living in a house without fear

[xi_luv_ux]

could someone please tell me.. does everyone have the right to live in there home without fear from crime drugs etc? my friend is doing just that and she cant move from her flat. she lives in a council flat and has drugs and crime going on in her building. she has asked to be moved but the council are not doing much. she is stressed and cant work due to the stress despression and noise going on through the night she cant get any sleep? surely there must be a law that someone should have the right not to live in fear and not be able to do normal stuff? can she take the council to court for this? someone please help

[innocenti]

You would have thought so but it seems to me that the councils dont care who they dump into the estates. And yes I am talking through experience. I live in a council estate and up to about 4 years ago it was a nice estate but the council have now homed all sorts of human rubbish into the estate. Drug dealers, rowdy families... etc, The council dont care as long as they get their rent money. They dont care about people who work and have respect for their property or how it has made their life hell.

[redcrx]

can she not look at renting privately? It can happen to anyone, not just those housed by the council, and no-one else gets the chance to sue anyone over it.
All she can realistically do is report these lawbreaking citizens and hope that are removed from the estate by the police.

[xi_luv_ux]

she cant work so has no money to rent privatly she cant work because of the noise i have stayed there and its soooo bad she called the police but they come in marked cars and the people just run. she cant keep on calling the police because they will clock whos calling them... its only a little building 4 floors max.

[Ethel]

As the noise is going on through the night, she could work nights. :)


All she can is keep badgering the council for a transfer, if a housing association won't consider her.

[emlett]

councils just don't seem to want to deal with antisocial behaviour - nor do the police. Could she put in for a property exchange?(if anyone else would want to live there!)

how about writing to the local MP about the situation?
environmental health dept might be able to do something about the noise but again this is doubtful.

i wouldn't bother suing the council, its probably a waste of time - they seem to have no duty of care or what they do have, they can show to be discharged very easily and they don't seem to be able to be held responsible for other people creating nuisance on their land, she could keep a diary and keep complaining

[redcrx]

if she wants rid then she has to keep calling the police, find out what they are doing to help. Are they watching these people, is it the residents who are breaking the laws?

[Ethel]

The council has a legal duty to house certain classes of people.

Don't blame them for the situation - blame the people that are actually causing the nuisance and disturbance.

[xi_luv_ux]

she must have some rights why do drug dealers get a place when other good people need somewhere to stay. should other people suffer because of this? can just see what will happen they will only do somthing untill its to late.

[xi_luv_ux]

and its ok to blame them but nothing get done about it

[redcrx]

i own a property, pay month in month out for it and yet the house next door that has been bought by a housing association. That house is occupied by a drug dealer, she is also occupying a 3 bed house even though her children are in care following a house fire there.
No-one can help me, but i can help myself by reporting, speaking to the police and the housing association. No-one is going to compensate me for the loss of value in my home or the constant noise and visitors going to and from the house, the language, the violent arguments outside the property etc etc.
I realise that your friend may well be suffering but she has to be prepared to report everytime something happens. If its specific council residents then she can complain about the noise and disruption to the council too.

[Ethel]

Can she move in with you, get a job and then rent elsewhere?

[xi_luv_ux]

im looking to move at the mo.. im still at home i have a full time job and its still not easy for me lol

[themas]

If this is a Council property and the Council housing dept. are not helping, she should arrange to see her local Councillor - the Council has to give her their name, address & phone number if she asks. Try to get the Councillor on her side to help with getting a transfer. Also, if her health is suffering I assume she is on medication, & a letter from her GP might help.