Urgent Advice Needed

[Zumbagirl]

In my last post I asked for advice about my boundary wall which my neighbour had damaged and attached structures to. I was advised to take down the wall and replace with a fence. As my neighbour had so many things against my wall I gave him a months notice that I was replacing the wall and asked him to remove anything against the wall. He didn't and proceeded to go on holiday for a month. While they were away, the wall was pulled down causing minimal damage.....a few fist size lumps of concrete flew into his garden but I didn't want to retrieve it as I could be accused of tresspassing. Last year he demolished part of my wall at the bottom of the garden without my permission and rebuilt an ugly wall cutting into and damaging my pergola. My builders had to use a kanga to remove this wall as he had used so much cement it took them three hours to pull down a wall 3 foot high by 4 foot long. On the advice of the police we placed the bricks from this wall onto his property. My new fence is now up. Last week I had a call from the council to say they reported me for leaving debris in their garden and that my small dogs had gone in there and poo-ed in their garden. When the wall came down on day one I barricaded as much as I could to stop the dogs going over there but they did get in and I had to use treats to get them out as I didn't want to step into their garden. I explained all this to the council and they were satisfied with my explanation. Obviously the neighbours weren't happy with this and today I had a visit from the police. I explained the whole situation and I was spoken to like a criminal and accused of all sorts from throwing dog poo at their window to fly tipping at the back of my house outside my garage(the bricks from the main part of my wall were put there on Tues and picked up on wednesday) They accused me of trying to harass them cos I moved my car a few feet forward closer to theirs but still on my driveway. I can't remember when it was but there mustve been a reason I moved my car is delivery etc. They have cctv that is filming me parking or using my garage at the back and this is making me really uncomfortable. A few months ago their car rear window was shattered and they have told everyone in the street it was me even though the police viewed their cctv and said it was a stone from a passing car. I'm finding all this really upsetting as I have done everything within the law and I've actually done nothing to these people. I keep myself to myself but he was damaging my property and we had words....I haven't spoken to them or even looked at them since. I was diagnosed with breast cancer a few months ago and it's been tough so I have had more important things on my mind and I just want to be left alone...I don't bother anyone. I've lived here for 25 years and get along with all my neighbours. Another neighbour has had a major row with them too. Today the police made me feel like a criminal and when they left I was so upset. They said if anything else happens you will be done for harassment, but it's them who are harassing me....They have now called the police 5 times accusing me of stuff. I just don't know what to do. I feel like I'm living in a goldfish bowl as his cctv is filming my every move. Any advice would be appreciated as if it doesn't stop I feel I'll be forced to sell up and move

[kvalidir]

I am so sorry. Firstly I would write a letter of complaint regarding the police and the manner in which you were spoken to, that will be yu taking back some control of the situation. Mention in it that you consulted the police regarding disposal of debris etc and that you feel that you are being harrassed by your neighbours and that the police did not act appropriately on their visit.
Is there anyone local you can talk to and who can help you figt your corner, maybe a relative or neighbour, as I'm sure it feels very lonely dealing with all this on your own?
Just keep yourself calm and well, and continue avoiding them and ignoring them whilst you deal with the matter of the police. Once they are off your back you can start to address other things. The council would be a good port of call as well. Hope things cheer up for you soon xx

[Zumbagirl]

Thanks for your reply. I've spoken to council a few times and they're pretty useless to be honest. I think I'm gonna have to see a solicitor. I've just gone back to work after 8 months off so can't really afford it right now but I've been told you can get a 30 min advice session at the CAB so ill try that. I'm a bit wary of complaining about the horrible policewoman as I'm scared she'll have it in for me if my spiteful neighbour makes up more stories. I just don't get how they can accuse me of stuff when there is no proof and he has cctv everywhere so I was a bit annoyed that the police even mentioned this stuff to me

[Peter Pedant]

I think the CAB is a good idea
I wouldnt involve Lawyers - what are they gonna do ( besides charge)

Situations like this - are dealt with like this was - starting off with PINs ( police information notices] - they dont to listen to the other side, just dole them out

you may have had one.

I think you need to start a contact diary - so far they have had it all their own way, and I would think about CCTV yourself - there are cheap sets available

and dont sort of go near them ....

at present there isnt much to do ... the fence is up - the dogs are in your garden

[silliemillie]

I'm sorry to hear of your troubles, I had horrible neighbours once and they really do wreck your life.

Please be careful about taking legal proceedings if you want to sell up, you will have to declare it to any potential buyers which will put a lot of people off.

