Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I've been dealing with an unbelievably noisy neighbour for around 2 months now, he plays the same 3 cd's over & over at such a high volume that it drowns out my tv. When the music starts I have resorted to wearing headphones but his stereo is so loud I still hear his music, the volume that drowns it out on my headphones is close to being painful & i've blown speakers on 2 sets of headphones now.
Also, his cd's are obviously scratched as they stick on regular occasions, a few days ago one cd stuck on the same few notes for 10 minutes!

Since early December i've been complaining to the wardens at the hostel, they go round & tell him to turn it down & 5 minutes later the music is louder than before, one night the music played for 2 hrs non stop until 2 am then restarted at 5:30 am.
The wardens have told me that if I go round to his flat about the music then I could be evicted as it may be seen as escalating the situation. This rule is because they often have ex offenders who've recently been released & they have to try & prevent incidents from starting.

A few days ago my neighbour got fed up with my complaints about his music & decided to start banging on the thin walls here & shouting abuse such as "**** off you ******* puff", "you're gonna die ->-bleeped-<-got" & my personal favourite "I'm gonna smash your door in & rip your ******* face off you ******* queer".
I've suspected for a while that certain things he was shouting were aimed at me but couldn't be sure until now as i've heard people shout worse things at the TV or games console, once the shouts were accompanied by banging on my wall any doubt was removed.
As the wardens are unable to rectify the situation & i've been warned not to rectify it myself I called the police, as I explained to the woman on the phone that this had started as a noise issue she interrupted by saying they don't deal with noise complaints, I went on explaining that it has now moved on to abuse & threats. Her attitude did a u-turn as she took my details & dispatched a couple of officers to my home.
The officers were very friendly & understanding, especially when I explained that this person must have see me to have jumped to the wrong conclusion about my sexuality but I have no idea what this person looks like, as a result until this is resolved I have to assume that any male giving me a funny/hostile look could be him & this is no way to live.
The officers have spoken to the wardens at the hostel & the offender has been given a warning, i've not had any loud music, banging or threats since 3:40 am on the 25th.
The police have said that any hint of this trouble starting and they will arrest him, I have to go into the station in a few days to make a statement, they will then see if they have a strong enough case to take him to court.

My message to you all is that you don't have to tolerate abuse, the very second something escalates into phobic abuse or threats I urge you to call the police as in the UK they take a very dim view of this & act swiftly.

Stay happy & above all stay safe

Jayne

I am not familiar with the specifics of British law but surely there must be laws about disturbing the peace and threats to your life.

To me it sounds like you need to talk with the police or a lawyer.  You have rights and this oaf is violating them big time.  If there is anything behind his threats you need help only the authorities can provide.  Your only other option may be to move away from the ass.

I had a neighbor like that.  One night he tried to kick in my front door while screaming that I was a ->-bleeped-<- and that I had AIDS (which I don't).  The cops arrested him and took him down to the station.  The next afternoon, while I was talking with the apartment manager the violent SOB picked up right where he had been last night.  Only this time the manager saw him and he was evicted. 

The police in civilized countries are on our side.  When you need help call them.  It can't hurt and may make things much better.

Patty 

There are quite clear laws, but the problem here is the Hostel.

I too lived in a hostel for about a year, though many years ago now. It was so much better than a skip or similar, but I was so glad to get out.

One point I will make, if you don't know this guy, then he probably doesn't know you. I may be wrong but I think his social aggression is general. The failure of the hostel to deal with it is, while quite disgraceful, probably to be expected. The people who run these places tend to want an easy life and the odd bully beating up on the odd queer can be easily 'not noticed'.

Though not that the police are officially involved, the matter is very different. I won't fall into the trap of saying police are wonderful, most are, but some are not. Though now they have taken detail in their note books which means the entire situation is logged in the system.

Patty, in the UK the laws on noise pollution are pretty weak, you have to keep a log & complain to the council, the whole process can take months.
According to a new rule people have to be moved on from temporary hostels in 4 months & I have 1 month to go so wouldn't be able to get anything done in time.
When the problem was just the noise I told the hostel staff that I would move to another room but as soon as the threats started I told them I would not move as this would just give him the impression that threatening anyone he perceives as gay will be tolerated & get him his own way.

Spacial, The police have been wonderful (in this case), they reacted promptly when the threats started, the day after their visit they phoned me to ask if I wanted my address to be logged as priority response in case of future problems & the nice woman has e-mailed me details of a local trans support group, I can't fault them in this instance.
I've pointed out to the hostel workers that he is breaking several clauses in his contract but they are either powerless or unwilling to evict him as the next step from here is sleeping on the streets

Firstly, in #2 I wrote Though not that the police are officially involved, while I meant to write Though now that the police are officially involved, Sorry, one day I'll get some new galsses ;D

Anyway, thank you Jayne. It is good to know things are improving, but your experiences with the Hostel are also understandable I suppose.

While I do find it unacceptable for you, the involvement of the police dies seem to have improved the situation for you and any others affected.

Quote from: Jayne on January 26, 2013, 03:29:07 PM
The wardens have told me that if I go round to his flat about the music then I could be evicted as it may be seen as escalating the situation.

I love the irony here. If you say something to this creap you could be evicted, yet his escalation warrants a ho-hum what can we do response?

So the lesson to be learned here is to strike first and you get a free pass. The victim is officially enshrined in law to be a perpetual victim.

The staff at the hostel are powerless to do anything other than go & have a word.
Early in December they evicted a young man because he'd attacked another tenant with a knife, I can't help but wonder if the woman who was attacked had had the same problems getting the staff to take action.
Some days it feels like the criminals get more protection than the victims in this country but i'm one victim who refuses to lie down & take it.