. Thankfully he died a few years ago, though his widow remains.
This is a protected tenancy created by the Housing Act and such people have a home for life which they aren’t even paying for. It is questionable about what work they have ever done and what they have contributed to society. I strongly suspect no court would evict them even if their landlord wanted them out.
I would have moved a few years ago but a subsidence issue prevented it. I have now had to burn my boats, been very strategic and am on the council waiting list. At 67 I will end up with nothing having worked for 40 years and been a home owner for over 30. I have had to work had for what I’ve got and worked until I was 65.
I think there need to be stricter laws about anti social tenants who intrude on the lives of others, particularly if those others are hard working home owners and the tenants no marks of society.
Joan Airey
Whats your view on this? What do YOU think should be done about anti social neighbours. Is any solution possible?
Would taking out an injunction work?
(The fact you have complained to the police etc will have to be declared to any buyer, so by complaining about a neighbour you may have made your flat unsellable.)
What a sad tale, but I fear it is worsened by Joans lack of understanding about the situation.
May I start by saying that the troublesome neighbours financial situation does not and should not affect either their rights or responsibilities – I have known obnoxious millionaires yet my favourite tenant is an ex-alcoholic on state benefits.
Unfortunately Joan, the landlord is not usually responsible for the actions of his tenant (but see below) – once we reach 18 we are responsible for our own actions, the landlord is not the parent here. The person to blame here, the one who deserves all, every last gram, of your opprobrium is the tenant.
Now if there are criminal activities going on – you mention criminal damage – then that is obviously a matter for the police. You say you have contacted them? If they are not responding in the manner you hope then you can push the matter higher if you desire – even to the IPCC. However, it may be that even at the highest level the police do not believe that the tenants actions warrant the punishment or restrictions you desire.
Take a look at your own lease. It may not be identical to the one held by the landlord but it is likely to be similar. If you were the anti-social one here, what could the management company or freeholder do to you? In some cases, it may involve forfeiture. I know little about freehold, but if the freeholder has any responsibility to you then maybe they could commence the necessary process to impose any penalties on the leaseholder. Such action may ‘encourage’ the landlord to seek possession – and ‘protected’ or ‘protected shorthold’ tenancies are not ‘for life’ if the tenancy agreement is breached and the court considers it appropriate to end it.
Joan,
Can you explain what you mean by:-
“I have now had to burn my boats, been very strategic and am on the council waiting list. At 67 I will end up with nothing having worked for 40 years and been a home owner for over 30.”
Can you also give more details about the anti-social behaviour and criminal damage. I assume as a previous neighbour was forced to move we are talking about more than the odd late night party.