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She has hoarded herself out of much of the bungalow, and lives and sleeps in the one room, the bedroom wall which adjoins mine. I have had mice in my home due to the state of her property. She sleeps all day and gets up at around 9pm at night rummaging around her hoard, moving things, things crashing and banging to the floor, and then she goes to bed around 9 - 12pm the next day. Her curtains are closed 24/7. She doesn't wash, and she doesn't eat very much she is thin, frail and dirty, and the stench of dogs feces, urine and rotting debris from her property is putrid. When her family does come round they take her out, they do not spend much time in there at all, and leave her dogs locked in the small dark hall for hours, sometimes days and they suffer separation anxiety, and so constantly howl.


I spoke to the family numerous times but they ignored me and ended up changing their telephone numbers. After 18 months I went to my Landlord, social services and the Alzheimer's society. This was when her 50 year old cannabis smoking son came to stay, which then added another problem, my home stinks of cannabis most of the time. The noise recorder went in and she was served a Community Protection Notice, which has already been breached, social services were trying to gain access but the son wasn't allowing her to open the door. Then 5 months later came the lockdown due to Covid-19. I am at the end of my tether, the son is going out most of the afternoon, and returning to the bungalow at night, then sits up all night with his mother while she makes noise all night, but doing nothing to stop her. My bed has been in my living room for 13 months now as it is the furthest room in the bungalow from the adjoining wall. However, the noise she makes is loud, climbing and waded over stuff and slamming the internal doors, it is a compulsive sound, a behaviour she cannot control, she also gets nasty, and has been abusive to me, and she has threatened to attack her son with a knife. I frequently hear her on her mobile phone in the garden accusing family members of stealing money or money going missing from her account, she also thinks people are stealing things from her home and garden. She has already been verbally abusive towards one of my neighbours (this was before I moved here), for which the police were called, as she believed her husband had moved in with her, even though her husband left 10 years ago due to the hoarding. I often see black smoke coming out of the kitchen window during the early hours of the morning, where she has forgotten what she is doing and has gone on to something else. Despite all this social services and my Landlord will not breach the lockdown to take action, even though her own family are not adhering to the lockdown, neither are they safeguarding my neighbour. As a result of lack of sleep, I am sinking into a depression, my asthma is affected by the constant stench of cannabis and I'm at the end of my tether.

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I did think of another thing...Check your lease. Most leases indicate that the property is "habitable"
If the debris, odor (if there is any), vermin, and other problems render the property uninhabitable that alone would be enough to break your lease. But this is something that you should consult an attorney about. And if you plan on doing this I would write a letter telling the landlord of your intention to do this so it does give him/her formal warning to attempt to correct the problem. (that might mean evicting your neighbor and unfortunately during this time most places have ceased evictions for any reason.)

Again get the Health Department and Building and Zoning (may also be called Code Enforcement in some areas) involved.
((I also wonder if this is rental property does the Fire Department inspect yearly for violations? You might want to call them as well))
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If you see smoke, call the fire dept. if pot is illegal in your area, call the cops.  If you can move, clean up your area and TAKE PICTURES with a date on the picture so you have proof that your area was cleaned.......so you can get security deposit back.  I know it would be great if you could make as much noise as you can when she is sleeping but you don't want to stoop to that level cause she might call the cops on you.  Call your township or borough and tell them about the rats or whatever else is the issue.  Let your landlord know (and keep track of all the times you call them, the cops, fire dept, etc) that you are moving immediately.  I wish you luck.  I would be scared to death that if her place caught on fire, that yours would go up in smoke as well.
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go thru your fire dept. explain the hording and dementia and often smoke from the kitchen window. better yet, call Fire dept when the smoke is active. fire dept can do a "well check" and if hording is the problem, I believe they can begin their own actions. good luck!
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The complaint rambles a bit but this is what Rose21 says:
"After 18 months I went to my Landlord, social services and the Alzheimer's society. This was when her 50 year old cannabis smoking son came to stay, which then added another problem....The noise recorder went in and she was served a Community Protection Notice, which has already been breached, social services were trying to gain access but the son wasn't allowing her to open the door."

Many have said "Call adult protective services," but it appears that Rose already did that and it isn't helping. Rose should look over her lease, and if she thinks she's locked into it, check with any local renters advocacy group for advice on whether she can break her lease without a big hassle. I would not expect this situation to improve until the other tenant is gone. If this were my situation, I'd move ASAP.
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Wow!Sorry you have had to endure all That! Have you tried being pretty loud yourself during her sleeptime soas to interrupt hers and help her reset her schedule a bit? Also,your could and Should call fire dept. Every time you see or smell her smoke. They will warn her or son to dehoard somewhat-fire hazard.

