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Hi, my name is aleksksn! Problems with neighbours, any ideas?

aleksksn

Hello Members.

My username is aleksksn, but my name is Alex.

I am on Autistic Spectrum Disorder, suffered from Aspergers Syndrome.

I have a problem with noisy upstairs neighbours. I started complaining about the noise, but the neighbors attacked me and threatened me to not complain about them. I reported to the police, the police visited their property. After this the neighbours started making much more noise. My living condition because of extremely loud noise became unbearable.

This problem brought me to this forum. I'm seeking any appropriate information and advice regarding this problem. Does anyone has a similar problem?

Please do not hesitate to ask me any detail about me and my situation.

Thank you

Alex

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Comments

durhamjaide2001

Welcome to the community Alex from a fellow autistic person. I would suggest that you visit the coffee lounge and games den.

Rosie_Scope

Hi @aleksksn, welcome to the community. I'm so sorry you've had this experience with your neighbours, that sounds really difficult to deal with.

Are you renting privately or do you live in council housing? If you haven't already, it might be worth telling your landlord or housing service what's going on.

It's good that the police are involved, please do call them if you ever feel threatened or unsafe.

Some people find it's helpful to keep a diary of what's going on in case you need to provide evidence to anyone. You could perhaps keep a note of what time they're making the noise, how long it lasts, and what kind of noise it is.

While the situation is still happening, does anything help you block out the noise so you can feel more comfortable? Sometimes people find earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones can help, but I know that's not always an option.

aleksksn

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/946649#Comment_946649

Hello Rosie/ hello everyone. Thank you for your response and concern.

I will try to provide as much detail about the situation as possible.

I'm renting the flat from council and have been living there for 20 years. Moving to a different place is not the best option.

The noise started 2 years ago, when new tenants moved in the upstairs flat. The neigbours are renting from a private landlord. So their landlord is different from mine.

They replaced a soft floor by a solid wooden floor. (The wooden floor increases sounds in many folds). The neighbours have small children who run, jump, ride a plastic bysicle and drop heavy items on the wooden floor. I hear all loud banging, scratching in my flat.

Yes, of course, I informed my housing association many times during this period, and on telephone and in writing. (may be 50 - 100 times). However, it looks like the housing association ignores the problem. They just answer "we are sorry. We will pass the information to a managers. e t c .) They phoned me a few times and advised me to move out from the property, because the problem is too difficult for them.

Yes, of course, I keep the diary for 2 years. I even have witnesses who were evidenced the noise. But nobody reads this diary.

Yes, I something helps to block the noise up to a point. I wear air defensive headsets to block the noise. It helps but not 100%, because the noise is too loud. Because I wear that air headsets all time, my ears become wet and I have ear infection.

Recently my housing association provided some leaflets and advised me to write on the leaflets like "Dear neighbours, your noise was too loud, I couldn't have rest in the weekend. Can you be more quite please? Thank you. Alex". I started dropping these leaflets into their mail slot, however the neighbours became not happy and angry at my leaflets. One day they opened the door, they shouted at me, used an offensive and threatening language at me, showed a finger and punched me. I recorded the conversation on my phone.

I reported it to police and housing association. The police officer visited my property, and visited the neighbours flat too. He confirmed that neighbours have the solid wooden floor. Despite my many calls and letters to my housing association they are still doing nothing. Meanwhile the noise from the neighbours was increased - they furiously bang in the floor above my bedroom.

The noise is so loud that I can't tolerate it, I go to a local woods to relax.

Thank you for reading this. I am not familiar with rules and law, I am very confused of this situation. I would be grateful to your advice and clever ideas.

Regards

Alex

aleksksn

I forgot to write in the message above that police prohibited me to drop that leaflets to neighbours. If the leaflets stopped the neighhbours make noise up to a point. But now nothing stops them banging into the floor. The housing association promised to speak on my helf with them, but it looks like the housing association forgot about me.

OverlyAnxious

The sad reality is there isn't anything that can be done to stop noisy neighbours. This is a problem for many people, but especially bad for those with over-sensitive hearing.

The best option is to move yourself or to hope they move and a quieter neighbour moves in.

It's all well and good being told that the police can help but they can't. The moment they leave, the neighbours will just start making noise again, and intentionally make more noise because they feel they have the right to make noise in their property, just as you feel you have the right to a quiet property.

aleksksn

Thank you OverlyAnxious,

Yes, everything you comment is very true, but I have a right to inform or speak with the neighbours asking them to be mindful regarding noise. This is my essential tenant and neighbour right. Hopefully you would agree with this point? But the police deprived me this rights by prohibiting to contact them. This is why I am on this forum seeking a clever idea how to solve the problem.

OverlyAnxious

Honestly, this isn't just about legal rights. This is about the real world and the society we live in.

You've already tried contacting them many times and it's only made things worse. I don't see how contacting them again would have a more positive outcome?

Sadly, from a legal side, you could even be reported for harassment if you keep dropping leaflets to the same address. I suspect that is why the police asked you stop.

The law, and society, is not on our side when we need quiet and calm in a close proximity living arrangement.

aleksksn

"Sadly, from a legal side, you could even be reported for harassment if you keep dropping leaflets to the same address. I suspect that is why the police asked you stop."

Sorry, but I don't agree with this point. From a legal side I can't be reported for harassment for dropping leaflets, because Citizen Advice Bureau and my housing association advised me to drop the leaflets, I have the confirmation in writing. So, I know my rights.

From a legal side, if the police prohibits me dropping leaflets, the police has to drop the leaflets themselves.

I know the weakness of that noisy neighbours - they are oversensitive when somebody reminds them about the noise they make.