Rant: Horrible Neighbor

[blackwatch]

We bought our house in WS 3years ago after living in another WS house for 2 years and we love it here.

The original neighbor we had next door to our house was OK. He was a little unsettling as he seemed to be just a bit crazy in the way he talked and the way he looked at you, almost cross eyed. But, we got along alright none the less. We did have a few times when there was a great fight over there and his kids started screaming at the parents that there was never any food in the house and all they ever did was gamble….We came close to calling Social Services, but didn’t feel like we had enough info…so we let it slide.

Well our neighbor came up to me one day and announced that they were moving, and that he had some others moving in. The very next day three different trucks puled up next door and 3 different room renters began to move in. We immediately realize that things had changed as these folks stayed up very late and were very loud. Our houses are pretty close to each other so we tended to hear everything that went on next door. It turns out that the reason they stayed up so late is that they were all on Meth. And the one Meth guy over there got very violent when he drank and did meth. The others in the house didn’t like him when he drank so he’d go out to his van and turn up the music very loud to “relax”. Right in front of our bedroom window.

To make a long story shorter. We got to know the police very well, and I have to say that police were great, a real credit to the profession. That chapter ended when they hauled away mean drunk meth guy and put him in jail for 6 months for threatening his roommate. Everyone else didn’t pay their rent and moved out.

I told the owner when I saw him next that if he rented his house out again to anyone drug related I was getting an attorney and I would own his house. So he actually got some very decent people to take over. We’d been on very good terms for about 6 months when one of the women renting a room brought home a little white dog.

Turns out the dog had been in a puppy mill and it was very vocal. The dogs were let out most of the day and barked continually except for when another dog walked by….then they’d launch into a frenzy. I approached the girl many times about the dogs lending advise and even giving her a “clicker” to discourage barking, but she really didn’t “get it”. It all came to a head when the dags started in at 8:00 on a Sat. morning after we’d been up late the night before. I went out in my pajamas and said in an unfortunately irritated voice”

We really have to do something about the dogs” This launched the guy there into a rage.Which kinda launched me into a rage.I just walked back into the house and went back to bed.

Good thing is, the dog noise has just about gone away, good for him. Bad thing is, he’s a government employee and he just hinted to me that certain services might be discontinued by his friend the service provider because we we supposedly not in compliance. That’s as clear as I can get without giving away info that wouldn’t do me any good. It’s bull is what it is and he’s using his friendship with certain government service provers to threaten me. I’m really not that worried about it, it’s just infuriating.If he carries it out I’m pretty sure I can get them both in deep doo.

Sorry for the long rant but it’s been cathartic.

So just hope that your neighbor doesn’t rent out all the rooms in his house for $500 a pop.

You never can tell who you’re going to have as a neighbor.

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[rdm]

Ok not sure I get the point here but whatever.

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[grr]

I get the point completely.

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What amazes me is the magnitude of bureaucracy (along with the whining and bitching) that accompanies a ‘Design Review’ of a new commercial business or development structure in WS, but, as an INDIVIDUAL property/homeowner, you have pretty much NO say when it comes to dealing with your neighbors.

Sure..if they’re breaking the law (video them smoking their crack pipes and send it to SPD)…you can do something. And yeah, you can always report a noisy dog as well..but, to what avail?

AT SOME POINT…where does the right of self-expression and individuality cross the line of YOUR rights as a property owner to the rights of your neighbor to be a moron?

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Why should MY property resale value have to decline because I have a dumbass next door with broken down vehicles that get rotated every 72 hrs, a dirt pit for a front yard, dogs that bark incessantly, etc.

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[acemotel]

that was an interesting story! I feel your pain. We love our neighbors but there’s one a few houses away – would NOT want them next door to us! HE does everything he can to annoy everyone on all sides. Life is hell when you have a bad neighbor.

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[JoB]

it’s a crap shoot isn’t it…

sometimes you get the neighbors from h…

and sometimes you get good ones..

appearances can be so deceiving

the neighbor whose house looks like an abandoned squat turns out to be a good person with medical problems who can’t keep up with upkeep …

and the person with the immaculate house and yard doesn’t seem to realize that a word over the fence is much more effective than turning you into the authorities for every imagined infraction..

all you can do is be a good neighbor yourself..

you might be your neighbor’s version of the neighbor from H… you never know.

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[abstract]

Wow! I am sorry. Neighbors can make or break a house or neighborhood. The description of the house/neighbors sound a lot like one on the corner of my block. I know last year someone with a van caused a lot of trouble and the cops were often called. It was far enough down the block that I couldn’t see or hear anything, but other neighbors were complaining and thought drugs might be involved. He suddenly disappeared one day. New people have moved in and I think rent rooms. One person has a small white dog like the one you are describing. There is another large dog, I think a boxer or something?

