We live on the 2nd floor above one neighbour in the fine
greenery of the condominium called Maplewoods. We have lived here
since April 18th 2008. Since the day that we have moved in, we have
been harassed by the neighbour at #01, who consistently knock on
the ceiling while we are carrying out our daily living. Knocking
that is vigourous and continuous which can be heard clearly in B1
carpark, throughout the entire carpark. Unfortunately, the ceilings
at our building is somewhat hollow because I can hear the
neighbours upstairs. But the noise is not over bearing.
At the beginning, neighbour wife send the security over to our home
on a daily basis - up to 5 times a day. And I mean EVERY SINGLE
DAY. During this tme, we got very upset to the point that we gave
our name cards to the security office, because we wanted to call us
directly instead of sending security to our home while we were at
work. She would constantly come to our home and insulted our guests
(children) as they came over or were leaving our home. She
constantly spied at our place. We had made police reports, called
the police several times. We also visite the management office, and
security office very often. The management office was manged by a
manager - who balantly told us that management WILL NOT get
involved. Police told us they will not get involved and it is the
management of the condominium's job. Finally, we wrote a letter
appealing to the chariman of Maplewoods commitee but the manager
wrote a letter to us to inform that as tenants we had no rights.
After many pleas - the landlord had somehow managed to stop the
guards coming up to our home. That took 6 months. The knocking did
not stop - it continues on a daily basis and may last for
hours.
All we spoken to have acknowledged that both husband and wife have
been living there for the past 12 years, and have caused trouble to
the neighbour who lives above them, and also to the neighbours who
live next to them and other neighbours around them. A few of the
many incidents include the following: Wife will complain about
children playing quietly 200 m from her doorstep in mid afternoon,
demanding that people do not talk at the lift landing, which is at
least 75m from her door in daytime. She has complained against us
making noise when there was no one home, and by unbearable noise,
means accidentally dropping a remote control - when my baby was
learning to crawl and hit his head on the floor - and by my now
toddler running across the hall. She has also harassed the
neighbours on the 4th floor for making noise. Both husband and wife
would have terrible fighting marathrons which lasted several hours
and sometimes through the night, only to begin at 7am in the
morning. Our neighbour next door would knock on our door and ask
whether we should call the police - and also told us it has been
happening since they have moved in. Obviously, this couple have
huge issues, but it is not my concern - I am not judging
them.
Things escalated last year in December when my two year old son ran
across the corridor and the knocking ensued once again at 8am in
the morning. During that time, we had been so angered that after 3
hours of knocking - we poured water at their door. Both husband and
wife came out (finally), and screamed for us to go downstairs -
calling us names and provoking us. My husband went down and husband
- neighbour was armed with his camera and tauting him to approach.
When my husband approached, he kicked my husband. My husband
reacted in defense and backed off after 2 minutes and came back
upstairs. As all parties were heated, there was name-calling and
screaming at both sides. We regret that we had finally let them get
to us, and had spoilt our entire weekend. When the police later
arrived - he informed us that it is not a criminal case, and we
told them upfront that we will not be pursuing the case. They told
us they would follow up and get back to us - again,
no follow-up and no calls.
A month later, we received a letter saying that the neighbours
made a magsitrate's compliant against my husband saying that my
husband had attacked them and conintually punched the wife. This is
entirely untrue, as my husband NEVER laid on the wife. After we
received the letter from the surbodinate court, we went to the
police station and tried to speak to the officer in charge and was
again plainly told that he could not help nor advise. Again, it is
some other department's matter- a magistrate's matter. Then we
went to the surbodinate court and wrote down a 4 page letter
explaining he aggravation throughout our time at our rented home
and the fact that we did regret the day that we had a face to face
confrontation. We also provided emails from agents and landlords,
police reports, and letters from the managament.
Yesterday was the mediation session, and during the hearing in
front of the magistrate, my husband wanted to offer a quick apology
and head off and leave this unpleasant incident behind. However,
both husband and wife were constantly shouting and threw ridiculous
accusations at my husband - demanding that they wanted $10K
compensation, and that we never made noise again. They claimed that
we had parties every night until 5am, to which my husband calmly
denied. The magistrate had to remind the couple a few times not to
interrupt and to not speak to my husband directly. At the
end, he asked my husband whether he was willing to offer an
apology. My husband was willing to apologize nonetheless
because he wanted this whole incident to be forgotten. The
magistrate also told my husband that he was liable for the
maximum jail time of 1 year and/or $3000 fine. I was waiting for my
husband in the car and when he finally joined me, he was shaken. I
went into the surbodinate court reception and clarified what
happened. The lady at the reception was very kind and went to the
magistrate and clarified before returning to me and now said that
they have turned and wanted my particulars for mediation. My
question is - just because we are not the complianants does not
mean we are not the victims. The magistrate only asked my husband
to apologize and whether my husband was willing to compensate them
$10K. He did not ask the husband who had kicked my husband - a
fact presented to the magistrate beforehand whether HE wanted
to apologize. Both husband and wife claimed that they were
traumatized - by their yelling and threatening - does the
magistrate not recognize that traumatized people do not act this
way??? Does the magistrate not recognise that this couple are the
nuisance??? We do not want any apology and just want to live out
our lease in peace. When I say in peace, I mean to not go back to
the surbodinate court and be subjected to accusations and lies and
being judged by the magistrate (because we are the respondents that
we are criminals). And oh yes, they are still knocking. I come home
and walk through the corridor with my heels and they start
knocking. #3 floor drags furniture while we are all sitted on the
sofa, they knock. We have suffered enough and want to start our
home and life anew when we move out. I am wondering where is the
justice!!!
I am personally appalled at the lack of help from all parties.
Everyone whom I seek help or advice from - police, management, my
agent, landlord, and even 3 lawyers - agree and even sympatize with
our situation. Bottom line is we were informed that nothing could
be done. PURE INDIFFERENCE. The management has constantly pushed
off the responsibility and we were basically told that we had no
rights because we were merely tenants. After speaking to various
people, I feel that it is simply not right that such un-neighbourly
behavior can be tolerated - and even condoned by others in evidence
of their unwillingness to help or their fear of involvement, and
basically being told that we have no choice but to endure. We were
even told that we can equally make complaints against our neighbour
and they will give us the same treatment. As such, I believe that
it is unfair and bringing across the wrong message. Does that mean
that only those who make the loudest noise and scream and threaten
get the most attention, whist the ones who are truly victims like
ourselves and do not want to trouble others much, get
discredited?
My point is this - obivously the neighbours at #1 who has been this
"un-neighbourly" are unlikely to change - but shouldn't the law or
whoever is in charge do something about this? By in-action, it is
condoning that their actions are right. We are in the process of
writing to the MP to request the Maplewoods management manage
this situation better. It is not for us anymore - it is in the name
of right and wrong.
Everything that I have said is the absolute truth - and may be
substantiated.
