Harassed by a neighbour

[OrangeEggs]

Hi all

This is my first post but the Forum has been very useful to me in the past and I hope it will be again here.

I bought my house in the middle of last year, and I share a garden border with housing association flats. This didn’t bother me on paper - I have friends and family who rely on association housing who have never caused or been on the end of any issues.

Unfortunately, one of the neighbours has taken exception to me, despite us having no interaction since I moved in, and has verbally abused me and thrown items at my property on a number of occasions. I have raised this with the housing association, who have sought repossession. Since the court date - during which the repossession hearing was deferred until March - the behaviour has escalated to the point where I can’t leave my dog in the property for fear of my windows being put through by one of the thrown items (which include drinking glasses, jars, metal items, etc.).

The housing association are attempting to pressure me into giving a signed statement as part of their case, which would allow the neighbour access to my full name despite me not having a clue of his. I have said I’d do this if it was anonymous or pseudonymous, which they have stated is not possible (but they cannot tell me why this is legally the case).

Their reasoning for requiring a statement is that they do not believe a judge will grant repossession based on their community impact statement; my conjecture in this regard is that their statement does not, therefore, adequately capture my experience, or the reason for not providing a full statement (that the hostility is unprovoked and there is nothing to protect me from further escalation, and having my name could result in this taking place in other forms). I have also stated they can use images I have previously provided when giving their own statements, and advised I am happy to contract with them to this end if required. They have shown no intention to include the images.

The questions I am hoping the forum can answer are:

1) what mechanism exists for providing a civil statement where there is a very real risk of harm should my details be disclosed? Can this be provided anonymously or pseudonymously? If not, why not?

2) the housing association will not share the wording of the parts of the community impact statement relating to me with me; they are unable to explain why this is. Legally, is there a basis for withholding this? I feel my experiences are probably not fully represented given that the housing association do not believe repossession will be granted.

3) the housing association was in the process of obtaining a notice of intent to seek repossession prior to me completing my purchase; this was not disclosed to me. Do I have any legal recourse?

4) the housing association has advised me they did not conduct any screening and trusted the local authority’s nomination. The local authority has advised they nominated based on the tenant’s initial application for social housing alone; and this was not subjected to any scrutiny before being passed to the housing association. Do I have any legal recourse in this regard?

5) the housing association has stated they do not intend to amend their statements prior to the next court date, despite further harassment. Why is this?

6) is there not a mechanism for bringing forward a repossession hearing where a neighbour is being harassed and their property is at risk?

Thanks for reading, and for any help that you can offer.

[ostell]

So photos and recordings and a log. Report to police

[OrangeEggs]

Thanks for the reply, I’ve been doing all of that - the issue seems to be that the housing association don’t have a data sharing agreement with the police so are trying to rely on me directly. As such, I’m trying to get some clarity on the questions above.

[EnglandPi]

What mechanism exists for providing a civil statement where there is a very real risk of harm should my details be disclosed? Can this be provided anonymously or pseudonymously? If not, why not?

Use a solicitor who will observe your confidentiality.

The housing association will not share the wording of the parts of the community impact statement relating to me with me; they are unable to explain why this is. Legally, is there a basis for withholding this? I feel my experiences are probably not fully represented given that the housing association do not believe repossession will be granted.

Possibly privileged information.

The housing association was in the process of obtaining a notice of intent to seek repossession prior to me completing my purchase; this was not disclosed to me. Do I have any legal recourse?

Probably not.

The housing association has advised me they did not conduct any screening and trusted the local authority’s nomination. The local authority has advised they nominated based on the tenant’s initial application for social housing alone; and this was not subjected to any scrutiny before being passed to the housing association. Do I have any legal recourse in this regard?

Probably not.

The housing association has stated they do not intend to amend their statements prior to the next court date, despite further harassment. Why is this?

You would need to ask them.


Is there not a mechanism for bringing forward a repossession hearing where a neighbour is being harassed and their property is at risk?

Probably not, the courts are not working to capacity due to covid with most hearing now being virtual..

[islandgirl]

what is the history with the Police? If you get the neighbout a conviction for harassment there can be an injunction and if he comes near you he will be instantly arrested. I would be a) involving the Police and b) getting cctv so I could prove the harassment. I doubt that the housing association are going to have the harassment going on as a priority. It is a terrible thing for you but just an inconvenience for them. Clearly there are other issues meaning that they are going for repossession and yours are only part of a bigger picture. I would not rely on the HA at all but take matters into my own hands and involve the Police.

[OrangeEggs]

Brilliant, thanks so much for the advice and clarity. I am continuing to liaise with the police following the escalation and hopefully a harassment conviction isn’t too far off.