Devastated :(

sparky05084 · 2 Mar 2012 at 22:02

Pretty much sums up how I feel right now.

Came home from work today to be told by my mum that our Housing Association contacted her today and it was bad news. She was informed that the audio recording they recieved when we had sound equipment installed (recorded over a 10 day period mid January) was not enough to warrant legal action against our neighbours who have made our lives hell for nearly 9 months.

I am so angry and frustrated as we have done everything by the book and we feel so let down. My mum was telling me although our TLO was polite and has been most helpful, she has made it clear that it is not classed as a serious enough disturbance or is not frequent or intense enough to take it to the next stage, being ASB award (or something to that effect), severe warning or court, which could potentially lead to eviction.

We have filled in 10 ASB diaries as instructed by the TLO and these are very detailed and highlight many disturbances such as doors slamming, drawers banging, overly loud talking, appliances running (think washer), shouting, knocking sounds on the walls etc all during unsocial hours.

My mum even went to mediation with the mother of the family who are being a nuisance and we honestly believed things would improve. Basically she got very distressed and broke down on several occassions crying when the very same TLO said they would act and take matters further (sound recording devices, court etc) if the situation was not resolved and didn't improve.

That was back in August 2011. Since then things have gradually got worse and noise has become more frequent but according to our TLO, it isn't enough to take action.

So, where do we stand now? My mum has a meeting with them on Tues 6th March to further discuss the matter with the area MOD or something as my mum says (and rightly so) that we have done all these diaries and not retaliated in anyway, shape or form only to be told now at such a critical stage (and by that I mean that we could snap at any minute and all hell will break loose), that they cannot take it further.

I won't go on too much as I'm sure you understand I'm gutted and I can't think methodically to give all the details and trust me when I say this, 8 months of this **** is a lot to put down on here.

I hope I can sleep tonight as it's Friday and one of her sons (the main perpertrator) goes into town, gets drunk and comes back at about 12:30 - 12:45am banging doors etc.

Apparently this is not enough. I have lost all faith in our Association and I'm beginning to wonder if I/we are going to have to take matters into our own hands.

I swear I could knock 7 bells out of him and I know this isn't the answer. Our hands our tied.

Thanks for reading.

sparky05084 · 2 Mar 2012 at 22:15

Seriously I wish I could but here's the thing and this is just pathetic. They or she (TLO) knows how I feel as I spoke to her in person (when I went to pick up some more stupid diaries to fill in) and I was advised not to confront our neighbours or him.

Now, I mentioned to her that I am at my wits end and have been running on reserve for months. I am the most placid person I know but I do fear what I could potentially do or be capable of if I "lost" it.

Now, the TLO explained to my mum today (by the way she is on tenancy so I cannot have any corresspondance with TLO even though I picked up diaries and was brief chat) that if we retaliate then the onus will be on us and they will take action against us!

sparky05084 · 2 Mar 2012 at 22:17

Do you own that said monster truck

sparky05084 · 2 Mar 2012 at 22:21

They may as well be made of paper. Ok yeah I get the whole 12.30 bang of door joke but seriously thats one incident of many and if I was to write down every single incident in them diaries and including what we put down whilst recording equipment was in, I think this would be a very long thread.

sparky05084 · 2 Mar 2012 at 22:24

It's not like we "wait" for noise like if we hear the toliet flush or something and go "ah got ya" and then proceed to write it down. But, when your trying to sleep and your up for work the next day (none of them scum work btw) it gets tedious when they go about their activities at night.

sparky05084 · 2 Mar 2012 at 22:27

I'm afraid I don't have any sound clips but I am going to consider start recording on my own. I have contemplated going to a solicitor but I will see what the Housing have to say to my mum on Tuesday.

I have a gut feeling though it will be only to confirm what we already have established, they won't help further.

Oh, and as for the silly jokes, leave off now please.

sparky05084 · 2 Mar 2012 at 22:45

The next stage is to see what the Housing have to say at this meeting. Even if it's a threatening letter to say they are being monitored etc then that should be enough but to tell us they can't further help is taking the complete and utter ****.

Having said that, even a letter may not suffice. They are all empty heads and I have approached the mothers son on 2 occassions and very politley asked him to be respectful and tone the noise down.

I feel the 3rd ocassion I might have to introduce him to my friend called fist.

sparky05084 · 2 Mar 2012 at 23:02

Iv'e been holding back now for months. I know who's doing it and worst still he knows that I know.

Trouble is, If I give him a pasting then I will jepordise our own tenancy and you can bet the Hosuing will then turn the tables on us.

sparky05084 · 2 Mar 2012 at 23:24

Look, Im not saying that I expect everyone to live like we do or go to bed when we do etc etc. You can argue the you know what with that. Everyone has a right to live their lives peacefully and that includes us.

Now, we do expect to hear some noise and that is the perils of living in terraced blocks. However, the disturbances we are experiencing is not what I would class as general hosuehold nose and it is clear to me they are taking the biscuit.

From around 10:30pm it kicks off and goes on AFTER 11PM. We feel lucky if it stops at midnight. Sometimes noise goes on until the very early hours (on and off till 3/4am).

It's purposeful and we hear "knocking" on the walls and laughing and still the housing say it's not enough.

sparky05084 · 2 Mar 2012 at 23:42

The outcome of the mediation was that my mum agreed with the mother of said family to not record disturbances for a few days and we would allow them time to adjust and correct their noise levels.

It improved for 2 days then went right back up again. The mother even mentioned at mediation that when she confronted her son (main perpetrator) about the whole situation his reply was "**** em".

Says it all really.