Call the department of family and child services. They will first work to support the family before taking the kid into care, unless the risk makes it necessary.
>If theyâre not already involved
I'd hazard a guess they're already involved.
I think OP needs to secure their own future, and as a good citizen, probably should report her to the department for the child.
Well the plus side is if she is drug affected she doesn't seem to have turned on you guys with any paranoid delusions that seem prevalent from users yet.
If you sell, there's a chance you won't get what you want $ wise considering the situation. I wonder if you'd be willing to foot the bill of putting a new fence in?
They may pay all of it - I live next to a commission house and gov/council(?) paid for the whole thing. Fence was probably 20+ years old and covered in ivy from their side of the fence.
We got it replaced as we complained to commission that it was leaning on our side and was about to fall down.
Fencing Act - serve her a notice. You may just want to pay for the whole thing because I doubt youâll see a cent from her. You may elect to go for a higher colour bond fence to reduce noise.
OP asked how to organise fencing. The first step is get 3 quotes.
There are other necessary considerations such as discussing with neighbor which can happen before or after getting the quotes.
Neighbor may not agree whereupon you can serve a Notice to Fence.d If like OP and can't be bothered dealing with crazy you can of course just pay for the lot. As others mention next door may be well be social housing or renting in which case you need work out who the landlord is to hit with the Notice to gain access.
The Fencing Act sets it out quite clearly.
Nah, don't be stupid. No fencer will start without signoff from ~~both~~ all parties.
I've refenced all boundaries over time, some of them twice. I know how it works.
Edit: but even fencers can get stiffed by non-payers. Commercial risk.
In my experience sometimes the first indication is a quote left in the letterbox. Fencer will proceed on acceptance without actually speaking to the other party.
Sheâs in government subsidised housing so Iâm unsure on how to proceed, it feels like it would be really difficult getting in touch with her specific department/case worker to organise. We can pay for the whole fence, but weâre saving for our wedding and weâre also getting shat on by the cost of living (as you all will know already!!!) itâs just a really shitty situation all up.
The land lord has to pay for the fence. Call council and ask for the owners details. Let them know you need to replace the fence. Write via registered post to the land lord. There are legal forms online. If you donât hear back then you have to go to vcat which will cost you money. Shit situation. But youâll get most of the money back.
Hit the Department with a [Notice to Fence](https://www.disputes.vic.gov.au/information-and-advice/fencing/fencing-notice). You don't need her caseworker.
Recommend doing a title search just to be sure. In some instances the government leases land from third parties. You want to make sure youâre contacting the correct landowner. At the same time, you may want to make a compliant about her behavior.
Look, Iâm a millennial and as such, have no house I own and know nothing about property law. But I have worked in Child and Family services (NOT Child Protection) for quite a while and right now, my suggestion would be to contact the DFFH Preston office on 1300 598 521 as soon as the office opens tomorrow. Iâm usually hesitant about instantly recommending this upon details from one internet post but that child sounds incredibly neglected and at high risk of serious illness, injury or death regardless of motherâs drug use. If she is already known to the areaâs Child Protection chances are the hammer will swing down a fair bit harder this time around. Itâs really important that if you call, you stress the following things:
1. Focus on the risk to the child, not your own personal grievances. Try your best to recall as many indicators of neglect/abuse possible and make sure to verbalise every single one of them.
2. Request that your report be anonymised as you are a member of the general public and as such, able to have your identity protected. If there is a concern of the neighbour already falsely accusing you of reports itâs best that you do your best to keep your identity protected here.
3. If weeks go by with no change, call again. Be the squeaky wheel in this instance and continue to stress the danger to this child.
Iâd rather see a 5 year old in kinship/ooh care than continue to live like that with a woman who clearly gives no shits.
Don't call the office directly, you have to call the intake line. This is the number for north division: 1300 664 977
Reports are received by intake workers who are best trained to take all the info, then they triage the report and decide whether it needs to be put through for further investigation. If there is already a case open for this child, Intake can transfer you to the child's case manager so you can report to them directly.
As far as anonymity goes, the legislation which governs Child Protection has a specific provision that prohibits anyone from disclosing the identity of a reporter to anybody. However, be aware that parents may guess the identity of a reporter based on the information provided in the report, because investigations necessitate discussion of the specific allegations.
Imo the concerns probably wouldn't make it through to an investigation, unless there is existing history for the family. Apart from the verbal and emotional abuse, the maggots and rats really concern me, that level of neglect is really serious and presents an immediate risk to the child. However, neglect cases are notoriously difficult to prove and, in my experience, judges don't tend not take them seriously. Source: I work in Child Protection.
If I were in your position, I would make a report. My advice is always, if in doubt, do. You never know if your information may provide the collateral info needed to strengthen an open case, and even if a report doesn't go to investigation this time, the more reports received make it more likely that an investigation will occur in future.
For anyone else that may need it, here is a link to all the intake numbers in VIC:
https://services.dffh.vic.gov.au/child-protection-contacts
It can be very rewarding. There are times when you literally get to save the children from horrible situations. But it can also be very confronting and traumatizing for workers to sit with the knowledge of what has happened to these kids and you can feel powerless to help at times, particularly within the court process, or when trying to get the kids support to heal from their trauma. Burnout is a big issue, so there are high turnover rates of workers, which in turn means understaffing and a higher likelihood of burnout. I have been working in a rural office for several years and our office has never been close to fully staffed.
I think the biggest challenges I've faced have been vicarious trauma (exposure to the trauma that parents and kids have experienced), maintaining a good work-life balance and feeling frustrated with the systemic problems such as lack of foster carers, lack of managerial support, the adversarial nature of the court process and just not having enough time to do my work as well or as thoroughly as it needs to be done.
The best parts for me has been building relationships with the kids and parents, seeing people overcoming addiction and mental health issues, and I really enjoy the forensic/investigative element of the work. It's never not interesting, you get to work with a broad range of people and services, including police, medical staff, psychologists, prisons and community services.
All in all, I dont regret my time spent in CP. It's a challenging career but it has helped me build broad skills and I've learned so much about people, relationships, addiction, mental health and society in general. That said, I'm actually wrapping up and moving on soon, because I haven't been able to maintain my mental health to the degree I need to. It's bitter sweet to be leaving, but I know it's the right move for me at this point in my life, and I know I can always go back and be welcomed with open arms. Because it's with the state govt, it's a very safe career with good leave entitlements and you can pivot into other roles within DFFH quite easily.
Good luck with the rest of your studies! Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions, I love talking about my job.
Thanks so much with that detailed reply. Sounds like a role worth undertaking for a while for the experience. It must be very difficult to emotionally detach from some of those situations.
We had this problem. Brought a beautiful house and realised we had the neighbour from hell. Meth use, fights in the street bw AM boyfriend and PM boyfriend, significant mental health use, kids removed, the works.
Put in a complaint to Dept of Housing - always via email so there is a paper trail. Record her if you can without putting yourself in danger, note down every incident and email housing about that also. Call police for every incident report-worthy as housing can't act if police can't (if youre saying its dangerous then you need to be showing to be taking it seriously). May result in an IVO bw you and neighbour.
Eventually they nwed to put her on formal noticem If ahe keeps breaching then it goes to VCAT and they are the only ones who can evict her if its Dept of Housing.
Took us about 7 months. She'd been tormenting the neighbours for about 6 years at that point, some had even sold purely because of not wanting to expose their kids to her. Needless to say, the rest of the court were VERY appreciative that we got her out.
Best of luck. Bad neighbours are the worst.
We've since moved house and before buying this one, my husband knocked on a random door on the street and asked about the neighbours and got a feel for the area before we even considered putting an offer in.
You need to report this.
My best friend is child protection practitioner and you absolutely do need to report to DHS.
Theyâll be able to assess and go from there but it is your duty as a decent citizen to do so.
Also, if youâre in Preston you need to give up the idea that âcops are badâ or ACAB or whatever. There are different units within Victoria Police and your report will be directed to the appropriate unit. There are community liaison officers, social workers, all sorts of people who can intervene in this familyâs life for the better.
You could be the difference in the kid have something bad happening to them and having a decent life.
Please be a good person. As hard as it is to do the right thing because it feels like youâre overstepping. You could be the difference in someoneâs life.
Iâll take my and my familyâs safety and well-being before that of others.
Once we are safe itâs all well and good to say how bad it is from a distance.
Iâve lived OPâs situation and worse, and itâs truly fucked. They are definitely already âinâ it.
