Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Really, really scary. This has to stop.
This morning, at around 2:30 am we were woken up by what sounded like someone throwing bins in to a skip. It came from the already troublesome HMO across the road.
We got up and had a look. Scary stuff! A man was going berserk across the street, throwing that house's rubbish bin through the open front door, then going mental at the poor door itself, hammering it into the wall, breaking every bit of glass in it in the process. He took some short breaks, running into the road, looking manically around, seemingly for other doors to thrash, before running back to pusue his attack on the already beaten up door. We ended up dialling 999, as it was really scary, and we were worried we were next, or that some poor sod was going to walk up the road and end up being attacked. The police came withinh 5 minutes and took the man away.
This is the final straw in what's already been a nuisance for all of the 6 + years I have been here. It's making me frightened to be in my own house, scared to come home after dark, and the lack of sleep is affecting my work performance. What can be done? The council, who puts these people in there, dont seemt to want to get involved. Ideas very welcome, it's either get rid of that house, or I will have to move, I can't take it anymore.
Why are we not protected against this? Why is it always the poeple who are doing nothing wrong who has to suffer? Why am I being driven out of my own home?
We got up and had a look. Scary stuff! A man was going berserk across the street, throwing that house's rubbish bin through the open front door, then going mental at the poor door itself, hammering it into the wall, breaking every bit of glass in it in the process. He took some short breaks, running into the road, looking manically around, seemingly for other doors to thrash, before running back to pusue his attack on the already beaten up door. We ended up dialling 999, as it was really scary, and we were worried we were next, or that some poor sod was going to walk up the road and end up being attacked. The police came withinh 5 minutes and took the man away.
This is the final straw in what's already been a nuisance for all of the 6 + years I have been here. It's making me frightened to be in my own house, scared to come home after dark, and the lack of sleep is affecting my work performance. What can be done? The council, who puts these people in there, dont seemt to want to get involved. Ideas very welcome, it's either get rid of that house, or I will have to move, I can't take it anymore.
Why are we not protected against this? Why is it always the poeple who are doing nothing wrong who has to suffer? Why am I being driven out of my own home?
Tags for Forum Posts: bins, casework, hmos, neighbours, noise, noisy neighbours
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by VIX on
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Annette
Really sorry to hear about this incident.
It is totally unfair that we have put up with this kind of disturbance. Like Ive mentioned to you before, there must be a way of getting compensation or the right action taken against the landlords or DSS.
Its crazy you feel like you have to move, I have felt the same as you in the past and it is totally wrong.
I think new laws need to brought in to penalise these slum lanldords and make it harder for them to shirk any social responsibility to the poor neighbors who live near or next to these HMOs.
I would suggest you try and meet with someone from the council like Robin Payne, the more people put pressure on the council to act the more [I hope] will be done to challenge these HMOs, or get David Lammy to get on the case. I do think the council HAVE an obligation to act, they just cant ignor what is going on.
Am I right in thinking that this incident happened at the house youve mentioned in past posts?
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Permalink Reply by Anette on
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Hi Vix, yes, it's the very same. I have emailed everyone at the council, and my neighbour has done the same. No response yet. Will give it until Monday and then start kicking off. It's gone too far, and I am not leaving without kicking up a massive shit-storm. This is the final straw.
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
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Sorry to hear about this Anette.. It's the kind of incident would upset any normal person. How often does this sort of thing happen? If it was the council that placed this man there, are they placing others like him there on a regular basis and do they have any plans about this policy?
If this has been going on for six years it sounds like the council may not be willing to do anything that will help you in a timeframe that allows you to keep your sanity. Moving elsewhere may be the only practical answer for you. Life is too short - there is no reason why you should have to tolerate this.
Before you move, I suggest talking to and organising as many neighbours as possible and then talking to your local councillor. Could a solicitor help? Try to make the council accept some responsibility. Get names and get on their case. Ask them how they would like to be in your situation. They are past masters at buck-passing. Many council policies rely and depend on public apathy. Good luck with the ****-storm!
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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Following reporting of this issue, Cllr. Nilgun Canver contacted the Assistant Director for Strategic & Community Housing asking for action on the case.