If adult protective services wont help(i have dealt with this in Il. Last year),call the po@ice every time they are being loud or you smell pot-if it's illegal.
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I think you need to try to engage the police, the township town hall officials, and if all else fails, try going to a state senator or assemblyman as often they can help. And finally seek out an attorney who will give you a free consultation. You are going to need help with this. Is there any way you can move. I am so sorry for you and what you are enduring. Also call Adult Protective Services and the Office on Aging for help. Good luck. She sounds like she is evil and has dementia. Also call the animal shelters and let them know about the poor animals who should be removed,
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Move.
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Call the fire department next time you smell or see smoke. They don't want one fire, let alone you and the neighbors houses/apartments/LIVES at risk. May be an easier route to move. I wouldn't stay there and the landlord already broke the contract/lease by allowing the hazardous conditions to continue after becoming aware. Good luck! Just want to add, marijuana is legal in my state of IL so the police can't help ya there.
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See if you can get some free legal help or advice regarding this. The next best thing is to move yourself out of hell. You have tried and can not save a sinking ship, so abandon it.
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Move. Now. Do not wait for the lockdown to end. You can find amazing move-in deals now with a few months of free rent or a move-in bonus that reduces your rental pay, in some cases.

You neighbor is not your problem. Let her family deal with her.

If you have a lease and are not simply month-to-moth, you need to send a notice to your landlord stating that he has constructively evicted you by allowing the unhealthy conditions next door, and by refusing to deal with the noise complaints, has violated your rights to peaceful enjoyment of your rental unit.

Under these circumstances, you do not need to give any further notice. Move and clean up your place in a reasonable manner and then demand the return of your deposit as well.