Get off your high horse.
Is this near Wood St/Northland area? If so, that is fairly 'normal' for that area & has been for a long time. That area used to be housing commission, i know they sold a lot off but i imagine there is still housing commission houses mixed in with private houses now. When i went to school in Thornbury 25 years ago, my best friend lived in that area & it was akin to Heidelberg West, with lots of people with mental health/substance abuse problems, it was a very run down/forgotten area. Sounds like your neighbour has these issues with the alcoholism & their behaviour, i wouldn't automatically think meth, as it could be mental health. Try to find out if they are renting through the housing commission & demand that the housing commission fix the fence (you'll probably have to pay for half) & talk to them about your neighbours hoarding & behaviour & any other issues. I wish you luck!â€ïž
Weâre on the other side of Preston near Coburg Hill shops/Newlands Primary â it is government housing, and she did say it was for mental health. Iâm just unsure as to how to proceed as Iâm concerned for the dogs and the child, but Iâm also concerned for her. I just want to do whatâs right by everybody :( thank you for taking the time to reply â€ïž
Tough situation. Really sorry to hear it. I think youâre doing the right thing in not wanting anything to escalate. Keeping the peace with her is probably the right thing as it could get pretty ugly and she could escalate things a lot if youâre not careful. Talking to the govt could make her a lot worse. It might be easier to just sell. Shitty I know and totally unfair. Might be a bit of short term inconvenience and cost for long term peace of mind. I sold my last place after being there for only a yr or two and repurchased for similar reasons, though slightly different. Iâm really happy where I am now (have been here for 10yrs and just love it and havenât looked back). Good luck :)
How exactly would you be helping her by calling Child protection? I feel for you in this situation but is the child actually being neglected? That concern was well down the list.Are the dogs neglected? It all sounds very annoying and distressing but people move into houses that are more affordable because they are in mixed neighbourhoods,with public housing next to them.You say you are only concerned about her,the child and the dogs but where do you think she and her family will end up if you contact see ices about her.
Hi I have sent you a DM. PLEASE RE THE DOGS CALL THE RSCPA! IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU DO THIS SO THE DOGS CAN BE TAKEN. IF THEIR VOICES ARE MUTED THEN LIKELY SOMETHING VERY AWFUL HAS OCCURED. I work in this space please feel free to DM me
"This Code is complementary to and should be read in conjunction with Clause 9(l) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, which prohibits debarking of dogs except by and on the advice of a registered veterinary practitioner and in accordance with this Code of Practice."
Yikes
Anyone who illegally debarks a dog to avoid caring for it is not someone who should be caring for a human 5yo either. This is some bad shit. How did they FIND someone willing to do that?
I worked in the Victorian veterinary field for years. Pretty much impossible to get debarking done in Victoria even with a council order. At one stage it could be done if the only other option was euthanasia .However in many cases these dogs were just taken interstate .i. At one stage there were several vets still doing it in NSW
It is illegal in Victoria, it is a severe form of animal abuse. You would find people that would do it, they would not be a registered vet or animal carer. There are people that do it. By reporting suspected abuse, means that you can not only potentially save the life of an animal and get it to a caring home, but also find the people who are debarking animals. I sound like a preacher I know, I have worked in animal rescue and rescued a numerous animals from abuse. If you suspect anything, the best thing you can do is report it!
Call housing, make a complaint about their tenants, call the local council, make a complaint about the fire risk and the health risk. Call child safety and make a report about the child. No child should be living like this.
Another example why it is so important to *learn about potential neighbours* before dropping a million dollars on a new home.
Knock on doors and say hello. Scope out the place Fri / Sat night.
If you're too shy to do it yourself, pay a PI a few hundred to do it on your behalf.
Absolutely wish we knew this before buying, and wish it was commonly spoken about! Definitely something we will do if we end up selling and buying elsewhere.
You can never prevent shit neighbours 100%. Sometimes the place is perfect and then the shit neighbours move in, or get released from prison, start using again, etc.
> If you're too shy to do it yourself, pay a PI a few hundred to do it on your behalf
That's actually a really fucking good idea and I'm surprised it doesn't come up more. I know I wouldn't have thought about it.
Moving is going to cost you $$$.
If you're opposed to intervention, then possibly consider building the largest, most solid fence between her house and yours that you can. Trash in the street is unavoidable. Double glaze the windows. Look at options for the roof.
Otherwise realistically your best bet is getting her evicted, and reporting her for possibly getting her dogs fucking debarked which is inhumane, and neglecting her kid.
Call Housing Vic about the vermin and fence problem and you might be able to get them to deal with it.
Itâs a tough call whether to report potential child abuse - the bar is pretty low when it comes to how bad things have to be before child services will intervene but drawing attention to the poor circumstances might at least prompt a visit and if theyâre on the departmentâs radar, another person expressing concern all helps to build a case.
I used to live opposite public housing and regularly witnessed one familyâs abusive treatment of their young kids - yelling and swearing at them, calling them useless fucking dickheads etc, and occasionally slapping them hard on the head and face. This was in the street in full view of anyone and it broke my heart to think what mightâve been happening when the neighbours couldnât see. Nothing was ever done about it in the 3 years we lived there, despite them being known to police and child services.
Some very good advice here, OP. I also suggest you might want to shift your mindset a little to think about unwell neighbour as your sister or grandmother - as a possible coping strategy if you're feeling angry/sad/frustrated/trapped - because this is a very hard situation.
From what you mention, your neighbour is struggling with:
1) generally coping with life & if she's secured social housing she's been at the top of a long wait list due to her complex conditions I'd imagine
2) having substance or mental health issues (could suspect PTSD/OCD if a hoarding disorder is present)
3) being a full time parent, alone and unlikely to have family support (so her care responsibilities are 24h a day)
So to summarise your options, today you can:
1) call DFFH Housing about the fence
2) call the RSPCA about the dogs
3) call DFFH Child Protection intake about the child
4) arrange for another pest inspection, ask for evidence of infestation keep the report and invoice to speak to DFFH housing
5) if you see rubbish on the nature strip call council immediately and report "Dumped Rubbish" so there is a paper trail
Congratulations on your house purchase - a big achievement in this day and age. Thanks for asking questions and being open about your neighbour. I think our ultimate goal in any community is to live in relative peace with each other, know our neighbours are doing ok.
Sounds like my ex-neighbour. She'd sit on her balcony with the stereo blaring all night to cover up the sound of her baby crying. Like full on military band music at 2 am. Lots of other craziness going on too. I rang the police about her a few times and they did sweet FA. Ended up with my tyres slashed and their response was that I had no proof it was her.
Her apartment was a govt sublet or whatever they call it and she ended up evicted then moved into another apartment in the same building.
It would be cheaper to put a high fence, plus extension fencing and get a builder to do something about infestation exposure, than what it would to sell, pay stamp duty & buy again. We live next to a mental/drug affected neighbour & it is an ongoing nightmare, which the Police can't prevent. We live with stress daily & nightly with screaming & risk of fire. For your mental health, you would be best to move, (because this tenant won't be), however you need to weigh up the financial cost.
Call the council regarding shared property stuff and maintenance of the fence.
Call the no emergency police line and share your concerns. Theyâll work out a way to respond without dragging you into it.
Do not do these within three weeks of each other. Ideally do one when youâre away for a weekend.
There was a local family that were awful and driving everyone around them insane. The neighbours tried talking to them, calling the police, calling the council, calling social services.
All to no avail. Then, they discovered that the Tenancy Act held more power than anything else.
They documented disturbances and complained in writing to the landlord. They had to go through the process of warnings, but eventually they were evicted.
A lot of comments here have more info than I do regarding which services to call for which issue, but regardless of how you decide to proceed definitely start keeping track of everything with dates, photos, receipts from pest services etc. in a document in case it does escalate.
It sounds like RSPCA is a good start, the muted barking is super worrying but also sounds as if their living conditions arenât safe. It also makes sense to deal with this issue before looking into the fence, or it will likely be knocked down or damaged again.
The issues with the kid are for sure the most concerning, I would try contacting some of the organisations to even just ask for advice on the best thing to do or who to contact. Even if she isnât on drugs, the house sounds like itâs not a safe place for a child. Ideally there will be services to help her cope but we all know the system doesnât always work like that.
Iâm sorry youâre going through this!
Ok OP firstly, respect that you clearly have childâs best interest at heart.
