Contacting Your MP About a Neighbourhood Problem

Originally written by Jeff Durham, updated by the editorial team on 14th April 2026

When you're dealing with ongoing neighbourhood problems, you might think about contacting your local MP for help. MPs do represent their constituents and care about local issues, but knowing what they can and cannot do will save you time and point you in the right direction.

If your MP redirects you to the council, you can save time by using our free Council Complaint Letter Builder.

MPs focus mainly on central government policy, national legislation, and broader constituency concerns. They're not set up to step into individual disputes between neighbours or sort out personal conflicts. Their job centres on problems that affect whole communities rather than individual complaints.

Try Your Local Councillor First

For most neighbourhood problems, your local councillor is better placed to help than your MP. Councillors work with local authority services directly and know how to report and resolve community issues.

They can help with council housing repairs, environmental health complaints, planning applications, and local service problems. Councillors often have working relationships with council officers and can follow up on specific cases more effectively than MPs.

When a problem affects many residents or shows systematic issues, councillors can take matters to your MP themselves. This approach often carries more weight than going to MPs individually.

You can find your local councillors through your council's website. Most hold regular surgeries and are generally easier to reach than MPs for local matters.

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What MPs Typically Don't Handle

Your MP typically won't get involved in direct neighbour disputes, family disagreements, or personal conflicts between individuals. They also cannot step into ongoing court proceedings or overturn court decisions. Employment disputes usually fall outside their area too, unless they relate to broader policy issues.

Private property matters, planning disputes still going through local authority processes, and civil disagreements generally need resolving through other channels. MPs cannot act as go-betweens for you and your neighbours, and they generally cannot force local authorities to take specific actions in individual cases.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

When Your MP Might Help

MPs can be useful when neighbourhood problems reflect wider policy issues or systematic failures. If your area gets poor police response to antisocial behaviour generally, or if local authority services are failing across the community, these become proper constituency matters.

Problems with government agencies might warrant MP involvement. This includes ongoing issues with housing associations, benefits administration, or failures in services the law requires councils to provide. They can also raise concerns about local authority performance when it affects multiple residents.

Environmental issues needing government action, such as noise from airports or major building projects, often benefit from MP involvement. Similarly, if local services like bin collection or road maintenance are consistently poor across the constituency, your MP can raise these with relevant ministers.

MPs can advocate for policy changes and bring attention to issues through Parliamentary debates and questions. They might write to relevant ministers, raise questions in Parliament, or contact local authorities on your behalf. However, they cannot guarantee specific outcomes and their influence has limits.

How to Get Help

If you decide your issue needs MP attention, a written letter or email usually works best. MPs get large amounts of post, so being clear and brief helps.

Explain the issue briefly, what steps you've already taken, and why you think it needs MP involvement. Focus on the broader effects rather than just your personal situation. If other residents are affected, mention this as it shows community-wide concern.

You can find your MP's contact details on the UK Parliament website by entering your postcode. Most MPs provide both postal addresses and email contacts. Letters can go to their constituency office or to the House of Commons.

Many MPs hold regular surgeries where you can meet them face to face. These are usually advertised in local papers, on the MP's website, or at places like libraries and community centres. Surgeries work on a first-come, first-served basis and time is limited, so prepare your points beforehand.

MPs typically acknowledge letters within a few days, though detailed responses may take longer. Remember that MPs handle hundreds of inquiries weekly, so responses may come from their office staff rather than the MP personally. Be realistic about timescales, as Parliamentary procedures move slowly and complex issues may take months to progress.

For neighbourhood disputes, consider mediation services, which many councils provide free. Environmental health departments can address noise, smells, and other nuisances covered by law. Police handle criminal behaviour and threats.

Citizens Advice can help you understand your options and rights. For housing problems, contact your landlord, housing association, or council housing department first. Trading Standards deal with business-related neighbourhood problems. If your problem involves potential criminal activity, such as drug dealing or threats, contact police directly rather than going through political representatives.

Understanding these boundaries helps you choose the most effective route for your particular situation. MPs serve their constituents best when tackling issues that match their role in the political system rather than individual neighbourhood disputes.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Neighbour Rights Checker lets you check your legal rights in any neighbour dispute. Takes 1 minute. Try it now →

67 questions

Ask Problem Neighbours a Question

ProblemNeighbours Editor 17/05/2026 at 1:34 pm

@hughes97 That sounds genuinely frustrating, especially after 30 years without issue. Keep a written log of dates and times their TV is too loud, and consider recording it on your phone with timestamps as evidence for the council. Chase up your counter complaint in writing and ask for an update reference number, as four weeks is too long to hear nothing. If your MP doesn't respond soon, try a councillor instead, they often get quicker traction locally.

hughes97 24/06/2024 at 10:52 am

Ever since the new tenants moved in next door, they have been complaining about our dog's barking/howling. The previous tenant was not bothered about this. They have since involved the council and we had an abatement notice put on us. Yet they have the TV/music on so loud that you can hear it on top of our TV. We have told them that we will deal with our dog if they turn down the TV but they have refused to do so because they say that they are deaf. (If they are deaf, then why can they hear our dog and I have not noticed any hearing aids on them when I see them). We have since had the abatement notice stopped but we are still currently under investigation by the council for six weeks and if in those six weeks the neighbours do no contact the council, the investigation against us will be closed. We have also put in a counter claim against them for their loud TV and music four weeks ago but haven't heard anything since.
This is unfair because we have never had any complaint against us and we have been in property for nearly 30 years. We have asked our other neighbour if they have a problem with our dog barking and they don't. We see this as harassment from the tenants and they have a vendetta against us. We have contacted the local MP and we're still waiting for a reply. We don't know what else we can do but the council do not seem willing to listen to us.

