Tenant Describes 'Hell' Amid Rising Anti-Social Behaviour Complaints
A man living with seven years of alleged neighborly disturbances calls for a more integrated agency response as ombudsman data reveals a surge in upheld complaints against social landlords.
James Daniel has described his seven-year ordeal living next to what he calls "nightmare neighbours," highlighting a growing issue of anti-social behaviour and what he perceives as a broken system for addressing it. Despite numerous complaints to various agencies, Daniel states his situation has not improved. The issues have included alleged incidents like knives being thrown from a window, confrontations outside his home, and neighbors making gestures resembling gun signs at his security camera. Footage he provided also showed a previous tenant shouting at residents and discarding rubbish.
New data from the Housing Ombudsman indicates a significant rise in upheld complaints concerning social landlords' handling of anti-social behaviour. In the 2021-2022 financial year, the ombudsman found failings in 609 cases, a nearly fourfold increase from the 159 cases in 2025–26. According to a former Housing Ombudsman, Ric Blakeway, consistent reasons for upheld complaints include poor communication, inadequate record-keeping, and a failure to utilize available tools such as risk assessments and action plans. He also noted that increased awareness of housing rights and easier access to the ombudsman service likely contributed to the rise in casework.
In West Cornwall, closure orders on two properties in the same street were reported as effective by residents who had previously felt "living in fear." Police in the area spent weeks gathering evidence of drug use, fighting, and anti-social behaviour linked to one address before a closure order was issued. In April, Daniel's neighbor was convicted of assaulting another resident, and the following month, he was charged with alleged harassment against Daniel.
Daniel expressed that victims of anti-social behaviour, particularly those in social housing, require a more coordinated approach and support from agencies. He stated that despite all agencies being involved, there appears to be a lack of communication and awareness among them. He no longer feels safe in his home and finds it increasingly difficult to obtain support for those affected by such issues, lamenting that the home he once loved has become a source of distress.