In your community, harassment by neighbors is a strong possibility. People hear advice like “just live with it” or “awful neighbors are part of human life” too frequently.
If you’re experiencing harassment from neighbors, it’s essential to know that solutions are available to help you stop this problem and resume living a peaceful life.
For starters, you must be aware of what qualifies as harassment to be ready to take steps against unpleasant conduct of any kind, including this one.
Forms of Neighbor Harassment
You should take steps to stop neighbor harassment regardless of its effects on you. Even if you think their conduct isn’t very concerning, you shouldn’t wait for things to get worse before taking action.
It is also essential to understand that any assault on your home, your person, or any family member requires a response. For your information, individuals can use numerous ways to harass neighbors, including:
- Disrespectful remarks regarding your nationality, sexuality, or other characteristics.
- Phoning the cops on you frequently for minor offenses.
- Playing loud music during quiet hours.
- Irrational behavior on your property or communal property.
- Any actions are taken to drive you away.
- Stalking or violating your right to privacy.
- Construction or landscaping exceeds the boundary of the property.
When does a neighbor’s behavior qualify as harassment?
Harassment is considered consistent, deliberate behavior. That also means a neighbor ramming into your garbage cans by accident or throwing one noisy party is not harassment.
However, if they start misbehaving again or making aggressive remarks against you, it may turn into a harassment case.
In other words, harassment is deliberate and uncalled-for behavior against you. Harassment also means that this inappropriate behavior is repeated over some time.
What repercussions could harassment have?
The effects of harassment on a person might range from mild annoyance to severe depression. People who experience this kind of conduct may get demoralized and lose their sense of self.
Others may feel intimidated and frightened.
Identifying Neighbor Harassment
The term “harassment” covers a wide range of offensive acts. The phrase can lead to physical injury or attack, sexual harassment, violent threats (sending obscene emails or messages), and other similar actions.
Verbal abuse is defined as making insulting or disparaging statements. When these actions are carried out by neighbors or members of the same neighborhood, it is called neighbor harassment.
For instance, blasting loud music every night to upset a neighbor you clashed with is different from playing loud music late in the evening because you are having a celebration.
If you despise your neighbors, should you relocate?
It could appear as though moving away from the community is the only option. But, it doesn’t make sense to move every time you have a dispute with a neighbor because most conflicts can be settled by talking to each other. It often turns out that neighbors that seem terrible at first aren’t that terrible after all when you get to know them and they get to know you.
Documenting Neighbor Harassment
Try not to get provoked by a neighbor’s poor behavior. No matter how difficult it may be. It’s in your best interest to avoid conflict and stay calm.
You don’t want a history of shouting or abusing them in return. Instead, make an effort to record or photograph what your neighbors do.
Note the date, the hour, and any remarks or actions made. So that you have a reliable record of the event if you need to file a police complaint.
Don’t take it personally if police, attorneys, or judges inquire regarding your age, sexual preference, employment, or other factors that may seem discriminatory. These might prove to be a crucial element in the case that there was harassment.
What should I do about an aggressive neighbor?
You should contact the authorities if your neighbor is physically aggressive, verbally aggressive, or misbehaving toward you in an imposing way.
Abuse may occasionally represent a recurring pattern of antisocial behavior. That means if someone acts abusive more than once, there may be an underlying pattern of behavior.
Are Community Association anonymous complaints sufficient?
Complaints or concerns can be submitted anonymously in your community. You don’t need to leave your name when filling out a complaint form.
That’s fine because sometimes a witness wishes to remain anonymous to avoid confronting the rule-breaker. It would be against the law to conduct an investigation and impose a sanction on an owner based only on anonymous testimony.
Technically, anonymous accusations are insufficient to impose a fine for a violation. The board would first need to have data that has been independently validated and matches the anonymous allegations.
Boards are required to produce proof of HOA infractions upon the member or legal request. You could think about banning the submission of anonymous complaints.
What To Do If You Feel Threatened By A Neighbor?
Whether you’re being threatened or stalked, this is no more a civil matter. You are entitled to security in your house by law.
These are criminal accusations. Therefore you’ll need a criminal defense lawyer to bring charges and obtain a restraining order.
Suing for bodily injury or mental distress is another option.