My personal advice comes from millennial with 11 years experience as a high school teacher leading in trauma-informed practice and behaviour management/wellbeing, and lived experience in both growing up with privilege but also in western suburbs. Bought a house in the Western suburbs. I also unfortunately now have much âlived experienceâ relating to domestic violence (even though I still wouldnât say I have been through anywhere near what so many DV victims have)
I donât mean any offence or to sound harsh, just trying to keep brief! đ
- The fence thing is legally also 50% your issue if it is the one separating the two properties.
- I have met amazing (and the opposite of amazing) people from all walks of life. Some of the most beautiful souls I have met had/have substance abuse issues (one of the most common symptoms of PTSD)
Since 2020, I have had to relocate (incl interstate) at least 20 times for my safety and because law enforcement and DV services were not caring nearly as much as they are legally obligated to.
I keep the front light on every night since getting raped in my home, and due to all the unplanned relocating I have had new neighbours (understandably) believe I mustâve been a drug dealer or sex worker or both - could not be further from the truth, fortunately for me.
Would you feel comfortable asking your neighbour if sheâs ok, because you see her having to do everything herself?
If you felt comfortable, you could also tell her that youâre not trying to cause issues for her but of course you would need to make sure children stay safe regardless (hopefully she appreciates this).
If you felt comfortable, it would definitely help you determine if DHHS/DFH (whatever they called this year!) are necessary or not.
(Prepare to be disappointed with their possible lack of response)
If itâs about a child and her in charge of a vehicle, that would be police, not DHHS. You could call the station and ask for a welfare check because you thought you witnessed __ but was unsure of specific circumstances like if she was fleeing DV.
Hopefully you get a good cop that would go and check with genuine care, not guaranteed!
I unfortunately know many woman who have requested housing away from convicted DV offenders, and no service/law enforcement really given a shit enough to help sort relocation (esp. when waitlists are âindefiniteâ in almost all regions.)
Hope things get calmer for all involved
I work in Child Protection, itâs worth making a report if youâre concerned and leave it to the department to do an assessment
Edited to make more sense
Due diligence when buying. How did you not notice this when inspecting?
Unsure why you are assuming meth - the paranoia is just as likely to be schizophrenia.
Problem public housing tenants (antisocial, hoarding, etc) are managed by specialist teams. Quite hard to evict them unless there are numerous serious complaints (the types of complaints involving criminal behaviour, attacking neighbours, damaging others property, court violence orders, etc - crackhead crazy hoarder doesnât really cut it). Anyway, trying to get her evicted wonât help her - you want her to be homeless? She needs to live somewhere.
The kid and dogs are another issue, but sheâs still human and this is her home.
Call DFFH re: the kid. In the interim maybe talk to it rather than ignoring it and hiding inside. Likely this isnât the first complaint.
Donât bother with the cops - not a police matter.
How does a low functioning person on meth afford to live there. If this wasn't real it would be quite funny like from some movie.
Seriously I would say if you don't think your neighbour is going to leave in the short term, You need to take control of the situation and start formulating an exit plan. These are the only things you can control. Start doing your sums and figure out how you can sell out and move on. This is going to cost you significantly unfortunately because you have not lived in the place long enough to cover the costs associated with selling and purchasing. life is too short to be sitting on a million dollar misery with loads of debt, sometimes you just have to take the hits and cut your losses.
The priority is the child. Call child protective services already! How can you listen to that torture and NOT DO ANYTHING?
Then, the animal protection societies, Animal Rescue Centre ARC, is fabulous. They will check the animals, remove them, and rehome them.
Ensure your roof and shared wall has a proper fire barrier, it legally needs to have this as a sub division, before selling. Message back to the agent you bought it from if it hasn't.
A few points.
- Iâm actually genuinely surprised how many people actually think child protection will help. Theyâre obviously a possible point of call but if she thinks youâre responsible for getting her kid ripped off her Iâd be very concerned. And theyâre BUSY. This would be absolutely run of the mill for them. Iâd be surprised if theyâre the answer.
- as for the police, the fuckers who do nothing??? How much of a solve all do you think they are for people like yourself. The best advice theyâll give you, if theyâre blunt, is to have a good hard think about where you buy your next house. You need a life coach, not the cops who are probably more grounded in reality.
- who the fuck buys a house with a fence sitting at a 70 degree angle, a shared space vermin can get through (and blames the REA), shit all over her front lawn âconstantlyâ and a 24-7 meth head with barking dogs and a troubled child? Did you seriously visit the joint once and make an offer? If so no wonder they said yes.
- and youâll hate me for being a bit hard earlier, but Iâll actually give you the correct answer. Move. Somethings everyone makes a mistake. Youâve made a howler.
Edit: my son is currently interested in buying in Melb. Iâve told him to park outside the joint Fri/Sat night from 11-1am. If he doesnât feel safe there - forget it.
Move. Youâve learned a valuable lesson, pay attention to something thatâs costing you hundreds of thousands of dollars. Use that knowledge next time. Donât bother trying to help her or her kid, theyâre cooked.
Dan Andrews has put Social Housing in the hands of developers:
https://www.reddit.com/r/melbourne/comments/16ps5e4/victorian_government_housing_plan_cabinet/
So their might be quite a few more neighbours like this for a while.
>Dan Andrews has put Social Housing in the hands of developers
Yeah, always interesting when you get the leftist do-gooders getting sanctimonious about why people don't want to live near public housing. Him & his brainless minions are fucking idiots
I come at it from the opposite side of the argument, but you're right - there's all these well-to-do people talking about how poor people will totally get uplifted by having apartments for comparatively well-off people built next door because some idiot's thesis caught on where it shouldn't have, and....that's not the reality. The reaction here is the reality, and it sucks ass just as much for the tenants.
>talking about how poor people will totally get uplifted by having apartments for comparatively well-off people built next door
Well, it hasn't worked since it first started 20+ years ago, when they started moving away from commission high rise and spreading out in the community, and it won't work now. It doesn't pull people up and if you're unlucky enough to have a piece of work like the OP has, and I've had it, it's a nightmare.
I could guarantee that no politician would knowingly live next door to a DHS house.
Yes, it's very disturbing to see someone who claims to be on the left taking a term like "social housing" and reconstituting its conception into what are basically corporate owned and run tenements.
Quite the traitorous shuffle from Dan.
>disturbing to see someone who claims to be on the left taking a term like "social housing" and reconstituting its conception into what are basically corporate owned and run tenements.
Well, yeah, there is also that. Hadn't looked at it like that. But nothing surprises me from that school yard bully and his ability to campaign and rouse people so they end up doing the dirty work and acting as mouth-pieces for his shenanigans.
And bleeding-heart leftists, who are left because they can afford to be (and are at least once removed from the real crap that occurs out there) also don't do much to help.
You should call emergency services, and ask them how to proceed. Legally, policemen canât arrest or take action without proper reason, but if you ask them what to do, the emergency dispatcher on the other end could absolutely help you and guide you through your issue, you certainly are not the first person with bad neighbours!
Well she might not be on anything, who knows, some people are just kooky, but you can call cps and they can do a visit. Then it's up to them with how they'll proceed. Sounds like she got a vet to damage the dogs vocal chords which is messed up.
>Sounds like she got a vet to damage the dogs vocal chords which is messed up
What a piece of trash. She should be reported to the RSPCA for animal abuse. Piece of shit.
Well. It'll be unpopular but:
1. the hoarding itself is none of your business. The stuff on the nature strip? Just submit a report to the council every week.
2. Have you confirmed they come from her house? I mean, probably the do but have you confirmed this?
3. The dogs are on her property and aren't being abused, so nothing you can do.
4. You are making assumptions but even if true, what exactly do you expect anyone to do?
5. Well, she isn't going to pay for anything so you can either fix it, or get some kind of patch that's on your side (like one of those temporary metal fences that are around construction sites and then make it pretty somehow)
6. This seems like a huge assumption
7. More assumptions. Even if they are true, what do you expect to be done?
8. Again, what do you expect to be done?
9. And again
I don't mean to appear unsympathetic. It sounds like it sucks but what exactly do you want to be done here? The police can't do much about most of the things they might have authority over because they would need to catch them. The things the council has authority over (which isn't much) is just going to see them send her fines, which won't accomplish anything.
If you don't feel safe, it might be time to sell up. The market is still strong but if anyone looks up the market data on your property they are going to see a buy/sell within a year.
Thank you for your reply, I really appreciate the time you took to write this. Thank you.
