You are lucky you are renting and can go elsewhere where I'm sure there would be nicer neighbours I agree with previous comments don't spend anymore on the property and start looking for somewhere else you won't win people like this over they have probably done this to previous tenants life really is too short to allow this sort of stress
Gransnet forums
Chat
Neighbours from hell
(38 Posts)In all my years I've been very lucky to have good neighbours. I've recently moved into a rented property in a new area. I love the house, it's just right for me.
One of the neighbours has taken to ringing my doorbell and banging on my door in the evening. This has happened regularly and as I live on my own unnerves me quite a bit. Initially I thought it was kids but this evening I heard giggling and footsteps running next door and banging their door shut. I know there are no kids, just a woman in her 20s and her mother. They can't talk normally, they have to shout or shriek. There's loud getting in and out of cars several times of an evening. I think they both work because it's quiet during the day apart from dog barking and the car is gone.
When I moved in there was an empty McDonalds bag and a cigarette packet lobbed over from next door. The tomato ketchup container is still on my lean-to roof as I can't reach it.
The neighbours fence was also down in several places and their staffie was getting into my garden to poo. Luckily when I contacted the letting agent about this, the actual landlord and landlady came round and put a temporary hardboard fence up and they have promised to replace the fence entirely even though it's the neighbour's.
They were so nice and are even letting me have a dog, something I haven't been able to do in previous rentals. I had asked if I could redecorate internally as I want to be here long term which probably has made them more approachable.
I don't want to move out when my initial six months is up because I've spent quite a lot on the place since moving in a month ago. I put a friendly letter through the door when I first arrived and offered to pay for a new fence but they totally ignored it. I have always smiled and said hi when I've seen them but they ignore me.
This is upsetting me as I thought this was going to be my long term happy home 
1. I would befriend the people opposite and ask them to keep an eye on your front door to let you know exactly who is bothering you.
2. I wouldn't get a dog yet in case you are forced into a move.
3. Even a fake CCTV camera might put them off.
4. Be glad you only have a 6 month Lease and can move. No-one needs this sort of stress. You will find yourself unable to relax and just waiting for the door knocking and bell ringing.
5. There's more than one ideal home for you if you search.
Blimey we ve moved on another notch it’s moved up to hate crime now People you re watching too much tv
Try the local council. Some of them have a team to deal with noise and nuisance. Speak to the landlord again to ask what they know or even if those neighbours are also renting. Then have a look at your rental/lease agreement to see if there is anything there that can be used.
I think you would have to have a lot more concrete evidence before assuming any kind of 'crime' has been committed! They sound like normal people to me. A bit thoughtless: nothing more.
Are you a different religion or race or sexual orientation (there are other things, I think) to your neighbours? If so their behaviour could be deemed hate crime and they could be prosecuted. It is certainly harassment, though relatively low level to what it could be.
In any case start to keep a log of what is going on, date and event.
But really there is nothing in the original post to suggest they are TERRIBLE neighbour, talk about Chinese whispers it’s got worse and worse with each post made
Look at it fact by fact
There was a hole in the fence and a dog coming through ( is that their fault) ...... landlord has mended the fence albeit temporarily .....problem solved
The neighbours appear to be two women who are out (poster thinks at work) all day, but noisy in the evenings, talk loudly and bang doors
When she FIRST moved in there was a McDonald’s s wrapper and cigarette packet lobbed over ....there is nothing to suggest that this has continued to happen
They don’t talk to poster when she smiles or says hello (not very friendly but their choice)
Smurf are you sure you are just not used to very quiet but friendly neighbours and these are different
By the way why did you move ?
I have had similar problems and I know it is very hard . I Have just brought a peephole camera for the front door . It records and comes with a monitor or can be used with a phone, so you can see anyone who is or has been at your door. I got mine from eBay very cheep and easy to fix mine goes over the exciting peephole but there are many different types. You need to know who it is banging before you can sort it.
I'm with Luckygirl on this, if you're renting, just move.