Omer 26/11/2023 at 11:03 am

We have a neighbour upstairs who has been disturbing us for 3 years . We always knock on his door but he never comes down . I knocked today but he did not come down and he started screaming b*stard to me. it is scaring everyone even little kids . He is a dangerous person .There is multiple men living up there . We complained to the police but they said to complain to the council i did my wife did that but im complaining here because i think there will be a better chance of you doing something here .

Breezy 06/10/2022 at 12:42 am

Am 9 months pregnant and was place in temporary accommodation by Lambeth Council in Croydon. I've contacted the council, police my son social worker and landlord about this issue about a guy next door .who is doing drugs outside of the building there people having sex outside of the building and he's slamming the main door that is causing us to cant sleep at all. He is always swearing at us he even came to fight me and my son because I told him to stop sleeping the door. The yard has rats,rubbish and alot more of heath issues WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE ! as no one seem to want to help us before it's to late . Can I please get some advice on what I can do thank you

Joterri 04/08/2021 at 12:28 pm

I live in a block of flats which are privately owned and I am a tenant. We have allocated parking bays. My car is directly parked under a very large Ash tree which is over the boundary fence belonging to Broxbourne council. My car is constantly covered in pigeon muck it’s been happening for many years it’s ruined my cars paint work and is a health hazard. There is no outside tap to wash the car and I live upstairs and am a senior citizen. I’ve contacted Broxbourne council over the years but nothing has been done about the tree which I’d like to be pruned back not necessarily chopped down. I love nature etc but it’s quite depressing to face this constant mess and see my car ruined on a daily basis.
I did contact local MP by phone a couple of years ago but didn’t get anywhere.
I hope you can be of any help. Thank you

Sherwood18 18/07/2021 at 7:03 pm

I am concerned about my block of flats, a friend of mine residing there has requested cameras be placed in my block, as I have, the response was no invasion of privacy, I am vulnerable since my mum passed away nearly 4 years ago, I have noone, would feel safer with cameras erected, what is my next move please

Sheila 08/07/2021 at 11:27 pm

We have a detached house and behind it there are two car parks which belong to several oof the adjacent properties. Immediately behind the fence that separates us from these car parks is what was described in the deeds of our house as a hedgerow however over the years the trees within this hedgerow have grown and a few of the trees are well over 40 feet high. The roots from these trees are impacting on my property and I am currently having to have my patio relaid because the tree roots have raised the paving slabs. During this process large roots have been found that are perilously close to our house. Some of these have now been removed but I have been advised that the offending trees should be removed otherwise if any roots continue to move closer to our house it could cause subsidence. I have approached our parish council but they only deal with trees etc under 10 feet high. Our parish councillor contacted the borough council on my behalf but despite the council having at the time that the estate was built specified that the hedgerows should be retained within the estate claim that the land is private land and gives the addresses of two of the houses - one on each side that are the owners - clearly the council is unaware of the size of the car parks and the number of houses it serves. I do not feel that I have the right to seek to have the trees removed at my expense and also do not feel that I should have to pay to have this work done as the cause of the issues I am facing is not on my land.

Serap 24/11/2020 at 11:59 am

I have end of terrace house and there is an alley between my house and the next door neighbur. Since 2013 damp has been spreading in my house which is coming from the out side of the wall of the next door neighbour side. Severel time I requested and pleaded and access for builders to do the damp proof work and every each time she and her two sons refused. Finally I went to court in 2018 and the judge overruled in my favour and told her to open the gate to the builders. The damp proof work take only 1/2 days and I let her know in advance that the builder is coming yet she refused to open the gate regardless of the judge's decision. I have spent over 15 hundred pounds for the solicitor to get her open the gates which is by law (1992 Neighbouring Act) I have a right to do remedial work. Yet she and her sons are not letting me to fix my house. I am all alone no relatives and no families ad they know this and they have been bullying me and one of her son's shouting at me saying that his God is coming to punish me. I have severe osteoarthritis and asthma and the damp in my living room is badly effecting my health. I told her about my health and her son shouted at me saying "fix inside, we do not care" Can anybody please help me? I lost my sister 27 mounts ago to cancer and I could not even properly mourn for my loss. When I told them that I lost my sister and pleaded them to be reasonable, I only got their deaf ears. Is there some one out there to help me?

Louise Wilson 19/10/2020 at 6:30 pm

Hi I have a neighbour that has let his house and garden go to rack and ruin... this is now causing a problem with my property damp and his garden is over growing into mine...

I am just looking for a little advise..

He no longer lives there and I do not know where he has gone to

Sue 10/08/2020 at 1:44 pm

I live in a block of flats no problem with the block lovely neighbours. My problem is people who don't even live on the street using our wheelie bins to dispose of they waste. I'm sick of not been able to put my rubbish out as someone from another street has filled up the bin with they waste what can be done about this?

