I have lived with "neighbours from hell" for a decade. The stalking, harassment, intimidation, mockery, insults and abuse have been relentless. I shared my story on a 'Neighbours from Hell' Facebook group and was shocked by the number of people suffering similar or worse situations. Some have endured this torment for months; others for over 30 years. The common thread? Our councils offer little support beyond uprooting victims to relocate them.

This is not an isolated issue but a widespread problem affecting countless tenants across the country. It's time our councils took more effective action to protect us from disruptive neighbours rather than displacing us.

According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), noise complaints alone rose by 28% between 2019 and 2020 in England and Wales (ONS, Noise Complaints Data). This figure does not even begin to cover other forms of neighbour disputes such as harassment or intimidation.

We urge local councils to develop comprehensive policies that provide better support for tenants & homeowners dealing with neighbour disputes. This could include providing mediation services, enforcing stricter penalties on perpetrators of harassment or abuse, and offering counselling services to affected tenants.

It's time we shift the burden off victims' shoulders onto those causing the disruption. Sign this petition if you believe everyone deserves peace within their own homes without fear of being uprooted due to others' disruptive behaviour. 

 

My personal experience:

I've had bad neighbours, neighbours from hell, for 10 years.  

First year she moved in, the boyfriend smashed the quad bike into my fence, taking out 3 panels, (I only installed 5 at the time). She then trespassed into my garden, broke the children's playhouse that I was using to hold up the now busted panels, and let her dogs into my garden.  

I confronted her on it. 
She came to my door sobbing that she really needs a house.   

I thought that was the end of it.  

But no, they stay by the windows, watching, mocking and shouting abuse at me when I'm gardening or hanging out washing.  

It's gone on for so long, and the council cannot seem to do anything about it. I can't get enough evidence so council just seem to deem it as "petty neighbours dispute".  

If I put my rubbish out or work in the front garden they gather with friends, trying to intimidate.  

If we have a barbecue, she sends her son out to kick a ball against the fence.  

If anything goes over the fence, dog or children toys, she keeps them.  

Her big dog (xl bully) is left to howl all day when she's at work.  

At the start of summer, EVERY SUMMER, she will accuse one of my children of saying something to one of hers, which she will then enter my front garden, knock on the door and scream abuse at me refusing to leave. 

I painted my fence a lovely gold colour, the next day she picked the knots out of the panels and poured black paint through.  

If I put solar string lights up on the fence, she cuts them.  

If I do gardening in the front garden and she's alone, she'll come out and slam her bin lid every few seconds, goes on for a few minutes sometimes. 

My son was going to college last November, the boyfriend decided to use his work van to block my son and try and intimidate him outside the local corner shop. Reported and still being "investigated".  

If I sit in the garden, she will sit directly beside me on her side of the fence, listening in and discussing what we're talking about. If I move down the garden to a different bench, so will she. If I go in, she goes in. If I then go back outside, her children will alert her and she'll be back outside next to me.  

She slams every door, every single thing on a hinge, she wakes at 7:06 am, I know this because that's when the slamming starts. Toilet seats, cupboard doors, bedroom doors, gates, the lot. That's how we know she's home.   

I have to have the radio on all day otherwise she listens at the wall then loudly discusses in her garden, something she heard us talking about inside. The most recent thing was apple crumble 🙄.  

She screams and swears abuse at her children until they leave for school, and then when they've returned afterward.  

We put new 6ft fencing up 4 years ago, all along the garden, they put up cctv devices.  

They're on drugs, used to be methamphetamine but is cocaine now. 

So, enough is enough I thought, and installed a camera on my back garden.  

It seems to have settled, but the new thing they're doing, is knocking on the walls. The boyfriend knocks on the wall while my children sleep, it's a repetitive knock not to be construed with a simple tap. If I laugh, they knock on the living room wall, a lot, for about half an hour afterwards.  

I reported this to the council, they say they can't prove if the knocking is deliberate.  

I've spoken to various police, ICO, local MP's, Citizen's Advice, Victim Support, various housing officers, Community Trigger, etc etc.  

The only reason we're still living here is my beloved garden, and my family live nearby.