SMURF52
You could always put a camera at your door to find out WHO is playing knock down ginger every night, it surely can not be a 20 year old ??
Also if your neighbours are un pleasant don't let it concern you. I live in London and in 7 years I have spoken to my neighbour twice and one of those times was to tell him to lower his music as it was 4am in the blinkin morning.
I think a security camera at your door will arm you will knowledge or it might even stop them knocking at your door for fear of getting caught. If you are a bit in nerved about the knocking never open your door to anyone unless you ask who they are first and you recognise the voice 
It is upsetting, and of course you never know what neighbours are going to be like! But I would begin to look around; you are just about coping with this odd behaviour, so you have a little time; this is also one of the advantages of renting.
Sadly, there are people with a slightly skewed sense of reality who will indulge in odd behaviour like this. It's not highly anti-social, and doesn't really trigger 'sanctions' of any kind, but just odd and unsettling. They usually know what buttons to push to make someone (who they have decided they don't want around) feel uncomfortable.
I think your decision depends on a lot of other factors, including your other neighbours - is this something they have learned to cope with?
However, after a lifetime working in the community, I would say these situations rarely improve, unless they are evicted (you don't say, and probably don't know, if they are renting).
I do hope it can work out for you.
Moving is difficult enough if you are a tenant. If you are a house owner it is even worse. We had just bought the house where we had a problem neighbour. Moving wasn't an option. I just stopped ignoring all phone calls when I was in the garden, so they soon stopped. There was one final flurry after that, when we heard a tinkle of glass one night, and rushed out to find an empty street and the nearside wing mirror on our car broken. As I went out I heard the click of a front door, but could not prove anything. After that she stopped bothering us.
TBH if I were you I would just move. Life's too short to endure this sort of thing.
Our little street was lovely no loud parties and everyone looking out for one another. I am going to get CCTV a few neighbours have it already.
I am in sympathy with the Poster. I have posted on here previously about a neighbour who did building work for months in a Housing Trust Property. Low and behold she has done a swop to a larger Trust Property and are doing the same with that. The new tenant moved in six weeks ago she never spoke to me but I was slightly acquainted with a relation. Who said to me I have told her she has good neighbours!
This weekend a party took place into the early hours. I sleep in the bedroom next to their lounge, it wasn't loud music but loud raucous singing and shouting. at 11.45 I knocked, no answer as they could not hear me knocking. Tried to go to sleep impossible as it got louder. I got up again at 1.45 am and this time knocked on the window. I said it was after midnight and could they keep the noise down please.
I was told by the 4 or 5 people who came to the door that I was "out of order". One man grabbed me by the wrist and shook his finger in my face. I said "no you are out of order". If it does not stop I will call the police. The tenant said "Call them" I work with the Police. I believe she works for NHS. She is not young but middle aged. They had no intention of quieting down.
When I returned home one of the guests starting ringing my bell, initially I thought it might be to apologise but instinct stopped me opening the door.
I did ring the Police not expecting a response and initially there wasn't much help from the person on the other end of the phone. When I told them I had been grabbed by the wrist and someone was ringing on my doorbell as I was speaking to them they asked my age and said they would send someone as I was vulnerable. This neighbour is a so called medical professional. The police arrived quite quickly, I just saw the blue lights flashing, they rang me to be let in. They told them they were drunk but they said they weren't. Police asked if I wanted to press charges but as there were a dozen people there I could not single out the man who grabbed me. So I said no. The group at the front of the house then dispersed but there were still people at the back, when they went at 2.30 they made an extra loud noise obviously to make a point.
The police did tell me to keep a note of any further incidents and as she is a tenant report it to the Trust.
I put a card through this women's door when she moved in which her good luck in her new home. That's what you get for trying to be neighbourly.
If you get CCTV and record the disturbances, then what are you going to do? Report them and things will surely get worse; there are many reported cases, some on here, of the intimidation that people have received from neighbours. You have had a hint of what could happen, take the hint, and move. Be grateful that you can, and than you don't have to try and sell it.