Lin 21/07/2020 at 3:45 pm

I am wanting an extension for my disabled son. I own my property. The party wall is not involved in the building work but needed a survey done on it. I have used a surveyor that my neighbours landlord recommended and all was well and cleared. Now the landlord wants another survey done with another surveyor at my cost. This is further delaying the build and my disabled son has not had bathroom facilities for over two years. This is all because the landlords mother hated disabled people even though she became disabled herself.

Summer 14/06/2020 at 7:18 am

I have recently moved to a local authority house my neighbour owns her house but she puts food out for birds but it also causing rabbits, squirels , and any other birds etc to come to her garden causing a nuisance the squirels have made their way in to her actual house through a vent and the birds have been in my kitchen at the back of units etc I contacted council who came and temporarily blocked the hole the birds were coming in but the neighbour got ladders and took the temp covering off she’s also giving me hassle because the council are going to cut trees down that are in my garden saying it is the home of birds etc causing an issue .i would like to know what I can do regards this any advice would help .i also have 2 autistic children one of them are terrified of insects and won’t go in garden due to this

Millie 18/05/2020 at 8:39 pm

I am concerned that my neighbour has asbestos in the front garden leaning on to mine. It's been there 4 about a year. I'm very worried what will I do?

Haz 12/05/2020 at 4:13 pm

Re being a carer and dealing with clients that have suspected corona can you please contact me

Not Scottish 30/03/2020 at 5:04 pm

We are at our wits' end regarding constant and persistent deliveries made to our neighbours. They are living in a new build property which forbids any type of business being run from it. They completely flout that and have now jacked in work and are sitting on their backsides happily selling on Amazon Handmade. I have seen it myself! The deliveries coming and going are up to FOUR TIMES A DAY EVERY DAY. This blocks us in, creates horrendous noise with slamming of vans all the time and even trying to get us to take the items! Not!! The council do nothing as we have reported them. The police do nothing as we have reported them here too. They get away with it. Can anyone help please?

Tibbs 22/01/2020 at 2:31 pm

Travellers have taken over a disused car hire site on the corner of Park Avenue and Barking Road,, East Ham. Can anything be done about this? How do I report this?

fionasayshey 20/10/2019 at 3:57 pm

I live in a small cul de sac and a neighbours visitors are coming at all hours. They will block other people in and park in front of the other driveways for hours on end. I am seeking some help because they can park down the side of the road where they aren't blocking anyone in. If asked to move their vehicles, they get offended and this ends in arguments. I have contacted the people that we rent from but they just keep saying talk to neighbours. Like I haven't tried that! We have the white lines on the road as one resident is disabled. If they happen to have an emergency, the emergency services cannot get close to their house as someone is parked in the way.

L.f carers 23/06/2019 at 7:30 pm

Hi im careing for a young single mother of 2. She suffers with mental health and one of the kids are autistic and other not even 2 years old. She has just been through courts and social services due to her ex partner physically abusing her and the kids. Her nabour upstairs bangs on the floor constantly atleast every other hour because her autistic son screams and makes the normal noise a child at 3 years old does. He bangs on her door when i have left to shout and moan. Hes reported her for being loud and the kids. And now just 2 days ago he kicked off because i took her and the kids to the fair and the dog barked a couple of times. They dont go out often they was out for 4 hours nearly 5. Her next door to the right have around 3 dogs that constantly bark but he hasn't said boo to them but has to her. hes accusing her off allsorts and calling her a bad mum saying shes out all night which is not true as i walked her home that night she was in by 8pm the only day she was out . Its starting to take a toll on her. Its not fair that she is getting the threats of eviction and knocks on the door and letters in her letterbox. All because she wont stand up for herself against a fully grown big man or dare report him. She is intimated by him and when hes spoke to he raises his voice and when a voice is raised back he shuts up and records and reports why he smiles at her. Hes been offered to sit down and talk with the council present. And refuses. He has an 18year old daughter and himself and she is all alone with 2 kids and yet shes the one getting threats of eviction. We will take this as far as possible now.

Schulme 22/05/2019 at 2:51 pm

My neighbours this weekend have attached slate shards to the top of there wall to deter cats from entering there garden. I have spoken to the council and they will do nothing about this as it is a private property. However surely this is a health and safety issue as if the slate is very sharp and an animal or person would get seriously injured by this. Can you let me know how i need to precede with this issue.

