Antisocial behaviour: What would you do?

[adc82140]

Some background:

I live opposite a sheltered accommodation complex for the elderly. One of the residents is always outside tinkering about with his car. This has never before been a problem, but he has now taken to revving the engine for half an hour at a time, creating an almighty noise, and filling the air with petrol fumes.

The galling thing is that a few months ago he had a go at a Morrison's delivery driver for leaving his refrigerated van running while doing my delivery (all of 5 minutes on tick over) .

It got so bad this morning that I had to go out and tell him in no uncertain terms, politely but firmly, to pack it in. He responded by doing it all the more.

How should I deal with it? It's not a care home, it's more warden flats. Would the manager of the complex be able to intervene? Or do I just have to take the nuclear option, which I'm reluctant to do, and get the police involved? The guy must be over 80!

 

[yorksrob]

I suppose that if it seems like a temporary thing whilst he gets it running, I'd let it go.

If it looks like becoming a permanent petrolhead thing, I'd start keeping a log of when and how long it was happenning with a view to making a complaint to the council.

 

[adc82140]

It's been ongoing for a week or so, therefore not temporary, and he never seems to drive off anywhere. He just has the bonnet open and revs.

I had forgotten about the council. Thanks for that. Will keep a diary of when it happens.

 

[Ianno87]

I'd have thought contacting the warden would be an appropriate first step.

 

[Cowley]

What sort of car is it? If it’s anything British from the 1980s or 70s he could be out there for some time...

 

[DelW]

My late father lived in similar assisted-living accommodation a few years ago, and although there were no external neighbours nearby there, the manager was very good at quietly sorting out the occasional disputes between residents, often without most of them realising that she'd done so.

I'd certainly try a quiet word with the manager, you've nothing to lose by trying that, even while you're collecting any records you'll need if you do have to escalate the complaint.

 

[yorksrob]

What sort of car is it? If it’s anything British from the 1980s or 70s he could be out there for some time...

Perhaps he's dreaming of days whizzing down country byways during the 1950's, Shaddows on the wireless (if cars had them then), pretty Lady in the passenger seat, stopping off for a slap up dinner for two at one of the shiny new motorway serviice stations (or if they were skint, a picnic on the central reservation)......

 

[Cowley]

Perhaps he's dreaming of days whizzing down country byways during the 1950's, Shaddows on the wireless (if cars had them then), pretty Lady in the passenger seat, stopping off for a slap up dinner for two at one of the shiny new motorway serviice stations (or if they were skint, a picnic on the central reservation)......

I’m starting to quite like him.

 

[yorksrob]

I’m starting to quite like him.

It does sound like a grand day out !

 

[adc82140]

I’m starting to quite like him.

Don't go too far. He's miserable bugger. The car is an old Seat, more rust than car. He's just been out there again. I'm struggling to know what it actually is he's trying to achieve.

I've now got the email address of the warden. We'll see what happens.

 

[GusB]

Contacting the warden is the least official route and I'd suggest that a friendly word airing your concerns would be the best course of action; a sudden change in his health may be triggering this behaviour and it's in their best interests as warden to check their resident is okay.

I don't think the police would act until you'd contacted the council, so if option one doesn't work, reporting it to them should be your next step.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

Might be worth ignoring it if you can, it might stop soon enough
One hopes he does not drive the thing. With a bit of luck the gas tank shall soon be empty

 

[adc82140]

Might be worth ignoring it if you can, it might stop soon enough
One hopes he does not drive the thing. With a bit of luck the gas tank shall soon be empty

He does drive it. Which is scary. I've had the misfortune of following him through town, he doesn't ever use indicators and woe betide anyone on the zebra crossing.

 

[High Dyke]

He does drive it. Which is scary. I've had the misfortune of following him through town, he doesn't ever use indicators and woe betide anyone on the zebra crossing.

Oh. One of those sort of drivers!

Joking aside. You already seem to have a way of raising a complaint, without trying to urgently inflame the situation. Always keep a record of the times the person is doing what they are doing.

A friend of mine lives in a similar type of accommodation. He kept getting complaints from his neighbour about a noisy television, even though he wears a pair of headphones when watching. The housing authority basically threatened him with eviction if he didn't stop causing a nuisance. It turns out the complainant had also made allegations against other residents, of various incidents, that never actually took place.

 

[Gloster]

Always think very carefully about complaints about neighbours if you own your home and may want to sell it in the future. You might be asked by a purchaser if you have had any disputes with the neighbours and you must give an accurate answer in such circumstances (*). If you have nothing recorded or written, an informal conversation with the warden can be dismissed as a minor matter (I am sure that a lawyer would phrase that better), particularly if things sort themselves out.

Personally, when I have been in such situations, I have tended to let it lie unless it continues at a ridiculous level for a long time. The chap may sort things out with his car or just get bored with it, so your problem is solved without intervention.

* - The rule nowadays seems to be that there are some things you must tell a purchaser, but otherwise you don’t have to tell them unless they ask. However, you must answer any question that they do ask accurately and in full.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

Maybe the police could be persuaded to try to persuade him to give up his licence

 

[adc82140]

Maybe the police could be persuaded to try to persuade him to give up his licence

From professional experience I've discovered it's nigh on impossible to have someone forcibly surrender their licence. I had a case where a patient was too confused to be id'd for treatment, in that they couldn't confirm their date of birth or address, and seemed utterly bemused by everything around them. They promptly got in their car and drove off. I tried to alert the authorities via the approved channels and was told that we would be infringing on their rights. Beggars belief.

