My friend lives in a council house semi detached and adjoing a privately owned one.

[starone]

The privately owned house was previously her parents house and was sold to the present owner on her mother's death. He is carrying on a running battle with her by saying she has stolen a small piece of his land on the boundary. She keeps telling him to go to the council but he ignores her and shouts abuse at the slightest provocation. He has piled rubbish against the fence in order to make it rot. Why on earth he should think she wants a bit of his land when hers is a council house and so would not belong to her I do not know. She has been to the council and to the local councillor but nothing has been done. He has now shouted "See you in the High Court" (whatever that is). She is quite worried. Any suggestions?

[albaqwerty]

Nasty thing for your friend to be going through.

If the rubbish is a frequent dumping, I'd try Environmental Health first.
Take pictures and keep a diary for the abuse.
I presume the police wouldn't be interested as they might class it as a Civil matter but I stand to be corrected on that.

[PurplePolkadot]

What an awful situation for your friend. I can only suggest asking the council if they have proof of the boundary within their records, and or report this neighbour to the police, as shouting abuse and behaving like this may well constitute a public order offence, they will tell him to refrain from this behaviour and go through the correct channels to resolve the matter, which would be for him to contact the council with regard to his boundary dispute, good luck to him haha at least if he transfers his angst to them your friend should get some peace.

[starone]

Thanks Alba. I am going to make a note of any suggestions to give her.

[starone]

Just noticed I left out an n in adjoining. A slip of the fingers - I can spell it (I think).

[cazzz1975]

he has no say, he is only a tenant, she should complain about the neighbours behaviour as anti social

[starone]

Yes, polkadot, she is quite worried. She has already been to the council, but they seem to have shelved it and have not done anything about it. I think she will have to be a lot more positive with her dealings with them and then dump it all in their laps.

[cazzz1975]

lol I got that the wrong way around, she should ask for the council to deal with his complaint. I would still complain about his behaviour to the environmental services

[cazzz1975]

if he takes the council to court, they will then have to un shelve it :)

[starone]

No, cazzz he owns the house. It is my friend who is a tenant in a council house.

[DTCwordfan]

If she thinks that he is going to be out there, then take her mobile phone with the recorder running or by one of those wee recorders that solicitors use. Capture the conversations and if anything highly abusive, then you have evidence to go to the police with.

Albas advice too re diary/pics and the Environmental services/

Write to the council with this story stating that he thinks there is a boundary issue but it is causing her distress, record the letter

Finally be prepared to go the local press and name and shame him - but have the evidence as they will need that........

[starone]

Sorry - cross postings.

[albaqwerty]

Does the council have a Housing Support Officer (or whatever they're called) whom she could contact and express her concerns and anxieties.
The council should be taking this a heckuva lot more seriously than they seem to be.

[starone]

She has already been in contact with the housing dept. and they have done nothing. I am taking note of all your suggestions - some of them are really good, I think - and am going to take them to her and discuss what she can do. I think she will have to make a start by making records of what is going on. Thanks a lot everyone, for taking an interest and helping.

[cazzz1975]

as far as the court issue is concerned, as a tenant she has no say so if he wants to go to court then cest la vie.

agree with the above about recording his anti social behaviour and reporting it to the council.

[karenmac60]

Get her to see if the council have a mediation service and also advise her to contact her local councilor. I had a lot of problems with my next door neighbour who also owns her house and I contacted my councilor who then contacted the mediation service to speak to her on my behalf. While we still don't speak, I've never had any more problems from her in the 7 years or so since this all happened. I hope your friend gets things sorted.

[PurplePolkadot]

Please let us know how she gets on ...... and good luck to her.