Nicho 19/03/2019 at 5:53 pm

My husband and I have mental health problems,2 kids and have been having troubles with neighbours,the police,abs officer,council officer are involved but haven't don't anything but to tell them to pack it in,which never works,neighbours still bad,we feel so isolated and uncomfortable in our home,we cant go out of our front door or garden without getting abuse from neighbours,i feel suidcidel living where i am,we are on homechoice but only band E,we have done a welfare form with proof of our mental health and physical,can the mp help with moving council tenants due to harrassment by neighbours and health getting worse from living where they are?thanks

KarlLondon 27/01/2019 at 4:31 pm

I have a problem where I live and I will appreciate if you share your opinion for any solutions of the problem
I live in a block of 8 flats. It is a shared freehold and we have a management team to deal with common issues
There was a time when internal management of the building was rotated among the flat owners but since this small group has arrived, they have taken over the management functions entirely and refuse to take our concerns seriously. I would go so far as to say they are actively hostile and intimidating. And the impact is substantial. Some of neighbours have sold their flats and left.
During my last attempt to sell my flat, the ‘management’ group created many problems to make it harder for to sell my flat. Now I cannot sell my flat or I cannot live in.
At the AGM they don’t allow we talk also when we complain about management behaviour towards us they don’t record at the minute of AGM.
Many Thanks

Without a paddle 07/12/2018 at 1:59 am

I was threatened in August this year by a local resident and police arrested him as he threatened to hit me with a Hammer. I have tried getting help but as of yet received none . My local Mpaso said speak to my local councillor which she told me to report to the council, which I have done. I have contacted the police and told them he has threatened me whilst on bail to appear in court and contacted witness team and told them that due to the threats I am unwilling to attend court . I was told that I would receive a summons to appear in court if I failed to go any advice on what I can do as I am in fear and can't leave my property as I fear seeing the man ?

moneypenny 21/11/2018 at 12:10 am

We are going through a horrendous and traumatic ordeal with our neighbours.
They have recently physically attacked us and entered into our home, after an incident occurred in our communal hallway and though we were assaulted by them, we were arrested by a police officer who was INCAPABLE of dealing with and calming the situation. Our police force is in "crisis management" but this is ridiculous. Some officers really do need anger management! Their response to a given situation seems to work on a "first come first served basis". So if you get attacked by your neighbour and they happen to get an insignificant tiny piece of mobile phone footage whilst they are attacking, don't worry, you will only be charged, treated like a criminal and put in a cell for 24 hours. This is a truly unsettling experience and the body in place to protect us as public citizens does nothing more than abuse its power and brand innocent people like criminals, whilst the real perpetrators get away scott free! Well done to our good old British police force!!

Moan, Moan, Moaning 22/10/2018 at 4:42 pm

From 2001-2018 am still living at a one-bedroom Housing Association Flat which am still at but am now staying in neighbouring block of flats again in a one-bedroom Housing Association Flat where I am now caring for my 87 year old mother who has onset dementia/alzheimers but is petrified of being seperated from me her only daughter aged 48. My mum moved here in 2007 to support me as have been a victim of name-calling since I moved here. Sought Mental Health treatment from 2004-2018. Evaluation of no family/medical history of schizophrenia no diagnosis in case notes asked where it had come from said GP visit in 2004. Concealed my illness from everyone until last year. Now victim of vicious neighbourhood gossip and name calling by my mums adjacent flat and a male visitor to flat below hers. Am depressed. Please advise. Thankyou. KIm

Tahnee 16/05/2018 at 11:40 am

Hi i need some advice. Me and my partner both suffer with mental health issues. 2 years ago our downstairs neighbours flat became a drug den. He has multiple people in the flat on a daily basis. There a constant arguments and violent out bursts in his flat, some of the people he lets in have threatened me for simply looking out the window. Police are investigating this. However i have told council that its affecting my mental health and they refuse to do anything. The druggies have actually caused damage to the security doors. Along with that the neighbours directly next door to us have had none stop arguments and music blaring at 2 in the morning.

Was just wondering if anyone had any advice on what i can do.

Sam 25/04/2018 at 5:29 pm

Hello, my name is Sam I would like some advice on how to deal with a housing officer who works for a housing association who is nothing more than a bully.... last year in November I got taken to court (unnecessarily).. due to having an outstanding balance...that balance was £789...they didn't take off the housing benefit which would have went down to £410.FOR WATER!!.. i paid that sum of money 2 months before the court date... I asked him to withdraw his case he didn't so I went to court with my 2 daughters 2yrs and 5 month old ..at that time.. even the judge said that this is un heard of due to it being water arrears not rent and that the sum of money was paid well before the court date... so that was it..i won my case.... so I thought... he's obviously not happy with the courts decision..hes been harrasing me for £80 and more on top of that for WATER!!!..and that last time I got lucky he said to me over the phone..i was mortified I said you took me to court for nothing expecting me to pay the court fee and lose my case on what grounds??..well anyway he's demanding so I thought about what to do next so I made a complaint to the housing association about this I expect some sort of information in 10 days?.. so I've been looking online to see what else I can do to stop this bully... he's threatening me to take me to court again for £80 WATER?!..and that next time I won't be so lucky... he can't do this can he?..ive had a place before it was a 1 bed and I needed more space as I have children...anyway I had that place for 8 years and I've moved here for nearly 2 years in December...both housing associations... so what could I possibly do to stop this horrible person..id like a different housing officer.. but live here as my daughters are growing up my little girl starts nursery in September we have built a life here and we love it.., but surely people shouldn't be treated like that... I do believe that I'm being bullied.. and I'm scared of what he might do next.. Please help me x

Indi 13/11/2017 at 8:36 pm

Mp's are a waste off time money there not really that busy.
What's the point off having an MP if there not here to help

Jmd89 02/03/2017 at 5:37 pm

They are council Tenants, I have contacted my housing officer, environmental health have been contacted multiple times, I'm currently on the waiting list for noise recording device, I was told at the beginning of January and told there was a 4 week wait time, I'm still yet to receive the device. I'm still calling up the council weekly to report them, yesterday's incident of verbal abuse was caught on video and the police have been informed. The council don't seem to care or want to do anything about it.

