Horrible Neighbours

Lorrs33

The houses on either side of us have been rented out to God knows how many people within the last few years. My family and I have been living there for twelve years now. When we first moved in, our neighbours were lovely but they eventually moved on and people saw the opportunity to rent the houses out to any eejit who could afford it.

Both our neighbours have caused us problems, but the neighbours to our right are the worst so far. From the second they moved in they've been making our lives difficult. They have a dozen cars and vans coming and going and for some reason, instead of using their extra long driveway, they insist on blocking our driveway with them. Not a day goes by when this doesn't occur. My mam has the landlord's number and sent many complaints to him. She also contacted the Community Garda about it and they advised her to ring them when this happened again and they would tow the car/van away. Of course my mam doesn't do this because she convinces herself they'll be gone by the time the Gardai get here.

We learned that their landlord isn't even a registered landlord and upon contacting our local TDs we learned that he was being hunted basically but no one could find his address. And apparently we're not the only ones complaining about the neighbours. His address was finally found but so far nothing has been done.

Then one day, the "mother" of the neighbours called my mam over and they had it out with each other. Apparently the landlord told her that my mam was spying over the back wall at them! My mam is in her 50s and is not capable of such a thing. They seemed to come to an understanding. My mam agreed to back off as long as they stopped blocking our driveway. And this was the case for a few weeks.

Recently, however, their behaviour is worse than ever. More and more cars are blocking us in. Their kids are standing in front of my mam's car when she tries to leave and hurling abuse. They nearly backed their huge jeep into me and my mam several days ago. And now, just this morning my mam found ink stamps on her car. Apparently they did the same to my brother-in-law's car the other night.

It's really getting my mam down. I feel like we've wasted all our efforts to deal with them and it's only going to get worse. Has anyone else been in a similar situation? I could really use some reassurance.

Zeouterlimits

Lorrs33 wrote: »

She also contacted the Community Garda about it and they advised her to ring them when this happened again and they would tow the car/van away. Of course my mam doesn't do this because she convinces herself they'll be gone by the time the Gardai get here.

Why don't you ring?

Lorrs33 wrote: »

It's really getting my mam down. I feel like we've wasted all our efforts to deal with them and it's only going to get worse. Has anyone else been in a similar situation? I could really use some reassurance.

Of course people have, if something happens to you it generally has happened to many, many people (a general rule).
People I lived in an estate with some pretty horrible neighbours (and some good ones) that tormented my family and I. Thankfully we moved out of there, my parents are so better off (it happened not long before I moved out) but I'm guessing that isn't an option for yours?

Lorrs33

Zeouterlimits wrote: »

Why don't you ring?


Of course people have, if something happens to you it generally has happened to many, many people (a general rule).
People I lived in an estate with some pretty horrible neighbours (and some good ones) that tormented my family and I. Thankfully we moved out of there, my parents are so better off (it happened not long before I moved out) but I'm guessing that isn't an option for yours?

I'd ring them but if they're always gone by the time the Gardai arrive then I'll be the girl who cried wolf.

Moving isn't an option right now. My mam insists she won't be intimidated out of her own home.

Zeouterlimits

They aren't going to take you away, just call them. Leaving it as it is, being too afraid to be called out on it, won't help.
If these people are bullies, which they seem to be, they prey on fear and cowardice, it makes them feel powerful and they get a kick of it.

Susie_Q

Lorrs33 wrote: »

I'd ring them but if they're always gone by the time the Gardai arrive then I'll be the girl who cried wolf.

Moving isn't an option right now. My mam insists she won't be intimidated out of her own home.

Take photos of their cars blocking your driveway, that way you can show it to the Gardai when they arrive if the cars have been moved by then. I reckon if the neighbours see you taking photos of this they might just stop blocking your driveway anyway.

Graces7

A dreadful situation.

Please; keep calling the Gardai; you have done nothing wrong and they will get weary of having to deal with these people and take action. We have had issues like this and know that ioften it cannot be smoothed
over and that police action/legal action has to be taken.

They will avoid doing that at first in our experience. You need to keep at them. They are there for this but you need to keep at them

Keep a journal with dates, times, events. Useful if it goes to court as records kept at the time are valuable evidence. Photos are great also.

NB these people wil try to accuse YOU; take no heed. They work on attack being the best form of defence.

Maybe take down all the vehicle reg numbers; chances are that they are not taxed etc and that too can be reported to the Gardai.

