Fecking ******s

[Rainmaker 7]

I wanted to keep this short because I'm not really asking advice (though if you have some, feel free). I'm just hacked off to the back teeth at the mo, and so stressed out it's making me physically ill (well, more ill ). I figured a rant couldn't hurt, and might get some of it off my chest. If this is too long, click back and on ye way.

 

Brief facts are these:

 

• We moved into our private rented house in December 2005.
• The landlord seemed a decent chap, and was about to move to France for the quiet life.
• He and his wife moved their daughter into the house next door (which they also own) about a year later.
• Since then til now, she has had regular 'parties' (screaming, shouting, banging, fighting, music so loud the kids' beds shake and keep them awake all night etc.).
• Usually they're all ordering drugs in (if you wanna do drugs, fill your boots - but don't make a point of shouting through the walls about it laughing your tits off about how you're keeping the kids next door awake in the process).
• Said parties usually last between 10pm and through til 8am the next morning, sometimes til 3pm the next afternoon.

We've spoken to the landlord about it a few times, and his attitude is "Oh, I can't be doing with this. I'm in France what do you expect me to do about it? She says you're lying - if you're that arsed, get proof and report her. Bye." We had a SEVENTEEN hour party to sit through the other week, while her druggy mates were screaming and swearing about "that dickhead next door" all hours of the night. A school night too!... The kids were fecked the next day and crying on their way into school they were so tired. We've tried asking nicely (years ago). I went round (calm as you like) at 3am not long ago, asking did she realise she was keeping us and the kids up, and could she please tone it down a bit? Thank you.... She just slams the door on us, and doesn't answer at all now. She then rings her mum (landlord's wife) saying I'm bullying her in the middle of the night.

 

I've had the police out to her (she turns the music off and refuses to answer the door to them, last time it was 3.10am and she was back at it when they left), I've reported her to environmental health but she just goes quiet for two weeks (the statutory log-keeping period) and gets vindictive in other ways. The landlord told me if I didn't like it, we should move... "he said, she said" according to him - a police witness willing to speak to him on the phone counts for nowt... meanwhile the "woman" next door regularly whines to her mum that she can hear the children playing in the garden between 3pm and 6pm. WTF? When they're keeping her up all night I'll be ready to listen to her!

 

It all came to a head this week, when I got a text at 10 at night from the landlord, signed with his name, slagging us and accusing me of all sorts. I rang him straight up and his mrs answered, saying he didn't want to talk to me. I said if he wants to send silly arse texts at daft 'o' clock he can grow a pair of balls and come to the phone. She was calling me all the names under the sun, screaming, swearing at me, calling me a "damned liar", "scum", "lazy arsed doley" (I'm disabled and only wish I COULD work!) and all that stuff. She said she doesn't give a shit about what I have to say, because we don't pay them the rent, "the social do"... They contribute due to my condition but we pay a big chunk ourselves, for the record. But either way they're getting rent, and we're allowed a peaceful tenancy.

 

She accused me of not letting them have a quiet life (by ringing to complain in the day time, once?)... yet she can ring and scream at me at 10pm while her daughter blasts music and has drug-fuelled brawls all night? Who's losing out on the quiet life here?! Apparently, I'm just sitting around on my computer all day filling my head with lies to complain about... She knows me well then? LOL :wankerzo4:

 

I told her I was recording the call, that it was harassment, and that as my landlord she/they were obliged to (1) treat our initial complaint fairly, and not take their daughter's word over a copper and (2) not start making stuff up about us "brawling in the streets" (I've been in bed with pneumonia 90% of this week - brawling my arse!) and screaming threats down a phone at me at 10pm. I said I'd be seeing a solicitor and if they had anything to say to me, they could write to him. The landlord eventually came to the phone, said he didn't know anything about any text and that his wife was "just stirring shit".