ProblemNeighbours Editor 02/03/2017 at 1:46 pm

Which department of the council has been involved? Are these council tenants? Has environmental health investigated etc?

Jmd89 01/03/2017 at 7:36 am

Firstly thank you for taking your time to read my following question;
For the past 20 months I have been dealing with excessive, deliberate noise from my above neighbours, I have followed all the necessary channels when dealing with complaints ect (antisocial behaviour, noise pollution ect) I have filled in multiple diaries and incident forms, I have recorded incident after incident.
I am unable to ask the neighbour in question for the noise to be reduced or stopped as each time this has been attempted I have been physically attacked, this is on multiple occasions.
The council have been updated on a weekly basis for the past 20 months of the current state of play regarding the noise, yet all they send out is letter warnings. Nothing has been done by the council. Is there a duty of care they are required to follow for all of their tenants protecting them from thus sort of ongoing harassment, as the noise is deliberate.

Many thanks

ProblemNeighbours Editor 14/02/2017 at 11:08 am

Ask the council where you are on the waiting list/lettings reallocation list. This will give you an idea of how long you might have to wait. Bear in mind that the council only have a limited number of relevant properties becoming available at any one time and they have to prioritise applicants accordingly. They will undoubtedly have an exchange system where you can look to swap with someone (perhaps single with no children) who wants to live in a flat. If you're unhappy with the way the council has dealth with the other tenants, you should write a formal letter of complaint and perhaps consider getting some advice from the ombudsman.

Kirsty123 12/02/2017 at 11:17 pm

I have been wrongly put in a council flat, when signing my tenacy they knew I suffer with severe anxiety and agoraphobia. I have a small baby also.
When I moved here I was suffering with residents friends banging on my bedroom window at 1/2am to get me to open the door for them! This would be very freightning for anyone but with anxiety it is much worse because I am left with a panic attack, shaking and distressed and unable to sleep the rest of the night. This is not a one off or even the same people its almost weekly! I have been verbally abused and the people get angry with me and punch my window, and swear at me, this is so cary I have had to call the police a few times. I have a letter from my doctor about how bad and ill it is making me I am suffering with heart palpitations and stress. My son can not sleep as well so its affecting us all.
I have asked to council so many times to sort it out as I moved in here reasonably ok and leaving with a huge decrease in my mental health.
I have a doctors letter, contacted the mp twice. I have no other option.
If you have any advice please help me!!!!!!

jack. 12/10/2016 at 3:38 am

I contacted the mp and it seems he just listen to the Cllr the council told me they will not longer respond because they had witnessed my land and garden being flooded but said it was only land and garden effected so I hadn't built anything but they have seen what has been built the mass of building next door and yet they have just told me to take civil action. They have even it seems advise this owner what he should do, and I suggest said something like. there would have been a watercourse at the front of all properties which has been filled by the neighbour without consent or colverting, they it is said, that is official has never known it to flood in the past, but it would be more cost effective for him, should there be a problem in the future and the water course needed to be reinstated, if enforcement action is taken against the neighbour. Well, I came to live here and there has never been any ditch or water course at the front of my property in the grass verge outside. my neighbour past has never since I have live here had any water course in fact I was recently told the drive in neighbour place was tarmac in 2000. The man before me never had any water course outside. The only place that had the water course at the front is where it has and is still being development and there the water course had been filled in on the right hand side where a pipe with the open end had been put into the watercourse and run down toward the front so to bring the water from his place and out side, all onto to my place.

ProblemNeighbours Editor 20/09/2016 at 12:23 pm

Can you try and talk to the parents? If you're unhappy with the actions of the police or the housing association, consider making a complaint to the IPCC or the Housing Ombudsman.

Stevie1978 18/09/2016 at 7:16 pm

I'm looking for some advice 're the above.

For the past 4 months we have had some real problems with a neighbour.

We are in a housing association property.

Our daughter's are 8 and 16.

The family this is regarding consists of a married couple and a son (13).

The son has history of beating up younger children. He follows our daughter's around calls them names, threatens them. However, obviously no concrete proof.

The couple have threatened our girls.

We have reported the problems to our housing association, the local anti social behaviour officer and the police. Nothing is being done even with log sheets and video evidence.

Yesterday things came to a head. The child made our daughter's cry at the local park. I tried asking him why he does it he ran to a nearby house crying. Therefore, now I look like the bully and no doubt I will get a letter from the housing association.

What do we do as no one will help us.

Shellyx 13/09/2016 at 1:32 am

My niebour is making my life hell, she no's I suffer from ptsd add and manic bipolar and I am a nervous wreck a can't even go to.the shop now am.that scared. I need help.