Residents of Seymour Road have since been assured that the Council will be reviewing the Council's use of the property. A letter outlining proposed action offered the following response:
"Although one of the options will be for the Council to stop using the property as temporary accommodation, any long-term solution must take into account how the property might be used in the future. The last thing any of us want is for Haringey Council to stop making referrals and for the landlord to then fill the accommodation with people referred (without any
support) by other London boroughs and agencies.
I have a number of ideas on how best we can address this problem and I have already started to explore the options. When I have reviewed the Council's use of the property and discussed the matter with the landlord of the property, I will get back to you with my recommendations."
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Permalink Reply by james walsh on
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Don't hold your breath
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Permalink Reply by Alison P on
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Fingers crossed. Here's hoping something positive comes out of this. But how depressing to think that even if Haringey stopped using the house the landlord could just skip over to any other borough. Go halves on it Anette - £200k each or thereabouts??!
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We have now had some encouraging messages from various people, and will organise a meeting. So fingers crossed. Legal action has not been ruled out at this stage, but we shall see what is proposed and how it will be dealt with. One of the big issues I have with all this is that we have had all the reassurances before, it was peaceful for nearly a year, and now that they have put a tourblemaker in there again it is US - the people who are being distrurbed - that are being doubted, and them - the anti social noise-makers that are being protected. We are constantly living with a factor of low level stress, every slight noise outside triggers a "oh no, what now, not again!" reaction, and it's just not a way to live. This whole dispute will also come in to play should any of us wish to sell our properties. Had i know what I know now I would NEVER have bought this house.
Another interesting issue here is how this property was rejected a COL several times, until it got it due to the 4 year rule. Why was enforcement action not put in place immediately Why was this allowed to go on? And see what we now have to live with as a result. I blame that on the Council, 100% for this little slip-up.
Let's see what happens.
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Another interesting obeservation here: There's a fire next door to this house right now. The police has banged on all the doors on that side of the road shouting "police" - come out. Everyone did. But no-one from that house. And I can see someone in the top flat, right next to the flat on fire. Something to hide, pehaps..?? Would rather risk burning to a crisp or die in a gas explotion than coming out on to the street with the police there? And this os absolutely not a shy and retiring individual, believe me.
What kind of people are they putting in to our community???
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I have no knowledge of this house, but what you describe (police-shy) suggests, amongst other things, that the house may be being used as a 'half-way' house by the authorities, i.e. a half-way situation between a custodial sentence and complete release. Authorities never advertise these places for obvious reasons.
Is this possible?
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Annette
Ive just been looking the COL app online for 76 Seymore Rd and they get rejected twice then get approved when they provide the council tax bands and an oath, if you go to this link:
http://www.voa.gov.uk/cti/RefSResp.asp?lcn=0
it will take you to that house and its council tax history.
Surprisingly it shows in the VOA listing that there were several flats, as they claim it was in 1993. (I was sorry to discover this.) However, I don't understand why the house was a B&B but had separate council tax for each flat. Or why the owners only submitted this evidence after two attempts to get the COL with an oath. Though you think they would have a bit more evidence than this-bills etc. I cant fathom it out-maybe some other HOL members can ponder this. [I think its hard to alter VOA files]
Are you and your neighbors saying that you know for sure it was a house?
Did you know it was a B&B in 2005?
Best
V
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Vix, Anette, the VOA website seems to be having problems. So I suggest starting with their homepage. Then click 'Council Tax List'; enter 'Haringey'; then the details of the property.
But even if - as appears - the Planning Status of this property is legitimate, it does not remove the need to ensure proper management.
As highlighted by Nilgun, this includes properties let to Haringey, to other Councils and the National Asylum Service. Too many of these agencies place people and then, in effect, abdicate responsibility for them, and for any impact on the immediate neighbourhood. The worst homes I've seen in Haringey have been privately-owned. And the most shocking and shaming of these were temporary housing.
In recent years both local authority and RSL (housing association) providers have raised their standards of housing management. (Sometimes willingly though sometimes under outside pressure.) It can be done!
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