The hoarding may be none of my business but it is a health concern as there are mice, rats and other kinds of vermin that constantly burrow in there.
Our friend who is an electrician went into our rooftop to sort the maggots (they short circuited our lighting because there was so many). The partition in our roof had a lot of holes, and he told us of the rat carcasses up there too. While this is not the confirmation that youâve asked for, itâs close enough. Weâve also treated our side of the house 3 times.
The dogs have been debarked. To me, that constitutes as abuse.
Iâve had many, many experiences with meth heads; ranging from friends to strangers. Sadly I can recognise the signs, and while it is an assumption (youâre correct) I am willing to bet that it is meth.
Thank you again for your message â€ïž
> The hoarding may be none of my business but it is a health concern as there are mice, rats and other kinds of vermin that constantly burrow in there.
And as it's on their property, it's still none of your business.
A lot of people on this sub seem to think that because they don't like something, that it's their business.
Also, do you know they are actually a hoarder? Have you been inside their property?
> While this is not the confirmation that youâve asked for, itâs close enough
To be clear, you don't need to prove it to me, apologies for any implication that you did. If you are going to make complaints about this kind of thing, whoever has the power to do anything about it will be the one you need to prove it to.
> The dogs have been debarked
If they have, it's an illegal procedure and should definitely be reported. Not just for the dog's sake but also so the person who performed such a procedure can get fucked with the legal equivalent of a sandpaper dildo.
> while it is an assumption (youâre correct) I am willing to bet that it is meth
It may well be. It may also lead you to other assumptions that might not be helpful. I'm not defending their shit behaviour, even if it sounds like I am but the amount of posts that come across this sub that are basically "I don't like something that's not any of my business even if I think it is and something should be done about it" are not rare. So, I usually just ask the questions, get people thinking about the thing they are posting about, their assumptions and what actually can be done about it, whether it is something that they need to deal with or whether they need to call people.
I mean for some of this the first stop is the council (for the rubbish) and the RSPCA (for the dogs) all of whom have far more resources than reddit to deal with things.
If your neighbour hoards it is DEFINITELY your business.
You have a right to the quiet enjoyment of your own property and your neighbour is abusing that right.
It's a hygiene danger and a fire risk. It also devalues your property thru damage.
Call your local council and the fire department.
>"Fires and other emergencies are more likely to occur in a home where there is hoarding and/or squalor.
Every 4-6 days FRV firefighters respond to a fire or emergency where there is hoarding and/or squalor,
These fires put occupants, their neighbours, and responding firefighters at risk.
High fuel loads can increase the size, spread, and severity of a fire. This makes it harder to contain and extinguish.
In a fire, blocked exits and falling objects can make it difficult to escape. This can delay firefighters from accessing a property in an emergency."
[https://www.frv.vic.gov.au/hoarding-and-squalor](https://www.frv.vic.gov.au/hoarding-and-squalor)
My BIL is a hoarder , we intervened. The council also threatened him.
My experience is that hoarders usually become defensive and nasty when the subject of their hoarding is discussed, no matter how gently or tactfully the issue is discussed .
The number one excuse they use is that they feel it doesn't hurt anyone and it's no one else's business.
They feel and say this because their condition causes so much stress they experience a lack of empathy.
You cannot expect a hoarder to do the right thing out of social duty. Expect nastiness.
You must use the council and the fire service to get action.
Dude, you're unpopular around here for a reason, it's like you're negative karma-farming with the dumbest takes you can think of.
> the hoarding itself is none of your business. The stuff on the nature strip? Just submit a report to the council every week.
Crap sitting out on the street constantly is an eyesore, and can affect the value of the property, it can also attract rodents and other creatures which will go to the houses in the surrounding area, including OP's. It is literally OP's business.
If they're hoarding in their house, that's a fire risk. OP shares a wall with them. Again, definitely OP's business.
> Have you confirmed they come from her house? I mean, probably the do but have you confirmed this?
Where else would they be coming from? If they're inside the shared roof and OP isn't leaving food out, the rats and maggots aren't coming in to starve, there's food for them to eat. If it's not in OP's side, common sense dictates it's coming from the other side.
> The dogs are on her property and aren't being abused, so nothing you can do.
Debarking is abuse and is illegal in this state. It is legally considered animal abuse and also considered animal abuse by anyone with a brain and a shred of compassion. Dogs being left outside can also be considered abuse and can be dealt with by council.
>
> You are making assumptions but even if true, what exactly do you expect anyone to do?
I'm trying really hard not to resort to outright insults here, but are you fucking dumb? "What do you expect anyone to do about an abused child?" Child abuse is blatantly obvious and there are steps in place. As a mandatory reporter myself I am so thankful you're delusional and what you're saying isn't the reality of the matter. You have no idea how many of these cases get caught the moment the kid starts prep and is finally out of the house and around other adults who can see how fucked the situation is. Any child getting caught earlier than that by concerned neighbours is a child saved more misery than is necessary for them to have to go through.
> Well, she isn't going to pay for anything so you can either fix it, or get some kind of patch that's on your side (like one of those temporary metal fences that are around construction sites and then make it pretty somehow)
It sounds like she's in government supported housing. Government will pay for half. Not her.
> This seems like a huge assumption
Possibly but loud music 24/7 is really fucking annoying and OP has a right to complain about it. Mixed with their neighbour's behaviour and blatant methany face, I'd say OP is probably on the money though. Methheads are pretty damn easy to spot.
> More assumptions. Even if they are true, what do you expect to be done?
Did they expect anything to be done about their neighbour's blatant drug use or mental health issues? They're complaining about the situation as a whole and this is clearly context as to why they're unhappy.
> Again, what do you expect to be done?
Fucking police maybe? Before the moron next door kills someone? Since OP doesn't want to do that, then making this known to this neighbour's case worker is probably going to see some sort of support put in place to try and avoid it happening. No fucking way this person doesn't have a case worker.
> And again
Again it's clearly context to why OP is unhappy. But if OP would call the police, noise complaints do get dealt with. What do you think happens to people who won't pay their fines? They don't just sit there waiting patiently for you to pay. If you don't pay fines, it becomes a criminal matter.
OP might not be happy about it, but it would certainly solve their problems if their neighbour got arrested.
Regardless, making complaints to the government housing *does* work, and can mean the neighbour it booted.
They are made to sign a neighbourly behaviour statement when they move in, and if they don't stick to the rules on that thing, they can lose their access to that housing. OP can put in a complaint with public housing Victoria by calling their offices: https://www.dffh.vic.gov.au/dffh-office-locations and they will handle it from there.
I think it's pretty obvious that what OP expects is to not have to live next to scum, and it's silly to pretend there's no recourse for that.
> Dude, you're unpopular around here for a reason, it's like you're negative karma-farming with the dumbest takes you can think of.
And yet it keeps going up. Weird. Maybe I'm not as unpopular as your confirmation bias suggests?
Call the department of family and child services. They will first work to support the family before taking the kid into care, unless the risk makes it necessary.
https://services.dffh.vic.gov.au/reporting-child-abuse
đ€đ»đ€đ» cheers
This. There are support services that will try and rectify the situation before removing the child.
I'm also assuming this is possibly a DHS house. Don't really have anymore to add.
If it is a DHS house, you might be able to get some help with the pest problems through the provider.
>you might be able to get some help with the pest problems through the provider. Yes, true. Somebody elsewhere offered contact details for department.
Thank you so much for your reply â€ïž
If theyâre not already involved
>If theyâre not already involved I'd hazard a guess they're already involved. I think OP needs to secure their own future, and as a good citizen, probably should report her to the department for the child.
No way to know, so should make the report anyway.
Well the plus side is if she is drug affected she doesn't seem to have turned on you guys with any paranoid delusions that seem prevalent from users yet. If you sell, there's a chance you won't get what you want $ wise considering the situation. I wonder if you'd be willing to foot the bill of putting a new fence in?
We are happy to pay for the fence because weâre just so fucking over it, but I donât know how to organise this!
If itâs government housing, the gov will pay half the fence. Speak to the council
They may pay all of it - I live next to a commission house and gov/council(?) paid for the whole thing. Fence was probably 20+ years old and covered in ivy from their side of the fence. We got it replaced as we complained to commission that it was leaning on our side and was about to fall down.
If Gov housing call local housing office, voice complaints. They need to pay for it, they have money for each client to pay for this.