ProblemNeighbours Editor 01/08/2016 at 10:54 am

No it is not really their responsibility - you can, as a neighbour, cut back (or ask a voluntary organisation if you cannot do so yourself) to cut any growth back as far as the boundary. Depending on the the type of weeds, sometimes, if they are causing problems on your side of the boundary, it can amount to a nuisance which you can report to the Environmental Health Department of your local council who can pursue legal action. Take a look at this guide for more information on the Weeds Act 1959.

nancy 31/07/2016 at 12:29 pm

my local council tell me, it is not their prerogative to cut back their weeds invading my garden,and fence.It is surely their responsability to look after the park?i have asked them to cut back the ivy that is forcing its way through the slats of the fence,the cost of repairing the fence would be astronomical,as it is a good qualty fencing.
Iam 82yrs of age,and a widow on her own,tryin to maintain my home ect, on a state pension.what do i do?icant do it,i have emphysema,and get very breathless doing very mundane jobs please can you advise me what steps to take
yours truly Y Moram

faraz 20/06/2016 at 2:38 pm

hi we have small parking section for 12 flat to share. one house take 2 parking
space and make my space smaller. they don't care and housing association
doesn't care or do anything about it. anything I can do about this ?

these people very aggressive and also drugs user

ProblemNeighbours Editor 16/06/2016 at 2:38 pm

Have you asked your insurance company for advice? You might be able to take legal action?

A 15/06/2016 at 3:43 pm

My neighbor is not on a water meter and constantly has his outside tap/hose connected and running, even if we have had rain. This continually floods my garden. Anglian water can not help, can you point me in the right direction to stop this, my garden is ruined.

ProblemNeighbours Editor 29/02/2016 at 10:23 am

If your noise is peristentn and is sufficient to disturb a neighbour during what would normally be accepted as sleeping hours then Environmental Health will be obliged to investigate if a complaint is made.

Qwerty 26/02/2016 at 9:08 am

I have recently had my girlfriend moved in with me and we have an active relationship. Our neighbour, now on two occasions has asked us to be quieter during our intimate times. Once posting an Allen key through the door with a note saying to tighten the bed which we proceeded to take heed of, and second asking if my girlfriend could be quieter. Is that something that could be taken further as a noise complaint? I'm not out to offend people but surely we should not be expected to change our ways to suit others almost as if our relationship is dictated by a neighbour!

chrissy 09/11/2015 at 4:39 pm

I have a neighbour who makes up stories like I have dementia, because I'm 74 years old and a widow, trouble is the other neighbours believe her.
I have no family alive I'm all alone.
she is such a liar, I'm not the brain of Britain, but I'm not an idiot, she has only behaved since my husband died. so whatever I say people look at me and think is that true or is she mad, any ideas on how I can prove I'm sane , she has even got to my Church, and they are treating me with gentle hands
why do these people take these liberties with widow's and o a p 's I manage my money
and dont have money problems. I hate being treated like I'm stupid I worked all my life to have a decent pension.
Neighbours think I'm on social security. why am I so intereresting OR why are they so nosey wish they would get a hobby and leave me alone

Amy 30/07/2015 at 8:09 pm

My neighbour initially befriended me when I moved in. He was always making conversation, until one day he just stopped talking to me. After a few weeks of this I asked him why? What had I done? Had I upset him? WELL the list was endless, he became aggressive shaking his fist at me. And I had no idea :( I said sorry I had upset him and that I thought with much of what he had said he had the wrong end of the stick. I have worked with people in the past with mental health problems and so realised that this was his problem. I had done something wrong in his eyes but I don't think that was one of the reasons in what seemed an endless list.

Anyway one of the problems that we now have is that he has been making the bank on the road (which is not on his property) higher. He has been using used cat litter to do this. I am very carful that my Chickens don't get out but occasionally they do. They are only bantams and I'm very aware of where they are all the time. I'm the most attentive neighbour I don't let anything I do affect others in a derogatory way if at all possible. Cat litter kills chickens so if they get it in their crop which is where the food sits in their throat when they eat it, it swells up and ultimately kills them.

Just now they got out and before I had a chance to open they gate to retrieve them they ate some. I have taken action and made a very watery porridge to hopefully give them enough liquid to was it out the crop.

He has also poisoned my hedge in the past. We have a small lane between us and it grew out an inch over what I suppose was his ideal for the hedge. I tell you I am so carful that I don't let the hedge grow longer than what I think is his ideal that I have become obsessively frightened about what he will do to it. I love my garden :( I also have a dry stone wall that seems to be crumbling more than normal. Now I may just be becoming paranoid and it's really just weathering but it looks like club hammer damage.

He has also stuck metal spikes by the hedge bank of grass on his side apart from on the part where he parks. We never park in the lane only on our own property, even so I think he does it incase we do want to park there.

Shall I just bang my head against a brick wall and be unhappy in my lovely old house that I am blessed to have. What can I do to be happy here? How do you ignore badly behaved neighbours without reporting them? He wont talk he just turns his back on me.

ProblemNeighbours Editor 19/06/2015 at 12:05 pm

@eyeball. A tre owner has responsibility for maintaining it. This does not mean they must actively take measures to look after it but if someone is injured or property is damaged they could be liable. You could try a claim off your household insurer for the damage to the fence. They in turn will claim from the council's insurance.