Contact the PTRB re the landlord as this is an offence in law and they will challenge him.

Call Threshold ( google it); they are experienced and highly qualified in al this kind of thing and will act as advocate if you need that.

Go to your local Citizen;s Info; they have free legal advice also. Again, this will be nothing new to them sadly.

And yes, we have had this kind of issue and yes, it has been resolved now.

And take care of yourself; these are high stress situations.

Fluorescence

Lorrs33 wrote: »

Recently, however, their behaviour is worse than ever. More and more cars are blocking us in. Their kids are standing in front of my mam's car when she tries to leave and hurling abuse. They nearly backed their huge jeep into me and my mam several days ago. And now, just this morning my mam found ink stamps on her car. Apparently they did the same to my brother-in-law's car the other night.

This alone is vandalism and assault, and enough to merit calling the Gardaí. Next time a car is blocking the driveway, call them anyway. Even if it is gone by the time they arrive you can have a list of other issues to bring up with them.

mikemac

Call the gardaí each and every time. Also get in contact with your community garda and sit down for a discussion.
Keep a log of every call. The gardaí may fob you off at first but do it call every time there is an incident and they will take action. Escalate to the desk sergeant or higher if needed

Get CCTV and make it prominent, hopefully that will stop the vandalism on your car. It's isn't that expensive, on sale in Lidl/Aldi now and again.

A dozen cars you say? Are they selling them privately? Get onto your local council. Councils are broke and would only love to get rates from a business.

These people are bullies and rely on people not taking action or giving up. Don't talk to them again, let the council and gardai talk to them.

Your local TD and councillors work for you. Call them and write a followup letter. With a general election looming, head to your local TD's clinic for a chat. They may do nothing but they might do something, worth a go

ebbsy

Its a real shame this, and appalling too. Law abiding people such as the OP are crushed at the hands of these scumbags, and the law is not strong enough to deal with such matters.

Lorrs33

feelingstressed wrote: »

Call the gardaí each and every time. Also get in contact with your community garda and sit down for a discussion.
Keep a log of every call. The gardaí may fob you off at first but do it call every time there is an incident and they will take action. Escalate to the desk sergeant or higher if needed

Get CCTV and make it prominent, hopefully that will stop the vandalism on your car. It's isn't that expensive, on sale in Lidl/Aldi now and again.

A dozen cars you say? Are they selling them privately? Get onto your local council. Councils are broke and would only love to get rates from a business.

These people are bullies and rely on people not taking action or giving up. Don't talk to them again, let the council and gardai talk to them.

Your local TD and councillors work for you. Call them and write a followup letter. With a general election looming, head to your local TD's clinic for a chat. They may do nothing but they might do something, worth a go

They're not selling them, it's obviously their relatives and friends. They have the nerve to tell my mother that they barely have any money and yet there are Audi jeeps and BMW sports cars blocking us in

LegacyUser

If you dont call the gardai every time there is an indecent than it becomes nothing but hearsay or rumor.

be smart and protect yourself and your mum from what I think are nothing but thugs having a go at someone they see as weak and unable to defend themselves.


take photos / recordings of the blocked driveway then call the gardai
take photos / recordings of anything that gets damaged / vandalized then call the gardai

the gardai are not ones to take these kinds of things lightly. using a jeep as a weapon(if you thought you were in serious danger than it can be considered a weapon) is an incredibly serious act.

StereoLove

I also have a simular problem with my neighbours. Even in the morning when I wake up their kids are shouting and roaring and it's like they intentionally act like that just to get on my nerves. They also gave many cars coming and going talking up my parking space. During the summer they rested thier bikes against my car and caused scratches to my car. I've tried to reason with the woman but it's impossible.

LegacyUser

contact the PRTB, Private Residential Tenancy Board to report both parties, tenant and landlord, this will also show up if the landlord is paying tax on the rental property

they are a very helpful, and powerful organisation.

Zen65

Lorrs33 wrote: »

I'd ring them but if they're always gone by the time the Gardai arrive then I'll be the girl who cried wolf.

Op,

Do you have a problem with your neighbours or not?

Making excuses like this is just playing the victim.


Be at peace,

Z

CorkMan

Take photos of the cars when they are blocking your property, I say take them 7 days straight for the 1st week to show that this is constant. Then 2/3 times for the next couple of weeks and then every week.

I have lived with these things before, it is not very nice but don't back down. What they are doing is illegal.