What counts as harassment
The law treats harassment as behaviour that causes alarm, distress, or puts someone in fear of violence. A single incident can sometimes warrant action, though harassment typically involves a pattern of repeated behaviour.
The behaviour does not need to be physical. Harassment can take many forms:
- Verbal abuse, threats, or intimidation
- Offensive or threatening gestures
- Following you or watching your home
- Spreading malicious rumours
- Damaging your property or interfering with belongings
- Sending abusive messages, emails, or letters
- Making repeated baseless complaints about you to authorities
- Persistent unwanted contact of any kind
The key factor is whether a reasonable person would consider the behaviour oppressive or unacceptable. A neighbour occasionally playing loud music may be annoying but would not normally count as harassment. If they do it deliberately at antisocial hours after you have asked them to stop, and combine it with other hostile behaviour, the picture changes.
Harassment motivated by race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or another protected characteristic attracts additional laws, covered separately on this website.
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The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 is the primary legislation in England and Wales. Originally introduced to tackle stalking, it applies equally to neighbour disputes. The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 also gives councils powers to issue community protection notices.
Under the 1997 Act, pursuing a course of conduct that amounts to harassment is a criminal offence. The person must know, or ought to know, that their behaviour amounts to harassment: they cannot claim ignorance if their actions would obviously distress a reasonable person.
The Act creates both criminal and civil remedies. Criminal harassment can result in fines or imprisonment. If the harassment involves threats of violence or puts someone in fear of violence on at least two occasions, heavier penalties apply.
On the civil side, you can apply for a harassment injunction to stop the behaviour. This differs from a non-molestation order (domestic abuse situations) or a restraining order (imposed after conviction or acquittal). Breaching an injunction can lead to arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment. You may also claim damages for anxiety and financial losses.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
Gathering evidence
Evidence will be essential for any action. The police, your local council, and the courts will all want records of what has happened.
Keep a detailed diary of incidents: date, time, what happened, and any witnesses. Be specific. Rather than writing "neighbour was abusive again," record exactly what was said or done.
Other useful evidence includes:
- Photographs or video recordings of incidents or damage
- Screenshots of abusive messages or social media posts
- Copies of letters or notes
- Medical records if the harassment has affected your health
- Statements from witnesses
- Records of reports made to the police or council
Be mindful of privacy laws. You can generally record events on your own property or in public spaces, but GDPR applies to identifiable personal data, and recording someone in their home without consent may create legal problems. If unsure, seek advice first.
Taking action and getting support
Where the situation has not escalated to threats and you feel safe, a calm conversation may resolve matters. This approach is not appropriate where there has been violence, threats, or where you feel unsafe.
Report to the police when harassment involves threats, violence, or makes you fear for your safety. They can investigate, issue warnings, and bring charges. Even without prosecution, a record helps with future action.
Your local council may help, particularly if the harasser is a council tenant. Councils can issue warnings, acceptable behaviour contracts, and pursue possession proceedings. If your harasser is a private tenant, contact their landlord: many tenancy agreements prohibit causing nuisance. Housing associations typically have dedicated antisocial behaviour teams.
For serious or persistent harassment, a solicitor can help you apply for an injunction. Legal aid may be available depending on income and case merits: check at www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid.
Mediation can work where both parties engage in good faith, but is unsuitable where there is a power imbalance, violence, or threats. Do not feel pressured into it.
Citizens Advice can provide free guidance on options and complaints processes. If harassment is motivated by a protected characteristic, Victim Support or specialist hate crime reporting centres can assist. Shelter can advise tenants whose landlords ignore complaints. The Law Society website lists solicitors handling harassment cases, some offering free initial consultations. Your GP can document health impacts and refer you to support services.
I am alleging that she is doing a laundry service at home every day including bank holidays and weekends 24/7. It’s an absolute nightmare.
I have made complaints to various professional bodies including the Council against this person to no avail.
Because I have made complaints this neighbour is making my life hell, since Covid.