Eyeball 15/06/2015 at 5:51 pm

My property borders with the local primary school which I own the boundary fence, on the other side in the school grounds is a 7ft hawthorn bush which is damaging my fence, it gets cut by the local council every one to two years. It has grown through my fence in many places and is also intruding into my properties flat roof. I am unable to get to the bush to cut it back from my property and the school refuses me permission to enter the school out of term time to cut it back. Who is responsible for the damage caused and cutting it back?

sharpz62 23/05/2015 at 5:12 pm

A white line has appeared outside my girlfriends house .She his having trouble with her neighbour below she lives in a rented council flat and cannot park on a (shared driveway) as the neighbour has bought a car and parked in the middle of the driveway .The neighbours nephew comes weekly and parks on the grass which he is not supposed to do as per her contract .This has been going on for over a year and she has been to the council and been told they can re-house her but she has spent a lot of money doing the flat up and does not want to move any suggestions cheers

frustrated 1 30/03/2015 at 11:57 am

My neighbour has been harassing me and other neighbours since she moved in to h/a property in 2007. Two neighbours have moved because of her behaviour, threats and intimidation. I actually stood my ground and with the help of police got her taken to court where she was found guilty of harassment to my family. She was given community service, curfew, fined and a restraining order issued this was in 2011. Since then our lives have been hell she regularly calls housing, police, environmental health, social services making false allegations against me. She has erected a 13ft fence in the back garden that is attached to my fence which she did not ask permission to do. She throws rubbish on my property and let's her kids run all over my property. She harasses other neighbours who talk to me and our housing will not do anything and police just say she has a chemical imbalance!! This lady is smart and plays on mental health and is making our lives hell! She let's her kids run round and bang loudly at all hours even after 11pm etc. I've spoken to citizens advice who say they can't help I've asked my housing to move me on a management move like the other neighbour did bit they refuse!. The woman even intimidates my kids and trys to attack them with her buggy and then reports false allegations to police she is twisted! She regularly we also out in front of my car or spits at our feet pulls faces glares and stares at us evilly! She watches every move we make if we come out our door she comes out, if we knock our neighbours door she opens her window and watches! She was moved from her previous address for doing the same thing and housing refuse to move her or will not deal with her!

ProblemNeighbours Editor 03/02/2015 at 2:27 pm

@Pink. This kind of behaviour should be reported to the police - they're the only ones that can really act in cases of vandalism and anti social behaviour.

Pink 30/01/2015 at 11:58 pm

We have moved into a new build property 2 years back and ever since have faced issues. Rough teenagers are seen disturbing our neighbours who is himself in police. Several incidents of theft thake place. Now my two topiary plants gets stolen from the front of my house. I need to raise issues as I am finding this place increasingly disturbing and unsecured. I am worried that something will befall our family. I have invested z lot in this house and will be financially wrecked if we have to leave the house. Could you suggest how we can nip the bud before it gets worst.

ProblemNeighbours Editor 19/01/2015 at 12:25 pm

@gilly. This is not an issue for an estate agent. Does she have a landlord? Can you complain to him/her? Is your home a council property? Have you tried writing to them? If they are committing criminal damage then of course you should have contact the police on a non-emergency number.

gilly 16/01/2015 at 8:05 am

since may 2014 my neighbour as harried me and my family by pulling sky cable threw wall beaking box dog mess on car we have a shared path the fence is ours she as nailed wood on my fence blocks the path removed the entry door no fence to keep her dog on her property as this is a shared access it barks all day goes for us through the fence her estate agent will not do a thing

GEM 26/11/2014 at 5:31 pm

My neighbour attached a fence by drilling it to our wall without informing us nor asking our permission. They never are courteous to us and never tell us if they are about to have builders and once put up scaffolding on our property across our garden path blocking access down the side of the house!
I intend to change our wall at some point and wondered if I need to tell them first as the fence Is now attached to our wall?
Nightmare

ProblemNeighbours Editor 28/10/2014 at 11:53 am

@sufferingfromneighbours. There are laws to protect you from noisy and nuisance neighbours - the Noise and Statutory Nuisance Act 1993 and the AntiSocial Behaviour Act. You do have to be prepared for a lengthy investigation from the Environmental Health Dept and to provide evidence and possibly a noise diary when requested. Bear in mind that these departments are also often very busy and so may not always be able to act immediately.

Sufferingfromneighbo 26/10/2014 at 10:32 am

Hi

Is there plans to finally help desperste people who are on the receiving end of excessive noise, plus being in a new build under a housing association; why does the law (as recognised!) fails to provide a safe peaceful house, allowing people to exploit this.
It's always been a problem then landlords cant cant because the LAW holds them back.

Very wrong
Suffered years of this and also know many who have

ProblemNeighbours Editor 05/08/2014 at 11:12 am

@debbo. You could try contacting your environmental health department, especially if the animals are entering your property. Are the pets well cared for? If not, then the RSPCA could take action under the Animal Welfare Act. Other than those options, unless they are renting (in which case you could approach their landlord), there is not a great deal you can do. We hope you have some luck with your local environmental health department.

ProblemNeighbours Editor 18/07/2014 at 11:13 am

@Tudor. Sounds like a complex set of things you have to deal with there. If you have a council or housing association property, maybe their neighbour team could help? They may even be able to get social services involved with your neighbour if the police have not been helpful.