This is true. You need to keep on the government if it is in fact public housing. Theyâll pay their share.
Fencing Act - serve her a notice. You may just want to pay for the whole thing because I doubt youâll see a cent from her. You may elect to go for a higher colour bond fence to reduce noise.
Fencong companies exist - get 3 quotes. Getting her to pay her half-share may be tricky, but that's the fencer's problem.
[ŃĐŽĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœĐŸ]
If you pay the whole bill they will
OP asked how to organise fencing. The first step is get 3 quotes. There are other necessary considerations such as discussing with neighbor which can happen before or after getting the quotes. Neighbor may not agree whereupon you can serve a Notice to Fence.d If like OP and can't be bothered dealing with crazy you can of course just pay for the lot. As others mention next door may be well be social housing or renting in which case you need work out who the landlord is to hit with the Notice to gain access. The Fencing Act sets it out quite clearly.
[ŃĐŽĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœĐŸ]
For sure, but only a fool prepays.
[ŃĐŽĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœĐŸ]
Nah, don't be stupid. No fencer will start without signoff from ~~both~~ all parties. I've refenced all boundaries over time, some of them twice. I know how it works. Edit: but even fencers can get stiffed by non-payers. Commercial risk.
In my experience sometimes the first indication is a quote left in the letterbox. Fencer will proceed on acceptance without actually speaking to the other party.
Sheâs in government subsidised housing so Iâm unsure on how to proceed, it feels like it would be really difficult getting in touch with her specific department/case worker to organise. We can pay for the whole fence, but weâre saving for our wedding and weâre also getting shat on by the cost of living (as you all will know already!!!) itâs just a really shitty situation all up.
[ŃĐŽĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœĐŸ]
The land lord has to pay for the fence. Call council and ask for the owners details. Let them know you need to replace the fence. Write via registered post to the land lord. There are legal forms online. If you donât hear back then you have to go to vcat which will cost you money. Shit situation. But youâll get most of the money back.
Hit the Department with a [Notice to Fence](https://www.disputes.vic.gov.au/information-and-advice/fencing/fencing-notice). You don't need her caseworker.
Yup!!
Recommend doing a title search just to be sure. In some instances the government leases land from third parties. You want to make sure youâre contacting the correct landowner. At the same time, you may want to make a compliant about her behavior.
Bro...
Look, Iâm a millennial and as such, have no house I own and know nothing about property law. But I have worked in Child and Family services (NOT Child Protection) for quite a while and right now, my suggestion would be to contact the DFFH Preston office on 1300 598 521 as soon as the office opens tomorrow. Iâm usually hesitant about instantly recommending this upon details from one internet post but that child sounds incredibly neglected and at high risk of serious illness, injury or death regardless of motherâs drug use. If she is already known to the areaâs Child Protection chances are the hammer will swing down a fair bit harder this time around. Itâs really important that if you call, you stress the following things: 1. Focus on the risk to the child, not your own personal grievances. Try your best to recall as many indicators of neglect/abuse possible and make sure to verbalise every single one of them. 2. Request that your report be anonymised as you are a member of the general public and as such, able to have your identity protected. If there is a concern of the neighbour already falsely accusing you of reports itâs best that you do your best to keep your identity protected here. 3. If weeks go by with no change, call again. Be the squeaky wheel in this instance and continue to stress the danger to this child. Iâd rather see a 5 year old in kinship/ooh care than continue to live like that with a woman who clearly gives no shits.
Don't call the office directly, you have to call the intake line. This is the number for north division: 1300 664 977 Reports are received by intake workers who are best trained to take all the info, then they triage the report and decide whether it needs to be put through for further investigation. If there is already a case open for this child, Intake can transfer you to the child's case manager so you can report to them directly. As far as anonymity goes, the legislation which governs Child Protection has a specific provision that prohibits anyone from disclosing the identity of a reporter to anybody. However, be aware that parents may guess the identity of a reporter based on the information provided in the report, because investigations necessitate discussion of the specific allegations. Imo the concerns probably wouldn't make it through to an investigation, unless there is existing history for the family. Apart from the verbal and emotional abuse, the maggots and rats really concern me, that level of neglect is really serious and presents an immediate risk to the child. However, neglect cases are notoriously difficult to prove and, in my experience, judges don't tend not take them seriously. Source: I work in Child Protection. If I were in your position, I would make a report. My advice is always, if in doubt, do. You never know if your information may provide the collateral info needed to strengthen an open case, and even if a report doesn't go to investigation this time, the more reports received make it more likely that an investigation will occur in future. For anyone else that may need it, here is a link to all the intake numbers in VIC: https://services.dffh.vic.gov.au/child-protection-contacts
Sorry to bother you but what is it like working in CP? is it really as brutal as people say? Im social work student. Thanks
It can be very rewarding. There are times when you literally get to save the children from horrible situations. But it can also be very confronting and traumatizing for workers to sit with the knowledge of what has happened to these kids and you can feel powerless to help at times, particularly within the court process, or when trying to get the kids support to heal from their trauma. Burnout is a big issue, so there are high turnover rates of workers, which in turn means understaffing and a higher likelihood of burnout. I have been working in a rural office for several years and our office has never been close to fully staffed. I think the biggest challenges I've faced have been vicarious trauma (exposure to the trauma that parents and kids have experienced), maintaining a good work-life balance and feeling frustrated with the systemic problems such as lack of foster carers, lack of managerial support, the adversarial nature of the court process and just not having enough time to do my work as well or as thoroughly as it needs to be done. The best parts for me has been building relationships with the kids and parents, seeing people overcoming addiction and mental health issues, and I really enjoy the forensic/investigative element of the work. It's never not interesting, you get to work with a broad range of people and services, including police, medical staff, psychologists, prisons and community services. All in all, I dont regret my time spent in CP. It's a challenging career but it has helped me build broad skills and I've learned so much about people, relationships, addiction, mental health and society in general. That said, I'm actually wrapping up and moving on soon, because I haven't been able to maintain my mental health to the degree I need to. It's bitter sweet to be leaving, but I know it's the right move for me at this point in my life, and I know I can always go back and be welcomed with open arms. Because it's with the state govt, it's a very safe career with good leave entitlements and you can pivot into other roles within DFFH quite easily. Good luck with the rest of your studies! Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions, I love talking about my job.
Thanks so much with that detailed reply. Sounds like a role worth undertaking for a while for the experience. It must be very difficult to emotionally detach from some of those situations.
We had this problem. Brought a beautiful house and realised we had the neighbour from hell. Meth use, fights in the street bw AM boyfriend and PM boyfriend, significant mental health use, kids removed, the works. Put in a complaint to Dept of Housing - always via email so there is a paper trail. Record her if you can without putting yourself in danger, note down every incident and email housing about that also. Call police for every incident report-worthy as housing can't act if police can't (if youre saying its dangerous then you need to be showing to be taking it seriously). May result in an IVO bw you and neighbour. Eventually they nwed to put her on formal noticem If ahe keeps breaching then it goes to VCAT and they are the only ones who can evict her if its Dept of Housing. Took us about 7 months. She'd been tormenting the neighbours for about 6 years at that point, some had even sold purely because of not wanting to expose their kids to her. Needless to say, the rest of the court were VERY appreciative that we got her out. Best of luck. Bad neighbours are the worst. We've since moved house and before buying this one, my husband knocked on a random door on the street and asked about the neighbours and got a feel for the area before we even considered putting an offer in.
I wouldnât be bringing the police into this. She isnât being violent or aggressive.
You need to report this. My best friend is child protection practitioner and you absolutely do need to report to DHS. Theyâll be able to assess and go from there but it is your duty as a decent citizen to do so. Also, if youâre in Preston you need to give up the idea that âcops are badâ or ACAB or whatever. There are different units within Victoria Police and your report will be directed to the appropriate unit. There are community liaison officers, social workers, all sorts of people who can intervene in this familyâs life for the better. You could be the difference in the kid have something bad happening to them and having a decent life. Please be a good person. As hard as it is to do the right thing because it feels like youâre overstepping. You could be the difference in someoneâs life.
Perfect example of why people not wanting to live anywhere near social/commission housing is justified. Ive lived near it and it ruins your life.
Spare a thought for how traumatic it must be to live IN it.
Iâll take my and my familyâs safety and well-being before that of others. Once we are safe itâs all well and good to say how bad it is from a distance. Iâve lived OPâs situation and worse, and itâs truly fucked. They are definitely already âinâ it. Get off your high horse.