 

[yorksrob]

This chap doesn't seem to be driving anywhere. Maybe that's the issue- revving the engine is a surrogate for being able to drive generally. Perhaps there is a racing track where he can be allowed to rev up until his heart's content.

I can sympathise - my dad used to love driving, but has had to give it up due to failing eyesight.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

He does drive it. Which is scary. I've had the misfortune of following him through town, he doesn't ever use indicators and woe betide anyone on the zebra crossing.

Have you got a dashcam...?

 

[GusB]

This chap doesn't seem to be driving anywhere. Maybe that's the issue- revving the engine is a surrogate for being able to drive generally. Perhaps there is a racing track where he can be allowed to rev up until his heart's content.

I can sympathise - my dad used to love driving, but has had to give it up due to failing eyesight.

I can completely understand how frustrating it is for someone to suddenly lose vision and be told you shouldn't drive any more; my father was totally gutted after he had a stroke and lost left-hand peripheral vision. The hope that one day he'd get back on the road was possibly instrumental in helping him recover so quickly, but we had to make it very clear to him that his sight was unlikely to improve. He was a liability with a trolley in Sainsbury's, never mind behind the wheel of a car!

 

[yorksrob]

I can completely understand how frustrating it is for someone to suddenly lose vision and be told you shouldn't drive any more; my father was totally gutted after he had a stroke and lost left-hand peripheral vision. The hope that one day he'd get back on the road was possibly instrumental in helping him recover so quickly, but we had to make it very clear to him that his sight was unlikely to improve. He was a liability with a trolley in Sainsbury's, never mind behind the wheel of a car!

Well, my dad didn't like it, but he took it in his stride. Perhaps there is somewhere where this chap can go to rev engines, away from neighbours ?

 

[duncanp]

From your description, I would have thought that other residents in the area, both inside and outside the sheltered housing complex, would be just as annoyed with this man's behaviour.

I live in sheltered housing, and there are plenty of rules and regulations about what people can an cannot do. (ie. no pets) Specifically, the lease of the flat states that you must not do anything which would cause a nuisance to other residents.

So do have a word with the warden and see if you can establish whether this man is breaking the terms of any lease or agreement he signed when moving in.

The warden usually has the power to take enforcement action, and this is often quicker and more effective than going through the local authority or the courts.

It may be that the warden has already received complaints from other residents, and your complaint may be the thing that prompts him or her to act.

 

[43021HST]

Some background:

I live opposite a sheltered accommodation complex for the elderly. One of the residents is always outside tinkering about with his car. This has never before been a problem, but he has now taken to revving the engine for half an hour at a time, creating an almighty noise, and filling the air with petrol fumes.

The galling thing is that a few months ago he had a go at a Morrison's delivery driver for leaving his refrigerated van running while doing my delivery (all of 5 minutes on tick over) .

It got so bad this morning that I had to go out and tell him in no uncertain terms, politely but firmly, to pack it in. He responded by doing it all the more.

How should I deal with it? It's not a care home, it's more warden flats. Would the manager of the complex be able to intervene? Or do I just have to take the nuclear option, which I'm reluctant to do, and get the police involved? The guy must be over 80!

As irratating as it can be, sometimes asking cordially at first if it times he could keep it down, I've found that sometimes does the trick and occasionally you make a new friend.

I have been in that situation with a neighbour and noisy music, I politely knocked on their door to ask if they could keep it down, found out we shared music tastes and finished the evening many beers later with music at twice the volume. Did make a friend though and he would keep it down if asked after that. He ended up being a good drinking buddy after that.

 

[PeterC]

Is the tax and MOT up to date? You can verify that on the .gov website.

 

[Puffing Devil]

Is the tax and MOT up to date? You can verify that on the .gov website.

And insurance on the MID

 

[cactustwirly]

Is the tax and MOT up to date? You can verify that on the .gov website.

Cars built before 1983 are exempt from MoTs and Tax, not sure how old this car is though

 

[Cowley]

Cars built before 1983 are exempt from MoTs and Tax, not sure how old this car is though

I think it’s pre 1980/early 81 isn’t it? I thought it was vehicles over 40 years old?

 

[PeterC]

Cars built before 1983 are exempt from MoTs and Tax, not sure how old this car is though

A specific exemption has to be applied for and the "licence" still needs to be renewed annually even though it is free.

 

[JohnMcL7]

It's been ongoing for a week or so, therefore not temporary, and he never seems to drive off anywhere. He just has the bonnet open and revs.

I had forgotten about the council. Thanks for that. Will keep a diary of when it happens.

A diary is a good idea and if possible I'd try to get some video clips because I think if you could show the behaviour is inconsiderate and intrusive and happening regularly it would be more convincing.

Other than that I can only wish you luck with it as the situation sounds extremely frustrating.

 

[Hairy Bear]

Just shove a large spud up the exhaust pipe. Peace will resume after he's flattened the battery trying to start it.
Happy Christmas.