Tudor 17/07/2014 at 3:11 pm

Having problems with a neighbour who we suspect has ongoing mental health issues,drunk most of the time,swearing&abusive language,threats of violence,to us &our animals,an incident happened near by very severe involving friends of hours&as we do not get involved we get the brunt of it,making up lots of weird lies about everyone&us,she's now blaming everyone else for all her lies etc,cutting her wrists for attention &blaming it on everyone else ,racial abuse to most in area,racial abuse to police & then denies it?Forever been taking away by police ,but when she's realeased continues to progress with fits of uncontrolled abuse,gets away with a cousion,it's us &the local community that have to put up with this disgusting behaviour but authorities brush it under or file it under (who cares file)neighbours have taken to CCTV as of scared to go in holiday because she's sometimes sitting in there garden&windows occasion uses back garden as a tiolet(there has to be a fine line but never gets soughted by police&places for people ,because of her slander&lies we might have to move for peice&quiet,my wife's health is getting worse as if musculoskelatal problems &house has been adapted but I don't want to move and don't think I should ,other professional practices should intervene as it should not be our problem,please can anyone help us :all stems from an incident concerning a dead baby &the lies she's told to the press over this incident ,where all getting abuse when it's got nothing to do with us ,but we get the brunt of it ,the persons or persons involved where asked to stay away to try & calm it down ,because her mental state was tring to get persons involved arguing to cause problems in our neighbourhood,this is crazy ,what is wrong with this individual that when she thinks she can cause all these problems for the bear waved & continuing with trying to hurt the people involved.

robo 20/05/2014 at 9:17 pm

Could you give me advice on a neighbour. He has put a white mark on the kerb. He parks his car there all the time. Saying that its his car space. When it is a residential car park. Which to me is my car is tax. I can park any were I won't. Is this against the law to put your own markings on the kerb. And block me in. When I park there.

Trude 13/03/2014 at 8:05 pm

We have just moved into our semi detached cottage we have new neighbours like us. All was well initially but we own the majority of the land to the front of the property. Our neighbour can park two cars on our property which is clearly marked on the deeds. They also have the right to cross over our property to get to theirs. The problem is that the young man next door (we are retired) thinks he is entitled to park where he feels like, this includes their friends or tradesmen. We have tried to speak with him about it but he doesn't want to know. One of their friends parked in their space on our property and a fence came down in the wind. My husband saw the fence down so fixed it back up, this was mid morning. At 5.30 the neighbour came around to us with the visitor to ask for our house insurance and was quite rude. We had toaskhim to leave our property. Since then he has erected a 6ft 6in fence between us in the backmgarden. He still continues to allow his visitors to park anywhere. The other evening they had an rac van on our property. Ordinarily I would not have said anything but I lost my temper with him and told them to get off our property. Two days later we had a visit from two policeman
who said I was being accused of using threatening behaviour. The took our side of the story and said that they would be calling back to the neighbours next door to chat with them! Quite frankly both my husband and myself have had enough and want to move. We initially moved up here to retire as it is so peaceful with beautiful views over the hills and farmland.

earplugs 23/08/2013 at 11:13 am

A couple with a new born baby moved in 4 months ago and the walls are very thin, I have not slept a single night since they moved in and also at one point they tried to break in my flat and I informed the police. I feel as if I have no one to turn to as because of the baby screaming through the night no one will help. They bang on my walls at the slightest noise and they are very intimidating they are south americans and don't work, didn't think they could get benefits obviously they can! Is there anything EH would do for a constant crying baby, I have already lost one job because of them and had to take a lower paid job which I need is there any help out there at all for this constant noise I have to suffer

david 29/04/2013 at 8:28 am

we live in a semi detached property which has a communal passage 5ft wide from the street pavement to the rear garden, which is shared between me and my neighbour properties. Recently, the neighbours tenant has started parking his motor bike there, which restrics my access, and I would like for him not to park it there in the passage. What action can I take. please.

High hedges 12/06/2012 at 2:52 pm

I want to ask about what can be done about a 15ft high Beech hedge that blocks light/ sun and casts a shadow over the house.

Rosie 20/04/2012 at 4:02 pm

I am a home owner. Pay my tax and council tax. I have a council tennant living 3 doors away from me. They have started to leave food out every night for foxes etc (we have never seen foxes in this residential area for 30 years! Stockport Housing have advised me that in their tenancy agreement they encourage their tennants to do this and WILL NOT stop my new neighbour from doing this and I HAVE NO RIGHTS - the foxes have MORE RIGHTS than me! Any comments/suggestions?

milliemo 03/04/2012 at 6:38 pm

We have a driveway which we own though the bottom part to the road had shared access.To the left of the driveway there are two small strips of land belonging to two cottages.One is using his to store anything such as an old boat/a plie of bricks/old pet cages etc and we have tried to sell our house and comments from the estate agent state that this mess is a problem.We have asked him if he would clean it up but what can we do?

Can'tsleep 10/07/2011 at 1:04 pm

Well as a neighbour of mine has the dividing hedge over 15 ft tall and taking over my side of garden I am buggered then. He cries If I cut or trim myside of the hedge and I have Property (car) damage or things stolen. He can harm me or my things but I cannot strike back. Perfect bullying!

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