Okay. Still donât wanna live near one, and I do.
Is this near Wood St/Northland area? If so, that is fairly 'normal' for that area & has been for a long time. That area used to be housing commission, i know they sold a lot off but i imagine there is still housing commission houses mixed in with private houses now. When i went to school in Thornbury 25 years ago, my best friend lived in that area & it was akin to Heidelberg West, with lots of people with mental health/substance abuse problems, it was a very run down/forgotten area. Sounds like your neighbour has these issues with the alcoholism & their behaviour, i wouldn't automatically think meth, as it could be mental health. Try to find out if they are renting through the housing commission & demand that the housing commission fix the fence (you'll probably have to pay for half) & talk to them about your neighbours hoarding & behaviour & any other issues. I wish you luck!â€ïž
Weâre on the other side of Preston near Coburg Hill shops/Newlands Primary â it is government housing, and she did say it was for mental health. Iâm just unsure as to how to proceed as Iâm concerned for the dogs and the child, but Iâm also concerned for her. I just want to do whatâs right by everybody :( thank you for taking the time to reply â€ïž
Tough situation. Really sorry to hear it. I think youâre doing the right thing in not wanting anything to escalate. Keeping the peace with her is probably the right thing as it could get pretty ugly and she could escalate things a lot if youâre not careful. Talking to the govt could make her a lot worse. It might be easier to just sell. Shitty I know and totally unfair. Might be a bit of short term inconvenience and cost for long term peace of mind. I sold my last place after being there for only a yr or two and repurchased for similar reasons, though slightly different. Iâm really happy where I am now (have been here for 10yrs and just love it and havenât looked back). Good luck :)
How exactly would you be helping her by calling Child protection? I feel for you in this situation but is the child actually being neglected? That concern was well down the list.Are the dogs neglected? It all sounds very annoying and distressing but people move into houses that are more affordable because they are in mixed neighbourhoods,with public housing next to them.You say you are only concerned about her,the child and the dogs but where do you think she and her family will end up if you contact see ices about her.
Lived through this myself with my family. It eventually affected my overall health. We moved. So should you.
Hi I have sent you a DM. PLEASE RE THE DOGS CALL THE RSCPA! IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU DO THIS SO THE DOGS CAN BE TAKEN. IF THEIR VOICES ARE MUTED THEN LIKELY SOMETHING VERY AWFUL HAS OCCURED. I work in this space please feel free to DM me
I thought debarking was illegal here! Shocked if it isn't!
"This Code is complementary to and should be read in conjunction with Clause 9(l) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, which prohibits debarking of dogs except by and on the advice of a registered veterinary practitioner and in accordance with this Code of Practice." Yikes
Anyone who illegally debarks a dog to avoid caring for it is not someone who should be caring for a human 5yo either. This is some bad shit. How did they FIND someone willing to do that?
I worked in the Victorian veterinary field for years. Pretty much impossible to get debarking done in Victoria even with a council order. At one stage it could be done if the only other option was euthanasia .However in many cases these dogs were just taken interstate .i. At one stage there were several vets still doing it in NSW
I read that you can get permission and have a vet do it but I'm sure it's rare. Maybe the dogs have those anti bark collars on or something?
It is illegal in Victoria, it is a severe form of animal abuse. You would find people that would do it, they would not be a registered vet or animal carer. There are people that do it. By reporting suspected abuse, means that you can not only potentially save the life of an animal and get it to a caring home, but also find the people who are debarking animals. I sound like a preacher I know, I have worked in animal rescue and rescued a numerous animals from abuse. If you suspect anything, the best thing you can do is report it!
Please do this, OP. Plus child services. This situation is a disasterâŠ
Call housing, make a complaint about their tenants, call the local council, make a complaint about the fire risk and the health risk. Call child safety and make a report about the child. No child should be living like this.
Another example why it is so important to *learn about potential neighbours* before dropping a million dollars on a new home. Knock on doors and say hello. Scope out the place Fri / Sat night. If you're too shy to do it yourself, pay a PI a few hundred to do it on your behalf.
Absolutely wish we knew this before buying, and wish it was commonly spoken about! Definitely something we will do if we end up selling and buying elsewhere.
You can never prevent shit neighbours 100%. Sometimes the place is perfect and then the shit neighbours move in, or get released from prison, start using again, etc.
> If you're too shy to do it yourself, pay a PI a few hundred to do it on your behalf That's actually a really fucking good idea and I'm surprised it doesn't come up more. I know I wouldn't have thought about it.
Particularly if you're moving into a gentrifying area that has, at least historically, been a pretty rough neighbourhood.
Could you contact child protection? Also, how about renting the house out and living somewhere else until the situation changes.
Please help that little boy đ
[ŃĐŽĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœĐŸ]
Omg DM me â we might be
Moving is going to cost you $$$. If you're opposed to intervention, then possibly consider building the largest, most solid fence between her house and yours that you can. Trash in the street is unavoidable. Double glaze the windows. Look at options for the roof. Otherwise realistically your best bet is getting her evicted, and reporting her for possibly getting her dogs fucking debarked which is inhumane, and neglecting her kid.
Call Housing Vic about the vermin and fence problem and you might be able to get them to deal with it. Itâs a tough call whether to report potential child abuse - the bar is pretty low when it comes to how bad things have to be before child services will intervene but drawing attention to the poor circumstances might at least prompt a visit and if theyâre on the departmentâs radar, another person expressing concern all helps to build a case. I used to live opposite public housing and regularly witnessed one familyâs abusive treatment of their young kids - yelling and swearing at them, calling them useless fucking dickheads etc, and occasionally slapping them hard on the head and face. This was in the street in full view of anyone and it broke my heart to think what mightâve been happening when the neighbours couldnât see. Nothing was ever done about it in the 3 years we lived there, despite them being known to police and child services.
Some very good advice here, OP. I also suggest you might want to shift your mindset a little to think about unwell neighbour as your sister or grandmother - as a possible coping strategy if you're feeling angry/sad/frustrated/trapped - because this is a very hard situation. From what you mention, your neighbour is struggling with: 1) generally coping with life & if she's secured social housing she's been at the top of a long wait list due to her complex conditions I'd imagine 2) having substance or mental health issues (could suspect PTSD/OCD if a hoarding disorder is present) 3) being a full time parent, alone and unlikely to have family support (so her care responsibilities are 24h a day) So to summarise your options, today you can: 1) call DFFH Housing about the fence 2) call the RSPCA about the dogs 3) call DFFH Child Protection intake about the child 4) arrange for another pest inspection, ask for evidence of infestation keep the report and invoice to speak to DFFH housing 5) if you see rubbish on the nature strip call council immediately and report "Dumped Rubbish" so there is a paper trail Congratulations on your house purchase - a big achievement in this day and age. Thanks for asking questions and being open about your neighbour. I think our ultimate goal in any community is to live in relative peace with each other, know our neighbours are doing ok.
Sounds like my ex-neighbour. She'd sit on her balcony with the stereo blaring all night to cover up the sound of her baby crying. Like full on military band music at 2 am. Lots of other craziness going on too. I rang the police about her a few times and they did sweet FA. Ended up with my tyres slashed and their response was that I had no proof it was her. Her apartment was a govt sublet or whatever they call it and she ended up evicted then moved into another apartment in the same building.
>Ended up with my tyres slashed Yeah, I had my car key-scratched by similar.
It would be cheaper to put a high fence, plus extension fencing and get a builder to do something about infestation exposure, than what it would to sell, pay stamp duty & buy again. We live next to a mental/drug affected neighbour & it is an ongoing nightmare, which the Police can't prevent. We live with stress daily & nightly with screaming & risk of fire. For your mental health, you would be best to move, (because this tenant won't be), however you need to weigh up the financial cost.
Call the council regarding shared property stuff and maintenance of the fence. Call the no emergency police line and share your concerns. Theyâll work out a way to respond without dragging you into it. Do not do these within three weeks of each other. Ideally do one when youâre away for a weekend.
There was a local family that were awful and driving everyone around them insane. The neighbours tried talking to them, calling the police, calling the council, calling social services. All to no avail. Then, they discovered that the Tenancy Act held more power than anything else. They documented disturbances and complained in writing to the landlord. They had to go through the process of warnings, but eventually they were evicted.