 

Funny thing is, after four years of being here without incident, some random guy turns up tonight and tells the mrs he's sick of hearing my "working terriers" barking all day and night and that the neighbours at the back agree. Now, I'm the FIRST to hate a barking dog, I won't stand for it... which, since I spend all day and night at home due to my condition (when I'm not out with the dogs anyway!) is how I can 100% vouch for the fact my dogs don't make a sound. The pup barks once or twice (literally "woof, woof") if he sees me grabbing his chicken out, and that's it. Certainly no nuisance, I wouldn't stand for it myself! Bearing in mind the noisy cow next door, our kids have enough trouble sleeping without me letting a dog yap under their windows - it just doesn't happen!!

 

Anyway, it just feels like the timing of this "complaint" from a "neighbour" we've never even seen before is a bit too coincidental. Phone abuse, text messages, threats to "move out"... and now suddenly we've got a complaint from a "neighbour" about a problem that doesn't exist..... This "neighbour" also knew I worked my dogs, and knew stuff about their runs and kennels setup he couldn't (shouldn't!) possibly know?? :hmm:Not to mention my mrs said he kept saying what great "bait dogs" a little terrier would make for lurchers... and to watch our car (58 reg), and if it ever breaks we can always let him sort it out.... Um.... what? Sounds like threats to me....

 

Meanwhile the landlord is, to the best of my knowledge last he bragged about it:

 

Living abroad without declaring it to the UK authorities.

Receiving our rent into his wife's personal account to avoid the tax man (same for his three other properties).

Hasn't carried out a gas or electrical safety check here in the four years we've lived here.

Isn't registered as a landlord with the local authority.

Didn't protect our deposit (which is legally required).

Is basically making our lives hell and making a point of telling us to move when we get sick of it. If only we could afford to!

 

My brief reckons that there is clear documented evidence of landlord harassment, with a view to securing an illegal eviction ("she'll blast tunes all night if she wants, move if you don't like it..."). He'll be taking action this week. And yes, we're looking for somewhere else to live! We'll be presenting to the council as "effectively homeless" this week... Three weeks to Christmas, and we're sat awake all night worrying ourselves sick about this, and the kids know we'll probably be in a homeless shelter before they get to open the pressies at this rate. Feckin marvellous. All because we asked our landlord if he could get his daughter to please turn the music down after midnight, especially on school nights. My doc reckons the stress is what's prolonged my lung infection (pneumonia), and my blood pressure was 176/149

 

Anyway... rant over. I feel better. Don't you just hate arseholes? Merry xmas kids...

[Ratreeper 441]

can't believe i read all that lol. Sounds like a complete twat, although i have learnt from a young age you need to hear both sides of the story, but if what you say is how it happened then stitch the f****r up.

 

Do have a question though, how do you work terriers if you are 'disabled' and can't work??

[AL BUNDY 45]

what kind of lease you on , mabye the landlord wants you out and by letting this go on hopes youl leave.

[BULLDOUG 199]

what kind of lease you on , mabye the landlord wants you out and by letting this go on hopes youl leave.

 

CUT OUT HIS FLOOR JOISTS AND CEILING JOISTS THEN TAKE THE CORNER OUT OF THE BUILDING BEFORE YOU LEAVE

[Rainmaker 7]

can't believe i read all that lol. Sounds like a complete twat, although i have learnt from a young age you need to hear both sides of the story, but if what you say is how it happened then stitch the f****r up.

 

Do have a question though, how do you work terriers if you are 'disabled' and can't work??

 

Fair comment, and a fair question. I have ME, kidney disease and various other stuff wrong with me. My intermittently "go directly to hospital, do not pass go" kidneys are basically ticking time bombs inside me that just "go off" every few months and lay me up. I've had 12+ major surgeries and am waiting to hear whether I finally qualify for a transplant.