Good luck!
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Call the Health Dept. And look for a new home in a better neighborhood. The Health Dept is quite busy these days so do not expect a quick solution. Since your landlord will not do anything, you may legally break the lease. Talk to a Elder lawyer, too. Call you legal aid folks-- via 211. The folks at 211 can help immensely. The my help with a free Ombudsman ( negotiator/mediator)… and-- have you spoken to the Police?--- since it still is illegal to smoke pot and anybody who uses is probably selling it.
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Adult Protective Services needs to be called.
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While you are waiting for something to happen, including you moving out, try industrial ear plugs. I had a (much nicer) problem when my neighbours upstairs in our flat were getting up, showering, toileting and eating at 4am because they needed to get to work with a very early start. Good ear plugs really do help. Go to a work safety shop, not a pharmacy.
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i agree to all the suggestions others have given for your situation.I understand that after 10pm there should be only minimal noise and not a disturbance of the peace.I have a neighbor living above me(only been here a month and a half) and since we rent out this condo unit out i now understand why our renter left.These people upstairs stomp and stomp all nite until 4am.Oviously I've called the police and to have this problem put down quickly.But the main problem is that their 6 year old child is kept awake and she stomps from one end of their condo to another through the nite, making lots of noise.the police presence has quieted these people down some.But why is a child forced to be awake at this hour at nite?I'm contacting the APS to see why these people keep their child awake...or are they giving this child something that forces her to be awake at that hour. any suggestions on this issue?
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Isthisrealyreal May 2020
You will want to contact the department of child safety (DCS) not APS.
(5)
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What is the matter with your land lord? She is a danger to herself and others. She could burn the house down. Your place has become unliveable. You could stop paying rent until he deals with the situation. He has the right to evict her. Adult protective services, animal abuse agencies are probably best for quick action. I watch the show "Hoarders" on tv and situations like this are more common than I would have thought. Very sad. I would not confront the people directly. You would be helping her by reporting. There are building code violations in there for sure and the landlord could be fined. I can't believe he has let this go on for so long. He has a lot to lose.
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Maybe Dept of health or Area on Aging? Any other neighbors can go to landlord? Most likely have to wait till plague leaves. She sounds like human plague, but certainly has dementia...you might have to take action..perhaps calling a news station? Document everything...by taking pictures & videos....Write down day & time of each incident with descriptions....
You can’t live like this for sure. Keep at it ...hugs 🤗
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tjshd57 May 2020
That is sundowners syndrome very hard to get through
(3)
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Rose21,
Yes Adult Protective Services!!
I had a similar situation, but it was a condo full of young men.
Besides having the police on speed dial, I also went to the HOA board. I explained all that was going on. I also explained how it was lowering everyone's property values! That did the trick!
Maybe talk to other neighbors and see if they are willing to give written testimonies. More ammo for the HOA board!
I'm so sorry that you have to deal with all this and "Lock down ".
Hang in there!!
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Call local code enforcement officials. Rose this is something they should be able to assist with .. then call ur local drug hotline on them . There is a lengthy process in this which will take time . But better results will occur when you can have others calling in on these people.
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I would call the police and/or adult protective services along with landlord whenever I hear a threat or see black smoke or anything that seems dangerous. I would also make plans to move ASAP. You can tell your landlord your plans and if he has other units away from this can consider.
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I was in a situation similar to this when I was younger. The people in the adjoining apartment moved out and since there was nothing left in that apartment ALL the vermin came through the wall to MY apartment. I awoke in the middle of the night with cockroaches crawling all over me! When I turned on the light I saw hundreds of them swarming in my room. I did not sleep one more night in that place. I went and immediately found another place to live.
I realize with lockdown it might not be that easy but my point is even if you get rid of her do you know what will be left behind?
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MountainMoose May 2020
I'm horrified just reading your post! I am so sorry. You make an important point about the aftermath. *shudders*
(7)
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Really I don’t understand why you would be on this site complaining about a neighbor?
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MountainMoose May 2020
Wrong, wrong, wrong, Greymare. That neighbor is a serious hazard to herself, Rose21, and those animals. While trying to protect herself and the safe life she's entitled to, Rose21's trying to protect her neighbor. Rose21 is being a caregiver of sorts to an elder by trying to help her.
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I would contact adult protective services (Area Agency on Aging) to report the situation. They should be able to help remedy the situation. I know this would be difficult but when the restrictions from this pandemic are lifted, I would move. I would also call the police about the cannabis as possession of it is still legal. If your neighbor is a danger to herself and it seems that she is, the police or protective services may be able to take her for a mental health evaluation.
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You need to move as soon as you can. She will cause mold problems and all kinds of vermin and bug problems with her hording. It will affect your health. Call the board of health if you have to break you lease to move. It will give you a reason to break your lease. I have seen this in condos, where one persons mold problem is making a neighbor sick, and the neighbor has no knowledge of the problem below or beside him.
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You could call APS and ask for a well being check.
You could call the police when you hear banging that late. Noise that late is a disturbance and the police can deal with it.
You could also call the village or county and talk to someone in the Health Department or Code Enforcement both have regulations on hoarding and if it is bringing in rodent infestations that is a health concern for you as well as your neighbor.
Oh, next time you see smoke...call the Fire Department. Because the next time it might be a fire they have to deal with. And do this every time you see smoke.
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I would move ASAP. Period. Tell landlord why. They will have a hard time leasing it out with the stench so maybe they will report her. Good luck.
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Maryjann May 2020
Would that count as breaking a lease for cause? It may be tough for OP to rent a place she can afford if she has been there a while. My mother was a hoarder and I felt horrible for the neighbors. But there was NOTHING we could do about it. Hoarding is a mental illness. Unless the hoarder is deemed incompetent by the courts, s/he has a right to live in squalor if desired. It can be hard to get the code people to care. I hope the OP can get people onboard as this is so wrong.
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Sad, frustrating, but i'm not sure you can do anything!
Spounds like the family don't care, to them it's a place to sleep?
Hangout....ppl can do what they want, sleep when they want, live in filth too.
Its too bad you didn't have a nice relationship instead. But i've thought it thru & she may be there bothering you for yrs to come, so I would say move too.
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I would absolutely call the police. Hopefully she would be taken to the hospital and they can address her behavior. I would also call Adult Protective Services.
But she must get her behavior under control and needs help with her sleeping and hoarding. In addition, I would consider moving.
I wish you the best of luck,
Donna
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For just a moment, take a step back, and view yourself not as the victiim, but as a concerned neighbor. Your neighbor, poor thing, is the true victim. She has absolutely zero control over what she's doing.

Instead of calling authorities to complain, call to report a life threatening situation with an elderly neighbor. I think you will get much further in your search for help for the poor woman, than if you make yourself out to be the victim.

My humble opinion only.

Best of luck to you both.
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Dianed58 May 2020
Great reframe of the problem! - it may work
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Call Adult Protective Services. Why not move?
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I hate to say this, but you'll probably get the strongest, fastest response from Animal Control. If you can't get the woman out of there for her own safety or due to the damage and infestation, maybe having her dog(s) taken away would work. Hoarding and rodents should be more than enough for Adult Protective Services to pull her out of there, whether she's been diagnosed with dementia or not.
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