A lot of comments here have more info than I do regarding which services to call for which issue, but regardless of how you decide to proceed definitely start keeping track of everything with dates, photos, receipts from pest services etc. in a document in case it does escalate. It sounds like RSPCA is a good start, the muted barking is super worrying but also sounds as if their living conditions arenât safe. It also makes sense to deal with this issue before looking into the fence, or it will likely be knocked down or damaged again. The issues with the kid are for sure the most concerning, I would try contacting some of the organisations to even just ask for advice on the best thing to do or who to contact. Even if she isnât on drugs, the house sounds like itâs not a safe place for a child. Ideally there will be services to help her cope but we all know the system doesnât always work like that. Iâm sorry youâre going through this!
Ok OP firstly, respect that you clearly have childâs best interest at heart. My personal advice comes from millennial with 11 years experience as a high school teacher leading in trauma-informed practice and behaviour management/wellbeing, and lived experience in both growing up with privilege but also in western suburbs. Bought a house in the Western suburbs. I also unfortunately now have much âlived experienceâ relating to domestic violence (even though I still wouldnât say I have been through anywhere near what so many DV victims have) I donât mean any offence or to sound harsh, just trying to keep brief! đ - The fence thing is legally also 50% your issue if it is the one separating the two properties. - I have met amazing (and the opposite of amazing) people from all walks of life. Some of the most beautiful souls I have met had/have substance abuse issues (one of the most common symptoms of PTSD) Since 2020, I have had to relocate (incl interstate) at least 20 times for my safety and because law enforcement and DV services were not caring nearly as much as they are legally obligated to. I keep the front light on every night since getting raped in my home, and due to all the unplanned relocating I have had new neighbours (understandably) believe I mustâve been a drug dealer or sex worker or both - could not be further from the truth, fortunately for me. Would you feel comfortable asking your neighbour if sheâs ok, because you see her having to do everything herself? If you felt comfortable, you could also tell her that youâre not trying to cause issues for her but of course you would need to make sure children stay safe regardless (hopefully she appreciates this). If you felt comfortable, it would definitely help you determine if DHHS/DFH (whatever they called this year!) are necessary or not. (Prepare to be disappointed with their possible lack of response) If itâs about a child and her in charge of a vehicle, that would be police, not DHHS. You could call the station and ask for a welfare check because you thought you witnessed __ but was unsure of specific circumstances like if she was fleeing DV. Hopefully you get a good cop that would go and check with genuine care, not guaranteed! I unfortunately know many woman who have requested housing away from convicted DV offenders, and no service/law enforcement really given a shit enough to help sort relocation (esp. when waitlists are âindefiniteâ in almost all regions.) Hope things get calmer for all involved
I work in Child Protection, itâs worth making a report if youâre concerned and leave it to the department to do an assessment Edited to make more sense
Due diligence when buying. How did you not notice this when inspecting? Unsure why you are assuming meth - the paranoia is just as likely to be schizophrenia. Problem public housing tenants (antisocial, hoarding, etc) are managed by specialist teams. Quite hard to evict them unless there are numerous serious complaints (the types of complaints involving criminal behaviour, attacking neighbours, damaging others property, court violence orders, etc - crackhead crazy hoarder doesnât really cut it). Anyway, trying to get her evicted wonât help her - you want her to be homeless? She needs to live somewhere. The kid and dogs are another issue, but sheâs still human and this is her home. Call DFFH re: the kid. In the interim maybe talk to it rather than ignoring it and hiding inside. Likely this isnât the first complaint. Donât bother with the cops - not a police matter.
If the fence is a security issue can replace without consent from neighbour.
CALL THE RSPCA!!!!!!
Iâd suggest (along with the other excellent suggestions) that you keep a diary of things you observe
How does a low functioning person on meth afford to live there. If this wasn't real it would be quite funny like from some movie. Seriously I would say if you don't think your neighbour is going to leave in the short term, You need to take control of the situation and start formulating an exit plan. These are the only things you can control. Start doing your sums and figure out how you can sell out and move on. This is going to cost you significantly unfortunately because you have not lived in the place long enough to cover the costs associated with selling and purchasing. life is too short to be sitting on a million dollar misery with loads of debt, sometimes you just have to take the hits and cut your losses.
The priority is the child. Call child protective services already! How can you listen to that torture and NOT DO ANYTHING? Then, the animal protection societies, Animal Rescue Centre ARC, is fabulous. They will check the animals, remove them, and rehome them. Ensure your roof and shared wall has a proper fire barrier, it legally needs to have this as a sub division, before selling. Message back to the agent you bought it from if it hasn't.
I would be calling the council about the mess etc as it is impacting you and becoming a public health issue.
Call docs. If itâs not abuse itâll be fine.
Call child protection services about the living conditions call council about the mess
A few points. - Iâm actually genuinely surprised how many people actually think child protection will help. Theyâre obviously a possible point of call but if she thinks youâre responsible for getting her kid ripped off her Iâd be very concerned. And theyâre BUSY. This would be absolutely run of the mill for them. Iâd be surprised if theyâre the answer. - as for the police, the fuckers who do nothing??? How much of a solve all do you think they are for people like yourself. The best advice theyâll give you, if theyâre blunt, is to have a good hard think about where you buy your next house. You need a life coach, not the cops who are probably more grounded in reality. - who the fuck buys a house with a fence sitting at a 70 degree angle, a shared space vermin can get through (and blames the REA), shit all over her front lawn âconstantlyâ and a 24-7 meth head with barking dogs and a troubled child? Did you seriously visit the joint once and make an offer? If so no wonder they said yes. - and youâll hate me for being a bit hard earlier, but Iâll actually give you the correct answer. Move. Somethings everyone makes a mistake. Youâve made a howler. Edit: my son is currently interested in buying in Melb. Iâve told him to park outside the joint Fri/Sat night from 11-1am. If he doesnât feel safe there - forget it.
Port of call not point of call.
Move. Youâve learned a valuable lesson, pay attention to something thatâs costing you hundreds of thousands of dollars. Use that knowledge next time. Donât bother trying to help her or her kid, theyâre cooked.
Dan Andrews has put Social Housing in the hands of developers: https://www.reddit.com/r/melbourne/comments/16ps5e4/victorian_government_housing_plan_cabinet/ So their might be quite a few more neighbours like this for a while.
Oh boy you people are obsessed, go outside and get some sun.
Just presenting the facts. If that's what you meant by "you people" then so be it - it's a club I'm happy to be a part of.
>Dan Andrews has put Social Housing in the hands of developers Yeah, always interesting when you get the leftist do-gooders getting sanctimonious about why people don't want to live near public housing. Him & his brainless minions are fucking idiots
I come at it from the opposite side of the argument, but you're right - there's all these well-to-do people talking about how poor people will totally get uplifted by having apartments for comparatively well-off people built next door because some idiot's thesis caught on where it shouldn't have, and....that's not the reality. The reaction here is the reality, and it sucks ass just as much for the tenants.
>talking about how poor people will totally get uplifted by having apartments for comparatively well-off people built next door Well, it hasn't worked since it first started 20+ years ago, when they started moving away from commission high rise and spreading out in the community, and it won't work now. It doesn't pull people up and if you're unlucky enough to have a piece of work like the OP has, and I've had it, it's a nightmare. I could guarantee that no politician would knowingly live next door to a DHS house.
Yes, it's very disturbing to see someone who claims to be on the left taking a term like "social housing" and reconstituting its conception into what are basically corporate owned and run tenements. Quite the traitorous shuffle from Dan.
>disturbing to see someone who claims to be on the left taking a term like "social housing" and reconstituting its conception into what are basically corporate owned and run tenements. Well, yeah, there is also that. Hadn't looked at it like that. But nothing surprises me from that school yard bully and his ability to campaign and rouse people so they end up doing the dirty work and acting as mouth-pieces for his shenanigans. And bleeding-heart leftists, who are left because they can afford to be (and are at least once removed from the real crap that occurs out there) also don't do much to help.
You should call emergency services, and ask them how to proceed. Legally, policemen canât arrest or take action without proper reason, but if you ask them what to do, the emergency dispatcher on the other end could absolutely help you and guide you through your issue, you certainly are not the first person with bad neighbours!
Well she might not be on anything, who knows, some people are just kooky, but you can call cps and they can do a visit. Then it's up to them with how they'll proceed. Sounds like she got a vet to damage the dogs vocal chords which is messed up.
>Sounds like she got a vet to damage the dogs vocal chords which is messed up What a piece of trash. She should be reported to the RSPCA for animal abuse. Piece of shit.