 

I also have ME (a neurological condition affecting amongst other things, muscles) which means that I have to be very careful about what 'energy' I use. Unlike normal folks I have to plan my routine days in advance, and if, say I go to the shops tomorrow morning I'll effectively be bed ridden the day after. The mitochondria in my muscles simply don't make energy, or store it, as a normal person's does so whereas you can do something, take a minute, do another.... I can do a certain percentage of one thing, and it takes three days for the mitochondria to 'recharge' my cell's "batteries". Meantime I'm a jibbering wreck, my muscles are burning and trembling, and I find it difficult to stand up, never mind go about my business.

 

Have you ever tried getting a job on condition that (1) you don't know how many hours you can do, and (2) you'll need up to two weeks sick leave per day of work to recover? It just doesn't work if you'll pardon the pun. :wallbash:FWIW I'm no eejit, I was first class honours in university (psychopharmacology) and if I could get to work believe me we'd have a damn site better life than we do now on £120 a week! I spend a great deal of time confined to bed, but so long as I'm careful I can have a fairly "normal" day within the boundaries of my condition, as long as I'm always thinking two days ahead about what energy I'll need to use. So if I'm laid up Monday to Thursday, feeling OK Friday, I'll avoid physical exertion (walking further then the street, shopping, whatever) on Friday so I can let the dogs out of the car for a few rats on the Saturday... then I'll be in bed with trembling muscles, nausea, confusion and all that jazz because of Saturday's "exertion".

 

I realise that's a long winded explanation, but one thing I'm not is a piss taker, and I hate scroungers as much as the next man. I not only worked, but went through uni AND ran my own company before I fell prey to this disease - I hate being lumped in with the "work shy" and if I can explain what's really going on I'm always happy to do so.

[Malt 379]

Sorry to hear that mate, hope things get better for you real soon. A few prawns and mackerel fillets well hidden dotted about the place just before you move should do the trick.

Do have a question though, how do you work terriers if you are 'disabled' and can't work??

 

Surely that's his business? I suffer from osteoarthritis but still manage a bit of ferreting now and again with help setting nets and something to sit down on. Also you can pick and choose when to hunt, if you're not up to it, you don't go, simple. You can't do the same with many jobs.

[Rainmaker 7]

what kind of lease you on , mabye the landlord wants you out and by letting this go on hopes youl leave.

 

Assured shorthold mate, but since the deposit wasn't protected the landlord has lost all "section 21" rights of eviction. So, as you say, he's looking at other ways to force us out.

[Rainmaker 7]

Sorry to hear that mate, hope things get better for you real soon. A few prawns and mackerel fillets well hidden dotted about the place just before you move should do the trick.

Do have a question though, how do you work terriers if you are 'disabled' and can't work??

 

Surely that's his business? I suffer from osteoarthritis but still manage a bit of ferreting now and again with help setting nets and something to sit down on. Also you can pick and choose when to hunt, if you're not up to it, you don't go, simple. You can't do the same with many jobs.

 

Exactly mate. As I said I'm never one to duck questions about it because, yes it's my business but it's that guy's taxes! I hope that makes sense. I'm not a chancer, I am genuinely sick, and I'm always happy for folks to know exactly why I can't do a 9 to 5 (or even a 9 to 10, usually, in my case lol). As you say there's a huge difference between having to meet the needs of a daily job, and knowing if/when you're well enough to nip the dogs out for an hour while you stand around for a bit enjoying the craic. Luckily, my mate is a bloody diamond... I drive us there, he does the running around, he digs, he lifts, I watch. Top fella, not many would be so kind hearted imho.

[Hollie 21]

I REALLY feel for you

I am also having problems with my landlord, since my partner moved out he has started taking advantage of my good nature, recently had a new kitchen put in (3 yrs after it was promised and he only put it in cos i told him i was going to move out because of the state of the house) it was done in stages, 4 weekends i had to get up and let people in at 8.30am, then they dissconnected my kitchen water supply WITHOUT telling me, left me with no water for 3 days THEN dissconnected and moved my cooker and left me for 4 days (and a small child to feed) WITHOUT giving me any prior warning

When my daughters dad phoned him up to ask why he was taking the mickey out of me he replied, it has f**k ALL TO DO WITH YOU, your name is no longer on the tenancy

It has EVERYTHING to do with him when i can't cook our daughter a hot meal for 4 days

I could go on but i will stop now!

