Neighours from Hell - do I need a Solicitor? LONG, sorry

Pamela13

Please help -- the situation is both ridiculous and scary....

We live between two rental properties and on one side, neighbours from hell. The previous tenants were horrible (evicted by the owner) and we had hopes of some decent tenants when the current lot moved in, but it has descended into farce. They park in front of our house (terrace housing), so we can't move LO in and out easily (there is assigned parking, but they prefer to park in front), they have put their rubbish in with ours (refusal to pay, so the rubbish company now gives us stickers for our bags), blast music so LO is awaken from naps (we had to move his room to the other side of the house and he takes naps in the living room as it's inbetween the party walls) and we only complained once, as we figured that at least, they were quiet by 9pm and although their actions were annoying, liveable BUT now, they have started building an illegal second house in the back garden (it is not an extension, it is not a shed and the council have send inspectors to look at and they have a notice to dismantle the illegal build)...-- they are tenants and the owner, once alerted, told them it had to come down, but they decided to continue building....

I complained once, Sunday morning two weeks ago when I told their builder that it was illegal to build on a Sunday -- his response was it was legal and I told him and the tenant, who screamed out at me that I was in the wrong, that I would be formally complaining to the council the following day. I did so, with photographs and a warning notice to cease and desist was sent. They continued building. I alerted the owner, who served a notice of violation of lease and gave them 7 days to remove. They continued to build and in fact caused a minor flood one day when they incorrectly cut off the mains to attach pipes to the illegal build. The owner has sent them a notice of eviction, but they continue to build. Aside from the one conversation two weeks ago, I have had no contact with them, merely texting the owner (who I have known for many years) of their continued behaviour.....

My little boy was quite ill over the last few days, thankfully on the mend, but thursday, we took him to the doctors and he was given an antibiotic and my OH took some time off to be with him (we take turns if LO is ill) and the neighbours started building again on Thursday. I merely texted the owner, but did not confront or speak to the tenant. Friday was a very scary day - LO's temperature was all over the place and we kept opening windows to cool him down, but due to the builders, kept having to close. We had to call the locum doctors as LO's temperature was hovering around 40, but fortunately, it broke and LO was much better. We had a follow-up appointment this morning (Sat) at 8.30am to see our doctor and as we were leaving, saw the builders coming, but we merely took LO to the doctor and got the OK that he was getting better. When I returned home, I texted the owner and told her that builders were back.

About two hours later (11am), there was a knock on the door -- the police had come and I immediately thought that there was a family death or a motor accident, but it was the neighbour, who had complained to the police about an altercation that day? WTF? I explained that LO had been seriously ill, that I had brought a complaint via the council and the owner could talk to him, etc., but that I had far more important things to deal with than her 'crap'. I said that although I do have a hot temper, with LO around, I was merely following all the legal remedies and to harass me in such a way, was inexcusable (e.g. my LO was very sick) and I started crying. I am the first to admit if I have done anything wrong, but I hadn't confronted them, dealt with, etc., and was now very scared. What other lies could she tell, what if they did something when my OH wasn't here, etc....My OH was there to prove to the police that there was no altercation and I showed texts to the owner and my formal complaint to the council, but I am scared....

thanks for reading and to be honest, I am still shocked. It has been suggested that the tenants might be trying to argue racism (she's from another country, but so am I) and that complaint is about her background and not the fact that she is doing an illegal build, which completely invalidates her social housing.....she alleged to the police that our 'feud' has been going on for six months (the one time we asked them to turn down the music), but fortunately, another neighbour was passing at the time (door open when police there) and when asked, he said that we were all standing around three weeks ago, gossiping about something and that I was a good neighour and he asked how the baby was.....

Both my OH and the owner have told me to make sure I have nothing to do with the tenant, but here's the thing -- I haven't done anything wrong in the first place -- I was merely walking with my OH to the car with my sick baby this morning, what less can I do? And next week, I'll be home with the baby alone in the afternoons - I think the garda did believe me, but can I do anything else? I can't afford to get a solicitor, but what protection do I have?

thanks....

Schnitzel Muncher

What does LO mean? Little One?

LowKeyReturn

Sounds like you've a lot of emotion built up in this and that inevitable 'can't do anything feeling'. Stop all contact with you neighbours it will only make things worse. Write to the Landlord and complain to the PRTB.

Explain to the Landlord once this is all sorted if he has people like that in again you'll be contacting a solicitor and will take things further than the PRTB.

Things will not be resolved quickly - unfortunately.

EDIT: Sorry not meant as legal advice in anyway - just from personal experience.

FLAC is a god source of advice if you are unable to afford a solicitor.

ABajaninCork

Are you the lady whose neighbours are building a hairdressing salon at the back? I really feel sorry for you, but I agree with LowKeyReturn. You have to make this legal now. Keep a diary/log of events too. Dates, times and photographs. It'll come in useful.

Hope it works out for you!

Pamela13

Schnitzel Muncher wrote: »

What does LO mean? Little One?

yes, sorry!

Pamela13

here's the thing though -- there has been no contact at all -- that's why I am so bewildered and shocked that she called the gardai AS I NOT SPOKEN TO HER for over two weeks...in fact, when they started building again, we didn't even open the curtains as our little boy was poorly on Thursday, Friday and thankfully, better today, so we weren't even looking in their direction.

I just wrote a lengthy complaint to the council about her behaviour and am fortunately backed up by the official complaint to the planning department two weeks ago -- when the garda found out about that and the owner's notice of eviction -- he was alot more understanding....

and yes, I am the lady whose neighbour is building a hair salon -- we took pictures today of the dryers, etc going in (which is probably another reason she called the guards...)

thanks....

Wicklowandy

You know the landlord, but you describe it as social housing.

Is it being leased to the council under the RAS scheme?

I know in a private tenancy, surely the landlord could issue a desist notice, then a notice to quit? I'm sorry, I don't know, but is a tenant under the RAS scheme harder to get rid of if they pull a stunt like that?

I hope everything works out ok for the OP, and would feel the best thing to do is document everything, but relax, a landlord is not going to allow building work by any tenant.

Are they?:)

Pamela13

unfortunately, the owner HAS given a notice to remove the build and a notice of eviction, but the tenant has continued anyway....

I went to the garda today to make a formal complaint, but there is nothing that they can really do for me, e.g. she can make all the allegations she wants, but I can't complain about her complaining about me - LOL!

This is such a stupid situation, but fortunately, my little boy is in great form today and that's the most important thing!

thanks

SB2013

Pamela13 wrote: »

unfortunately, the owner HAS given a notice to remove the build and a notice of eviction, but the tenant has continued anyway....

I went to the garda today to make a formal complaint, but there is nothing that they can really do for me, e.g. she can make all the allegations she wants, but I can't complain about her complaining about me - LOL!

This is such a stupid situation, but fortunately, my little boy is in great form today and that's the most important thing!

thanks

It's up to the owner to follow through on his notice of eviction.