I'm with a few of the others I wouldn't stay even if it's not them banging on your door, you say there loud and they ignore you after you've tried to be polite. I really would think hard before you think about throwing a dog in the mix.I think they are going to be intimidating and I'm sure if you ask other neighbours, previous tenants moved out due to them.I have a bad feeling about this and think this is just the start of it.Sorry! Do hope you find a solution.
cornergran
How distressing for you.You need to find out whether the previous tenant had problems with the neighbours.
If you were a purchaser of a property the vendor by law would have to disclose the likes of which you are experiencing
Contact your landlord he has to tell you and if you get no joy from him then Citizens Advice will put you in the right direction
This is intimidation and an offence.
Keep a diary of what is happening. ie date and the time.
I can understand the reluctance to move. The house itself suits Smurf52 and moving house is a real disruption. It is said to be the second next stressor after bereavement and divorce.
There is good advice about contacting local police and council. I hope it is soon sorted.
Why on earth go to the expense and bother of buying CCTV? This is a rented property, my guess is that the landlord is bending over backwards to keep you there as previous tenants have moved out. I could not live next door to people who bawl and shout and bang doors. Why not look for somewhere else to live before you start spending money on a rented house? Before you move anywhere, go and visit the street on different days and different times of the day. What may be peaceful on a weekday morning may be hell on earth at weekends when schools are out! Many years ago, my plumber told me to always to visit at different times; he bought a lovely house based on arranged weekday visits, after moving in he discovered that his neighbour ( adjacent driveways) was a banger racing enthusiast, and spend the weekend revving, spraying, all with the radio on.......
I’m so sorry to hear of your situation. I would definitely suggest cctv. The house next door to us is rented out by the owner and every time we get new tenants in I worry about who we will get. So far we have been very lucky but it can be awful having bad neighbours.
Get a cctv that isn’t too expensive. U can always get it taken down if u decide to move, maybe speak to community police for advice?
I'm with Monica here, as if your neighbours either are alcoholics, on drugs, or suffer from some mental illness it might well be them ringing your doorbell. However, you can't do anything about it, unless you can prove it is them, so nip along to the nearest DIY store and find an outdoor camera that records what is going on outside your front door.
Very good advice Jacee5. I started my post before you posted yours!
Unfortunately I know only too well about the horrors of a nightmare neighbour! So much so I had a stroke with all the stress they caused me. I'm shaking as I write this as it affected me so badly. This was about 8 year ago now and what you are experiencing is nothing compared to what I had to endure, but it is still enough to unnerve you as I can see. Please record every incident, and try if you can to get a cctv camera fitted before you do anything else so you can see exactly who us doing this. When you know and have proof of who is causing this go to the appropriate authority to get it nipped in the bud as life is not worth living with the stress and uncertainty of who or why some one would want to make your life a misery, other than that their life is miserable and worthless and they can't bare to see someone make a comfortable home for themselves and have a decent standard of life that they want to destroy.
I got the councils noise abatement office involved and they wanted us to go to a meeting with them (I forget what it's called at the moment!), but couldn't even face the woman. We had bought a beautiful Victorian terraced house, they were renting next door. We sold up and bought a detached and haven't looked back. People tried to tell me I was over-reacting, or telling me to ignore them etc, but this was a real situation, so go with your instinct and get proof, before it gets worse. This is how it started out for me and after months of trying to ignore it, I politely knocked on the door and said "I'm sure your not aware of how noise and music travels though our walls, but I would appreciate it if you could turn it down" in a friendly manner, to which I got a look of disgust but the music and other everyday noise got louder etc! I could go on and on about what other horrible things they did, but it would turn into a novel!!
Good luck Smurf, I hope you get it resolved 
Join the conversation
Registering is free, easy, and means you can join the discussion, watch threads and lots more.
Register now »Already registered? Log in with:
Gransnet »