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

 

 

landlords i say!!!

[RicW 67]

 

 

Hang tight bro. From what you have said they are wa-a-ay out of order. If you are up to date with your rental payments then you have a clear right to "peacable enjoyment of the premises". That includes freedom from mad partying, interfering phone calls, and the rest of the shit. Have you got a solicitor on the case? You can have a half hour discussion (on legal aid, so it costs you nowt)to establish your position. My solicitor hates rip-off landlords so if push comes to shove I'll put you in touch.

 

Ric

[Rainmaker 7]

Hang tight bro. From what you have said they are wa-a-ay out of order. If you are up to date with your rental payments then you have a clear right to "peacable enjoyment of the premises". That includes freedom from mad partying, interfering phone calls, and the rest of the shit. Have you got a solicitor on the case? You can have a half hour discussion (on legal aid, so it costs you nowt)to establish your position. My solicitor hates rip-off landlords so if push comes to shove I'll put you in touch.

 

Ric

 

Thanks Ric. We took legal advice last month, and wheels are in motion. Suffice to say, once the story and evidence we had was laid out, a very pleased sounding chap informed me that (1) the landlord was bang to rights and (2) he'll be helping us find alternative accommodation and will be gladly screwing the landlord over on the way.

[Tallyho 181]

I really feel for ya . and hope you dont end up homless before christmas , get as much as you can on the old slag from next door and make sure you record and write down every thing that goes on and have the lot of them , no one should have to put up with that, all the best with it and keep us posted .

[Rainmaker 7]

I really feel for ya . and hope you dont end up homless before christmas , get as much as you can on the old slag from next door and make sure you record and write down every thing that goes on and have the lot of them , no one should have to put up with that, all the best with it and keep us posted .

 

Cheers, that means a lot. Now we've got a solicitor on-side hopefully we'll be OK 'til new year. Trying to calm down and look at it rationally, at the end of the day whether it's stressful for us or not the landlord can't actually evict us (legally) without a LOT of hassle and court etc - especially after losing his s21 rights. So long as we grit our teeth and bear it, we can stay here until at least new year - but it's getting to the point where the harassment from them and all stress is literally consuming our days, not something that's good for the kids. Hopefully things will calm down a bit again now they've dug their heels in at us and had their say etc, especially knowing the solicitor's sharpening his pen and taking notes. At least that way the kids can enjoy Christmas before we uproot them.

 

Apologies again for the ridiculously long OP, I just had to get it off my chest I was going mental.

[Tallyho 181]

I really feel for ya . and hope you dont end up homless before christmas , get as much as you can on the old slag from next door and make sure you record and write down every thing that goes on and have the lot of them , no one should have to put up with that, all the best with it and keep us posted .

 

Cheers, that means a lot. Now we've got a solicitor on-side hopefully we'll be OK 'til new year. Trying to calm down and look at it rationally, at the end of the day whether it's stressful for us or not the landlord can't actually evict us (legally) without a LOT of hassle and court etc - especially after losing his s21 rights. So long as we grit our teeth and bear it, we can stay here until at least new year - but it's getting to the point where the harassment from them and all stress is literally consuming our days, not something that's good for the kids. Hopefully things will calm down a bit again now they've dug their heels in at us and had their say etc, especially knowing the solicitor's sharpening his pen and taking notes. At least that way the kids can enjoy Christmas before we uproot them.

 

Apologies again for the ridiculously long OP, I just had to get it off my chest I was going mental.

 

 

you shouldnt have to put up with that though , no one should ! and no need to apologise .hope the kids have a good christmas .

[Rainmaker 7]

you shouldnt have to put up with that though , no one should ! and no need to apologise .hope the kids have a good christmas .

 

Thanks again mate, and the same to you and yours. All the best.