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[grr]

indeed, JoB..that’s why we try really hard to get to know our neighbors (previous one next door was indeed an little old lady over her head with upkeep)…then again..she was an alcoholic that refused every ounce of help that was offered.

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I can pretty much attest that my house is worth a good $30k less than it should be, simply because of whats next door.

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[DP]

blackwatch:

¶ Always try the friendly approach first. (This will improve your karma, which comes in handy later on, after you’ve morphed into a maniacal fiend.)

¶ If the friendly approach doesn’t work, try the SUPER-friendly approach.

First, tell your meth-head neighbor that Jesus hearts him and that your church is planning a massive “prayer assault” on his doorstep. Then, posing as Mr. Meth himself, phone all the local evangelists and invite them over for tea at his place. Tell them not to mind about the drug paraphrenalia or smell. Assure them that you’re finally ready to invite Jesus into your heart, if He will just show you some kind of sign that He cares.

Sit back and watch the fun.

¶ If religion doesn’t work on this character, try psychology.

Scope out the darker corners of Mr. Meth’s tormented brain to find out what he’s most terrified of, then apply some metaphysical frontier justice.

Is he paranoid about cops, for example? —Position a glaring police flasher outside his window and leave it on all night. Every night.

Does he have a morbid fear of the US Postal Service? —Dress up like a mailman and follow him around whenever he leaves the house.

 

If none of those methods work for you, I have plenty more. You can read about all of them in my excellent book, “Neighbor-free in 30 Days!”

Available from the Internet and finer garage sales everywhere.

Mwa-ha-ha

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[BBGuest]

DP, thanks for the giggle.

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[grr]

DP..you’re my new hero.

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[JoB]

grr..

i have a similar problem tho my neighbors (3 of them) aren’t alcoholics…

i cut the parking strip and an indent on the other side for one neighbor while they are at work… just to improve my view from the mailbox :)

i put the garbage cans back in their place for another.

i trim blackberries that encroach on the alley and over the fence for all three.

those small tasks arent’ much.. but they help me feel as though i have done what i can.

I work on the what i call the roommate principle in my neighborhood… if what they cleaned isn’t clean enough for you.. either clean it up right or let it go …

when a little old lady i knew passed the concept along many years ago i was skeptical.. but I am astonished at how well that works for me on so many levels.

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[grr]

I agree, JoB. We actually tried helping with the yappy dog issue (short of buying them some Dog Whisperer DVD’s..). No use. And I’m pretty sure I can’t fix the crappy car :)

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[wsfam]

Our neighbor has rented the house next door to a man who literally picks people up on the street in downtown Seattle and gives them “transitional housing” rooms. Of course, he charges them unlike real transitional housing. He has even built out the interior of the house so that the previous 3 bedroom house now has seven small “bedrooms.”

Now, I’m a social worker and pretty darn savvy and SUPPORTIVE of needed housing, so went to my neighbor and asked about permits, screening, resident profile, etc. I was told that it was an “informal” non-profit and that they trusted people. When I said that I had two small children and wanted to know if people had criminal histories, or drug screens, I was told pretty emphatically to mind my own business.

Since then people move in and out several times a month with large garbage bags full of stuff. Sometimes they even use their homeless tents to sleep in on the back deck or back yard. Basically I now have a flop house next door. All my efforts to try and work this out with the owner have been to no avail.

I have now made 3 reports as have many of my other neighbors. The City comes out, looks at the outside of the house, states they see no violations and goes away. Seriously, at my non-profit I am audited 4 times a year! The amount of regs and policies and procedures we jump through is crazy!!!!! I just can’t believe that someone can decide – without permits or a 501c3 — to just open a transitional housing unit in a residential neighborhood and no one cares. I cannot leave my children unattended outside because I never know who is over there. Any advice would be appreciated!

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[changingtimes]

as a social worker i would think you would be a little more forgiving..lets help the people in need…but not so close to home? there is a women who lives in a car on my block for the past year..neighbors offer her help to move to a shelter but she doesnt want to.. the church helped her through the winter..seems like shes a little off in the head..but no one has ever told her to move on..im glad we are nice people and see that she is just trying to survive..and not bringing down our house values…

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[Genesee Hill]

Wow!

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[wsfam]

Changingtimes –

Contrary to your post, I am not one of those NIMBY folks. I am very happy to have transitional housing next door. But real transitional housing is permitted and provides oversight. I wouldn’t care if someone lived in their car on my street either.The issue is that for almost two years now I have had almost 60 different people living next door. They come in and out like a hotel. No one monitors the situation, provides support to these folks, or even helps them get permanent housing. I find it interesting that you assume I am not “nice.” You know nothing about me, nor have any idea how I hard I work for very little money mind you, with people in difficult situations. I find myself privileged to do so and have met some of the most amazing and inspiring people. My entire life has never been about property value or material goods in any fashion. However, I know an unsafe and potentially criminal situation when I see one. Being “nice” is not the same as being obtuse.

