ARGH! Nightmare Neighbours

[britchick]

Wasn't sure where to post this but I'm hoping for sympathy (of course!) and perhaps any pointers from people who have been in a similar situation.

 

A few years ago my BF bought his first flat, we met shortly afterwards and I have been witness to and eventually involved in an ongoing dispute with the neighbours who lease the premises downstairs, its a shop.

 

On the day he moved in he went to introduce himself and to shake hands, which they refused to do!! They also made it difficult (kept him waiting for a LONG time) to allow access for his furniture to be moved in.

 

From this time they were verbally abusive, kicked at the front door, rang the doorbell etc etc.

 

To cut a long story short, since that day they first turned off the water, which was a shared supply, stopcock in their property, a few times, apparently on a whim. Then a few months later there was a leak from our flat. As soon as I walked in and saw what had happened I rushed downstairs, knowing already that it wouldn't be a reasonable exchange. To find that there was damage to their property, damn it!

 

Anyway, we had just arrived home with friends, one of whom had worked as a plumber in the distant past, he had a look at our pipework couldn't find anything wrong and said they would need to turn the water on briefly so we could have a look where the problem was. They wouldn't do this, which I could understand. I agreed to get a plumber (who wasn't a friend) the next day. Did this and they wouldn't allow access not once but twice to two different plumbers. They asked for insurance details which we said they could have once we had established what the problem was by way of a plumber. I spoke to my BF insurance co who said they wanted to establish where the fault was and would not pay out on a claim until this was done. I spoke to their insurance co who said if they wouldn't allow access to a plumber they wouldn't take it any further.

 

Anyway to make the story a bit shorter, they never turned the water back on, my BF had to move out of his flat due to the lack of water. It took eight months and paying for a seperate water supply before he could move back in.

 

Now they are suing my BF for £900 in the small claims court. This is for insurance excess and the increase in their premium. Not for any damage, which their insurance company paid.

 

We found out since that the previous owner had ongoing problems with them turning off the water. We have been assaulted by them (minor) and now they make every complaint going about us. From complaints about noise (apparently so loud they can't speak to customers) to reporting my BF for working when claiming unemployment (which he wasn't), complaints about drainage (again, untrue)....etc.....it is never ending and has got to the point where we dread being at home.

 

Has anyone, ever got the better of neighbours like this, we both try to remain calm and deal with each thing as it arises but sooner or later one of us is going to snap! Oh and it's not doing our relationship any favours either!

 

Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dreamingoftigers]

Sounds like you have got some bully neighbours. Most of the time I wouldn't recommend this, but something tells me that they are not the type to back off lightly. Stand up to them. Stand up to them quickly and harshly and tell them that if they don't back off they will be looking at a slander suit for starters. See if you can get a lawyer friend (or something close to) to send them a cease and desist letter. But something tells me that pulling no punches would be just as effective. Tell them you will be moving furniture in and out as YOU see fit and it they have any more trouble with the plumbing that they can shove the pipes, y'know....somewhere.

 

They are conflict mongers and they are seeing how far they can go, let them know that they crossed the line, write them a stern list about the stupid crap that you won't be taking anymore. Stand up to them every single time until it gets to the point where it isn't fun to pick on you anymore, do not try to avoid them, they will seek you out.

 

Bullies cower. Known fact. Even when my husband and I were living out of the back of our van travelling people would try to bully us, unfortunately that is the only language some people speak. The most effective response was acting aggressively. I have had to do this in business as well. They don't respect you until you bite back, so do it. Things can't get much worse can they?

[Tiberius]

Set fire to their store

[anne1707]

A few things come to mind:

 

• do they own or rent the shop? If they rent then it might be worth trying to track down the landlord and explain the situation
  
• how about contacting your local Citizens Advice Bureau to ask their advice for dealing with a neighbour dispute. They may suggest a mediation service but of course that only stands a chance of working if your neighbours agree to participate
  
• do they have problems with neighbours either side of the shop - if so, you may all be able to work together to provide a stronger case for taking action
  
• What does the lease to your property say (I assume it is a leasehold flat). This should provide an indication of duties/rights etc regarding utilities, maintenance etc
  
• If it is a leasehold, do you know who owns the freehold - they may also own the freehold to the shop as it the same building - and may in turn be able to step in to ensure that a property they ultimately have an interest is is properly maintained
  
• a big worry is that when your boyfriend decides to sell, he may need to inform potential buyers that there is a neighbour dispute. Though this does make me think - did the previous owner advise your boyfriend (or his solicitor) of this when he bought the flat. If they had been asked and said there were no problems than your boyfriend may be able to take legal action against the previous owner. A property with an ongoing dispute like this will be of less interest to future purchasers and will suffer in terms of reduced selling price.
  

[tinktronik]

I had a set of nightmare neighbors. They actually broke into our home and burgled it several times. We could get no action from the police even though we had personally caught them burgling our home on more than one occasion. Their dogs killed 2 of my cats and my dog, after which the owners tried to hide what was left of his body. Their dogs treed me on top of my car twice and were aggressive to my children. Their kids would shoot paintball guns at our house. This went on for several years.

 

I finally had enough. I started laying down nails in their driveway. I hooked up small speakers on the outside of my home facing their windows and at night I would play dreamweaver on a loop just below my noise ordinance from 8PM to 8AM every day. I put out raw red meat in my backyard and waited for their dogs to come in then called animal control and had them hauled away and put to sleep. My s/o shaved his head into a mohawk and started walking the perimeter of our property with a shotgun, we checked in with law enforcement and were told this was legal to do.

 

Getting aggressive did work. They were moved out within 4 months of me having enough. But it took us getting pissed enough not to take it silently for them to go.

[britchick]

Anne – thanks for your suggestions -

They have the shop on a long term lease (25 years) - BF's flat is a leasehold (100 years). The lease is a really old tripartite (sp???) lease which gives them rights that a modern lease wouldn't, I think. Such as collecting money on behalf of the freeholder. They did break the terms of their lease by turning off the water.

 

The freeholder is great at following up their complaints but was/is no help whatsoever when it comes to our complaints. I speak to him about once a week at the moment! When I brought up in person (instead of by letter) that the flat was empty for a long period because we didn't have any water, he acted as if he had no idea. This despite a number of solicitors letters (and me turning up at his place of business in tears on one occasion) which he never acted on.

 

Did try the CAB but they didn't have any lease experts!!

 

We did think about legal action against the previous owner, but can also completely understand why he didn't disclose it. He was an ex-serviceman suffering PTSD which they used to their advantage apparently - getting him so stressed he moved out before he sold. I really don't want to chase a previous victim of these people, I'd rather go after them.

 

The suggestion of other neighbours! Thank you! Called on a neighbour I wasn't even sure existed but she does - they have caused her problems as well. Glad for us, sorry for her! She lives alone and apparently when she moved in they told her 'you won't be here long'. They have also tried to take her to court over a water leak! They have been verbally abusive to her and restricted access to her property which she rents. They also removed lighting so she can't see anything at night to get to her frontdoor and she has to carry a torch.

She says she hears no noise from our flat at all. I see a letter from both of us to the freeholder in my near future!!

 

 

 

Tink – you are scary! I wish I could fly you over here for a few weeks. In the UK, so no armed patrols are allowed!! After reading about your neighbours I'm feeling blessed.

 

 

 

Dreamingoftigers – thank you too! You have given me a new sense of resolve to not be beaten by them!