Do hope you can get it sorted, you shouldn't be forced out of your home x

[Zumbagirl]

@peterpendant I don't think it was a police information notice as I didn't sign anything. Can anyone advise on the cctv? I thought if you had this you could only film within the boundary of your own property, but they can see me parking my car and going into my property so the angle must be very wide as we live next door to each other. I have a garage at the back of my property which opens out onto a public road, my neighbour doesn't have a garage but he has erected a camera on a pole to his wall at the bottom of his garden and this camera films me coming and going from my garage as well as the road. Can anyone clarify this?

[tamborine]

take neighbor to court for criminal damage to your property - before neighbor initiates court proceedings against you.

https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/criminal-damage

[Zumbagirl]

Invoices? I reported them for damaging my property. He painted the side of my extension wall and has attached a concrete post to it covering up part of my damp course. He also pulled down my boundary wall and damaged my pergola. They told the police I was ok with them painting the wall and that it was done 8 years ago.....it's all lies. The police woman said it will damage the wall if the paint is removed now and they said they used masonry paint. She obviously believed them and made out I was lying. She accused me of trying to antagonize them by moving my car forward on my own driveway! And another time he parked his car so close to mine then proceeded to wash his car using a long handled broom leaning against the bonnet of my car to clean his bonnet. I went out and moved my car back. I said to him "don't you think it would be easier if you moved your car back a bit? You're so petty" He told the police I called him a prick, I said I did not. She said we saw you on the cctv mouthing one word! But they said nothing about the fact he was leaning on my car! I'm not a confrontational person but I will stand up for my rights and in hindsight I wish I'd said all this to them but I was so shocked at their accusations. I have just had medical treatment and I was in bed when they turned up as I wasn't feeling too well otherwise I would've put them right on a few issues. It just really upset me the way they were accusing me of things which have all been twisted. My god they must be feeling so smug next door. I've done absolutely nothing wrong and I haven't spoken or looked at these people for 18 months yet the police have obviously taken their side. They did say however that they were going to tell him to move the muck from his flower bed away from my new fence and not to touch my property but it looks like they will do nothing about the damage he has caused

[AuntLydia]

So far you seem to have been seen as the perpetrator. Change that. Send them a Solicitors letter wording it in such a way as to send a message that you are no longer going to take anymore **** from them and if they continue in their instigative actions you will apply for a court order for harassment. They sound like bullies, put them straight it may be the best £75 ( or so) you will spend.

[Zumbagirl]

@tambourine initiates proceedings for what? I haven't done anything to them.....he has damaged my property. He knocked down around 4 foot of my boundary wall, pulled down a fence panel, painted my extension wall and cemented a block of concrete to it to hold a wooden post and this is covering part of my damp course. But the police seem more concerned about the fact they have accused me of harnessing them as I moved my car on my own drive and a few lumps of concrete flew into his garden during the demolition of my wall to replace with fence. I was advised to take the wall down as he had 2 feet of earth against it as he constructed a flower bed the length of my wall and it had caused my wall do go damp and start to crumble. I took photos during the demolition of the wall and asked the local Bobby to come and witness that no damage had been caused to their property so I feel I've done everything within the law

[Zumbagirl]

@Analysis how do I go about getting a letter sent? Won't it be more than £75?

[Zumbagirl]

@AuntLydia sorry autocorrect!!

[AuntLydia]

WoW you have a local bobby? Who found the time to come look at a flowerbed being demolished? In that case get him on your case!

[AuntLydia]

zumbagirl -go into any Solicitors office and book an appointment. Ask first how much a solicitors letter will be, go to a few. You go in, state your case, state what you want to happen and the Solicitor send them a letter.

[Zumbagirl]

@AuntLydia thank you....I'm going to do this. Maybe then they will stop this bullying

[tamborine]

neighbor disputes are often twisted to each's advantage for court. You have your dispute, best you attack rather than defend in court.

[CrapAtCryptics]

Perhaps moving is the best idea as the neighbour sounds like a real donkeys rear end.

[Zumbagirl]

@AuntLydia she's actually a PSCO for this area, so when I had the date to take the wall down I rung her and asked her to come round and she did.....and was satisfied there was no damage to the neighbours property. So they were aware of it. However there seems to have been a lack of communication as the police woman yesterday was not aware of anything

[murraymints]

I'd check out the CCTV thing it is my understanding you can only film within your own boundaries... and they need to put a sign up ? keep a diary of events and times..photos if appropriate and record any conversations you may have.. a letter threatening them with defamation action regarding the car window business may be helpful..if police have already viewed film and agreed it wasn't you..they haven't a leg to stand on...need not be a solicitor's letter..write your own with the info about the police's involvement and send recorded delivery