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[changingtimes]

my only question is has any of the 60 people hurt you or your family in anyway beside being a eyesore for the neighborhood? just because people are down and out doesnt always make them druggies or someone who is going to snatch your children..im pretty sure they are just happy to have a roof over there head. maybe you should bring a casserole over to them and try to get to know them a little then do your own background check..we as a community should realize that it is getting harder and harder to survive out there and as nice at it would be..not every neighbor is going to be the Cleaver family..

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[grr]

wsfam..you have EVERY right to call the authorities as OFTEN AS YOU NEED TO to get this fixed. There are reasons there are rules and regulations for this type of housing.

=

and, being ‘nice’ is NOT the same thing as being careless and disrespectful of your neighbors.

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CTimes..what’s it gonna take? the 61’st person snatching one of WSFam’s kids? Seriously. This situation sounds like a disaster just waiting to happen. If it was next to me, I’d be calling authorities 4 times A DAY during working hours until somebody comes out and takes a look. I’m totally with WSFam on this one.

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[Garden_nymph]

DP, I love the way your mind works!

Do zoning laws allow for non-permitted, transitional housing?

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[littlebrowndog]

It may be a “boarding home” as defined by the state of Washington. It is the state that investigates possible problems with that and licenses facilities that fit into that category. There are a lot of requirements associated with such a license.

CT, I agree that we need to all reach out and be involved. I think protection goes both ways—of the neighbors and for the residents. In my years of working within the state system I have seen some very abusive situations that were really taking gross advantage of residents. In our concern for people in need we should not turn a blind eye to the possibility that they could be taken advantage of. Suppose there is a fire and the residents’ few possessions are lost—wouldn’t it be good for the provider to have an insurance policy that covered all of that? Wouldn’t it be nice to know that there was sufficient exit from the home in case of a fire? Or do you think that because of their circumstances they should be grateful for living there but are not entitled to a safe home?

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[wsfam]

Thanks for the suggestion that I go the State. I have been working at the City level and have really gotten nowhere.

littlebrowndog – You are right about protection going both ways! I have often thought what people are paying to live there and what percentage is it of their income. In truly supportive housing it is always 30% and if the income is zero – well, it’s zero. The non-official bedrooms are a fire disaster waiting to happen.

The screening that takes place also allows for other residents to be protected. Violent offenders are not placed in homes with non-violent offenders. People with chronic, severe mental illness generally sign a medication adherence agreement and their stability is monitored by trained therapists. Single women are generally not placed in homes with single men.

When people become homeless there is generally more going on then being “down on your luck.” There can be a vast array of services needed to help people get stable again. In the clients I work with it generally is a combination of needed care for physical health issues and outstanding medical bills, combined with needs for employment. Recently job loss has led more families there. For others, chemical dependency is a major factor. For many you see in Pioneer Square, untreated mental health issues. Whatever the case, getting people the right kind of support and signed up for the right kind of services is key.

My guess is that these folks probably have no credit histories or bad credit histories and have no way to come up with a deposit. Maybe they have a criminal history. Maybe they are just passing through town. Whatever it is, I think they are paying a premium for those rooms and the guy is probably making a decent amount of money off of them.

Yes, part of it is that I am fearful of the number of single adult men constantly moving in and out. But part of it is that I think its just a big scam.

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[JoB]

organizations do not always provide better services than individuals…

but they do provide rules that give those involved the illusion of control…

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[ws4ever]

If nothing wrong is going on, no one has anything to lose by there being more scrutiny.

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[HolyKow]

State and local authorities have reasons for having these guidelines and restrictions in place. Changingtimes, I would say that no matter if there has been anything bad YET, if they are perceived as a problem and the guidelines are not being followed, then they should be reviewed.

It is situations just like those that we hear about in the news, the ‘this location had dozens of violations, but no one was looking, so ___(insert bad thing)___ happened there and ___(bad results)___ could have been avoided. This is where the ‘that kind of thing never happens in this neighborhood’ can be avoided by the local/state agencies doing the jobs.

WS4E is right, if there is nothing going on and they are within spec, then there should be no reason to fear a review of the rules and regs that are supposed to be enforced at a location of that type.

hk

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[acemotel]

I totally agree with littlebrowndog. In all this discussion of the “risks” for the neighbors, my main concern at this point are the risks for the homeless people who are being taken in by this person. Is this person taking advantage of the homeless people’s vulnerabilities? There’s a reason for licensing.

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