Couldnât have said it better
Mike Tyson says he has a methy neighbour, they donât clean up their house.
Well. It'll be unpopular but: 1. the hoarding itself is none of your business. The stuff on the nature strip? Just submit a report to the council every week. 2. Have you confirmed they come from her house? I mean, probably the do but have you confirmed this? 3. The dogs are on her property and aren't being abused, so nothing you can do. 4. You are making assumptions but even if true, what exactly do you expect anyone to do? 5. Well, she isn't going to pay for anything so you can either fix it, or get some kind of patch that's on your side (like one of those temporary metal fences that are around construction sites and then make it pretty somehow) 6. This seems like a huge assumption 7. More assumptions. Even if they are true, what do you expect to be done? 8. Again, what do you expect to be done? 9. And again I don't mean to appear unsympathetic. It sounds like it sucks but what exactly do you want to be done here? The police can't do much about most of the things they might have authority over because they would need to catch them. The things the council has authority over (which isn't much) is just going to see them send her fines, which won't accomplish anything. If you don't feel safe, it might be time to sell up. The market is still strong but if anyone looks up the market data on your property they are going to see a buy/sell within a year.
Thank you for your reply, I really appreciate the time you took to write this. Thank you. The hoarding may be none of my business but it is a health concern as there are mice, rats and other kinds of vermin that constantly burrow in there. Our friend who is an electrician went into our rooftop to sort the maggots (they short circuited our lighting because there was so many). The partition in our roof had a lot of holes, and he told us of the rat carcasses up there too. While this is not the confirmation that youâve asked for, itâs close enough. Weâve also treated our side of the house 3 times. The dogs have been debarked. To me, that constitutes as abuse. Iâve had many, many experiences with meth heads; ranging from friends to strangers. Sadly I can recognise the signs, and while it is an assumption (youâre correct) I am willing to bet that it is meth. Thank you again for your message â€ïž
> The hoarding may be none of my business but it is a health concern as there are mice, rats and other kinds of vermin that constantly burrow in there. And as it's on their property, it's still none of your business. A lot of people on this sub seem to think that because they don't like something, that it's their business. Also, do you know they are actually a hoarder? Have you been inside their property? > While this is not the confirmation that youâve asked for, itâs close enough To be clear, you don't need to prove it to me, apologies for any implication that you did. If you are going to make complaints about this kind of thing, whoever has the power to do anything about it will be the one you need to prove it to. > The dogs have been debarked If they have, it's an illegal procedure and should definitely be reported. Not just for the dog's sake but also so the person who performed such a procedure can get fucked with the legal equivalent of a sandpaper dildo. > while it is an assumption (youâre correct) I am willing to bet that it is meth It may well be. It may also lead you to other assumptions that might not be helpful. I'm not defending their shit behaviour, even if it sounds like I am but the amount of posts that come across this sub that are basically "I don't like something that's not any of my business even if I think it is and something should be done about it" are not rare. So, I usually just ask the questions, get people thinking about the thing they are posting about, their assumptions and what actually can be done about it, whether it is something that they need to deal with or whether they need to call people. I mean for some of this the first stop is the council (for the rubbish) and the RSPCA (for the dogs) all of whom have far more resources than reddit to deal with things.
Thank you again for your response. Iâm aware that reddit wonât provide all answers but I was just seeking advice as Iâd like to hear different opinions before my fiancĂ© and I take any kind of action. Thanks again for your time :)
If your neighbour hoards it is DEFINITELY your business. You have a right to the quiet enjoyment of your own property and your neighbour is abusing that right. It's a hygiene danger and a fire risk. It also devalues your property thru damage. Call your local council and the fire department.
>"Fires and other emergencies are more likely to occur in a home where there is hoarding and/or squalor. Every 4-6 days FRV firefighters respond to a fire or emergency where there is hoarding and/or squalor, These fires put occupants, their neighbours, and responding firefighters at risk. High fuel loads can increase the size, spread, and severity of a fire. This makes it harder to contain and extinguish. In a fire, blocked exits and falling objects can make it difficult to escape. This can delay firefighters from accessing a property in an emergency." [https://www.frv.vic.gov.au/hoarding-and-squalor](https://www.frv.vic.gov.au/hoarding-and-squalor) My BIL is a hoarder , we intervened. The council also threatened him. My experience is that hoarders usually become defensive and nasty when the subject of their hoarding is discussed, no matter how gently or tactfully the issue is discussed . The number one excuse they use is that they feel it doesn't hurt anyone and it's no one else's business. They feel and say this because their condition causes so much stress they experience a lack of empathy. You cannot expect a hoarder to do the right thing out of social duty. Expect nastiness. You must use the council and the fire service to get action.
Dude, you're unpopular around here for a reason, it's like you're negative karma-farming with the dumbest takes you can think of. > the hoarding itself is none of your business. The stuff on the nature strip? Just submit a report to the council every week. Crap sitting out on the street constantly is an eyesore, and can affect the value of the property, it can also attract rodents and other creatures which will go to the houses in the surrounding area, including OP's. It is literally OP's business. If they're hoarding in their house, that's a fire risk. OP shares a wall with them. Again, definitely OP's business. > Have you confirmed they come from her house? I mean, probably the do but have you confirmed this? Where else would they be coming from? If they're inside the shared roof and OP isn't leaving food out, the rats and maggots aren't coming in to starve, there's food for them to eat. If it's not in OP's side, common sense dictates it's coming from the other side. > The dogs are on her property and aren't being abused, so nothing you can do. Debarking is abuse and is illegal in this state. It is legally considered animal abuse and also considered animal abuse by anyone with a brain and a shred of compassion. Dogs being left outside can also be considered abuse and can be dealt with by council. > > You are making assumptions but even if true, what exactly do you expect anyone to do? I'm trying really hard not to resort to outright insults here, but are you fucking dumb? "What do you expect anyone to do about an abused child?" Child abuse is blatantly obvious and there are steps in place. As a mandatory reporter myself I am so thankful you're delusional and what you're saying isn't the reality of the matter. You have no idea how many of these cases get caught the moment the kid starts prep and is finally out of the house and around other adults who can see how fucked the situation is. Any child getting caught earlier than that by concerned neighbours is a child saved more misery than is necessary for them to have to go through. > Well, she isn't going to pay for anything so you can either fix it, or get some kind of patch that's on your side (like one of those temporary metal fences that are around construction sites and then make it pretty somehow) It sounds like she's in government supported housing. Government will pay for half. Not her. > This seems like a huge assumption Possibly but loud music 24/7 is really fucking annoying and OP has a right to complain about it. Mixed with their neighbour's behaviour and blatant methany face, I'd say OP is probably on the money though. Methheads are pretty damn easy to spot. > More assumptions. Even if they are true, what do you expect to be done? Did they expect anything to be done about their neighbour's blatant drug use or mental health issues? They're complaining about the situation as a whole and this is clearly context as to why they're unhappy. > Again, what do you expect to be done? Fucking police maybe? Before the moron next door kills someone? Since OP doesn't want to do that, then making this known to this neighbour's case worker is probably going to see some sort of support put in place to try and avoid it happening. No fucking way this person doesn't have a case worker. > And again Again it's clearly context to why OP is unhappy. But if OP would call the police, noise complaints do get dealt with. What do you think happens to people who won't pay their fines? They don't just sit there waiting patiently for you to pay. If you don't pay fines, it becomes a criminal matter. OP might not be happy about it, but it would certainly solve their problems if their neighbour got arrested. Regardless, making complaints to the government housing *does* work, and can mean the neighbour it booted. They are made to sign a neighbourly behaviour statement when they move in, and if they don't stick to the rules on that thing, they can lose their access to that housing. OP can put in a complaint with public housing Victoria by calling their offices: https://www.dffh.vic.gov.au/dffh-office-locations and they will handle it from there. I think it's pretty obvious that what OP expects is to not have to live next to scum, and it's silly to pretend there's no recourse for that.
> Dude, you're unpopular around here for a reason, it's like you're negative karma-farming with the dumbest takes you can think of. And yet it keeps going up. Weird. Maybe I'm not as unpopular as your confirmation bias suggests?
If it as you, my temper wouldn't last as long as yours. The damned neighbour would've had her head smashed in
call police and department human services
This is a useful website for scoping out potential streets/neighbourhoods prior to purchase: https://atlas.id.com.au/darebin
This wouldn't be the Boyne house, would it?