[sarabethdozier]

I desperately need advice on what to do about my neighbors! My husband and I bought our house in June of '06. The house next door is rental and we have had problems from the people who are currently renting. The people who live there are husband and wife, they do not have any children. They do however have 2 large dogs(a husky and a chow to be exact) and 2 cats. Every day when I take my 2 year old daughter out to play, or when I walk my dog at night, I hear him yelling and screaming at his dogs. We don't act that way or use that kind of language and I don't appreciate feeling like I can't take my child out to play because of what she will hear. I could count on one hand the number of times I have seen him walk his dogs and he is usually yelling at them for using the bathroom in the house. Obviously, 2 big dogs in a house not being walked is unsanitary. It has started to stink from their house.

He always comes over to borrow my telephone because his has been cut off.At first it didn't bother me, when they first moved in and had not gotten loud yet. But when he comes over at 2:00 in the afternoon and stays on the phone until 4 it's a bit excessive. I have tried nicely to say I am expecting a call and he says he will come back later.I have tried other approaches to that but it just doesn't work and I don't want to be completely rude to him. He has also asked repeatedly to borrow our lawnmower which I have told him I will not do because his grass is so high it would break the mower. There have also been requests for money, tools, dvd player(which he asked to borrow 2 days after they moved in) our car.It's not just a cup of milk or sugar he is wanting to borrow.

The current annoyance that has become a huge problem is that their utilities got shut off because he did not pay them. So there they are with no water, electricity or gas. He comes over every other day and asks if I will let him run an extension cord from our house to his so he can power his window air conditioner, fridge, etc. Every time I have said absolutely not. That is illegal and we would get in serious trouble. He just doesn't seem to get it and I am tired of telling him. Another troubling issue since his utilities have been cut off is that obviously they don't have a toilet without running water, and so every night he takes their pots out in the yard and dumps out the days waste.. from them. Something tells me that is not healthy.

I have been back and forth on the idea of calling the health department, and I am sure I could anonymously report them, first off, I am not sure the health department is the right place to start. If I did report them, I would hate for them to know that it was me. I hate doing things like that to people, but this is a bit much. I have also contemplated calling their landlord. Of course if I do that they will know I called him. I am just not sure what to do. All I know is I have taken as much as I can stand. We work hard to pay our mortgage and can't just pick up and move away because of them. I am sick and tired of him knocking on my door to borrow something, even if I put a note on the door not to knock.I'm tired of listening to the foul language. I'm concerned about the health of his animals, who apparently came from a shelter and were abused by their previous owners and sounds to me like they are being abused again. I am also concerned about their health living in a house with no water or electricity and animals using the bathroom in the house like they do.

What do I do?Should I just let it go for a while and see what happens?Talk to him in some way that might get across to him? Or should I call the health department or the landlord?

I greatly appreciate any advice.

Thanks,
Sara

[renegadofunk93]

It seems like the only option you have is to call the health department. If your neighbors find out, just tell them how worried you are for their health. Just think of how nice it will be once it's all over.

[ac101]

I don't ussaully answer this type of question because I have no real legal background however I can tell you that if you are sure he is dumping human waste in his yard it is unsanitary and 99% sure its also illegal. In my area it is illegal to discharge any sewage except into approved recepticles : city sewer or septic tank. Check with your local health dept. see what they can do and make your call from somewhere other than home until your certain your ready to report them. In my areas most gov. agencies automatically capture your phone # when making any type of complaint.

[Wondergirl]

I too feel terrible about the two dogs.

Call the village hall to find out the name and phone of your trustee or omsbudsman. Call that person and tell him/her the whole story and find out what should be done next. Or just cut to the chase and call the health department or even the police. He is breaking all sorts of laws and ordinances. (I know what you mean that he will know who reported him, but he doesn't sound like someone who learns real well. Mention your fears to the person you call.)

[Xrayman]

Okay, Hi there!

You need to contact the rental firm/landlord and tell them of your concerns-and state that this is a matter of secrecy-you will have to ask them (the landlords) to do an inspection of their rental property (perhaps surprise inspection if that is legal where you are).

The animal protection society needs to be contacted for the purposes of the animals health and wellbeing.

Next the health department needs to be contacted due to the smell leaving the house-(state that you are afraid that something has died in there-plus their human waste is being disposed of without proper sanitation/sewer-this IS DEFINITELY A HEALTH ISSUE AND IS ILLEGAL).

You must advise them that you no longer wish to loan out anything/support their lifestyle or, put up with their foul language.(In fact I'd speak to them FIRST about that issue-it is probably the least "arguable"-because you are standing up for your children.

These people are nutbags, cruel, dysfunctional and you don't need them around your children-get them evicted, but talk to them first about the language-see how that goes FIRST!

[michealb]

More than likely someone like that will be on a section 8 type program. The landlord lets them do as much damage as they want to the house then sues the government for damages and starts the whole process over again. There is good news though if the house gets reported to section 8 they have to do an inspection and if the house isn't up to snuff they are evicted and your annoying neighbors are gone.

[sarabethdozier]

Thank you everyone for your answers. Seeing that other people thought I needed to take action made it seem easier than just sitting around discussing it between my husband and myself since we are in the middle of the situation.

After hearing him yelling and seeing him throw things at his dogs last night I emailed the sherriff's department because they do welfare checks on people. And if they were going to be evicted it would have to first go through the sherriff's department anyway. I have not heard anything back from them as to whether they will go talk to them or pass the information on to the appropriate office if they are not the ones to handle it.I may call them toady. At least it is a small step forward. Now I just hope they do as I ask and keep my name to themselves!

Again, thanks to everyone. You all had great advice

[ScottGem]

The good news is I doubt if these people will be tenants for very much longer. The bad news is they will make your life miserable until they are removed. So you need to hurry that removal. Dumping human waste IS illegal, it not only affects them, but you as well. You need to call the health dept immediately. You also need to talk to the property owner and complain to them. If they let these people live in those conditions you may have a law suit against them.