I retired 5 years ago and it’s hell! The impact has greatly affected my mental health and well-being. I have lost a lot of weight and suffer with lack of sleep. I am anxious all the time and I can’t take it anymore. I am feeling very intimidated by this.
This neighbour is of working age and has never worked since I have been here.
I am desperate. Can you help/advise?
This is a total lie and should be removed. Every single comment here proves that the police and courts are not interested in this "civil matters" as they class them. I so wish this site and others like it would be more honest instead of giving people false hope. If you're in this situation then your only options are to get out or take the highly expensive legal route, which doesn't guarantee a win or your money back. If someone, anyone, is bothered to read these comments, please change your website to reflect the truth and not just what it says on the home office website.
These types of personalities are toxic and ruin peoples enjoyment of their homes. Our only option is to move but then we may find the next one is worse. Catch 22.
Harrassment is basically a form of arrogance and really isn't required, if you don't like your neighbours just don't talk to them, otherwise they will take you down the road of dispair as they try anything to get you in trouble with the police. Don't fall for it.
I got reached on a shop changing rooms cause this block saw me in town this shouldn't be allowed
The other neighbours says the grandaughter is in policeman they want me out of the street
We have experienced actual physical violence - nothing happened. Not even a slap on the wrist for them. Then we were laughed at and mocked by the neighbours.
Our 6 year old son was threatened on multiple occasions, “going to slaughter you” - nothing happened. When confronted we were laughed at and mocked.
When our son was 9 he was verbally abused when he was stood at his bedroom window - disgusting vile language which left him crying in the corner of his bedroom. When I confronted the neighbours I was laughed at and mocked.
They have threatened us many many times, saying they are getting solicitors, that they are getting us evicted (all recorded on video) made numerous complaints to our landlord in an attempt to get us evicted - nothing happened to them.
Recorded videos of the man coming out of his house and randomly swearing at my sons bedroom window which unfortunately overlooks jobs garden.
He throws dog faeces and rubbish over his fence into our garden. Shouts, swears and threatens us if we go out into the garden and has CCTV recording our garden and house 24 hours a day. So when we go out of the e house he knows and can abuse further.
I was once taken away in an ambulance due to them threatening and abusing us - their abuse was recorded on the 999 call. Still nothing was done.
Have provided police and the council with evidence in recordings and reports spanning back to 2016 - guess what? Nothing has ever been done to stop it.
The last time I contacted the police wa son October 2023 and I have heard nothing since but the neighbour still continues to insult and abuse and harass my son on a daily basis and I am absolutely sick of it.
I have come to the conclusion that the institutions that exist to protect you from monsters is all a lie, a fabrication to make it look as though you ar protected but when the time comes and you need help they are nowhere to be seen.
New year 2024, everything my neighbour has done to me and my family - my son in particular will be done back - that is the only way we will ever get justice.. to stoop to their level.
Articles like this are a complete lie. Police do absolutely nothing to help.
(Yes I said it) to the just as uselss council and my landlord to try to get my ASB (Antisocial behaviour) query taken seriously, but from everyside, nobody wants to take responsibility at all. So pathetic. I don't want to turn into a vigilante, but I understand why people take matters into their own hands. However, I get the feeling that I'm slowly turning into a vigilante, considering no one else has my back now. I think because these twatty neighbours know and suspect that no one currently believes anything I say, they are getting off on the harassment and trying to control my every move, and at the same time trying to disguise their stupid sub-human behaviour. All they do is try to compete, mimick and mock everything I do around my flat because they assume that going from nasty-malicious (who they are) to nice (who I'am) within a space of an hour, that they would seem like they are nice. No offence, but thats like putting sugar on chips instead of the traditional salt, they just don't mix, so why try to disguise the taste. Anyway, all I feel is rage, and want revenge on these skanky neighbours who know damn well that I live in my flat and therefore I can do what I want in it and they can't stand it, and way before they slithered in, but seem to think that they have a claim over it. In truth, with these trashy neighbours its a stupid power struggle, power play, jealousy, and insecurity. The top 4 currently, in my opinion.
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