Tips on dealing with problem neighbours

New neighbours moved into our block about 6 months ago. They are from Albania and think it is normal to throw waste water from their balcony (actually, as far as I am aware, the open the kitchen window which looks onto the balcony, and throw the water out). This water consist of faeces and urine from washing babies nappies! Their neighbours living right next to them are disturbed by the smell. The neighbours underneath have complained because it lands on and soils their sunshade. They are also excessively loud, even in the "Ruhezeit".

I get on with many of the other neighbours and they approached me to sign a letter to the Hausverwaltung explaining the situation. They arranged a meeting and wanted us to also partake, many refused because we have already tried unsuccessfully to resolve the problems by talking to them. One person went, the discussion got a bit heated and the Albanian said that his brother lives nearby, had problems with his neighbours and resolved it with a knife and that he should do so here too!! The woman from the Hausverwaltung heard this too. Should the Hausverwaltung not have informed the Police...?

All that was said was that they want to move out anyway as we all complain too much. The Hausverwaltung also said that if it gets worse, they will move them temporarily to another flat.

The noise hasn't changed. They continue to throw dirty water from their balcony. Is there a Department of Environmental Health here? I am sure that this is a health risk, and also there are many kids that play on the grass below from time-to-time... I am also not happy living in a building where people are being threatened with knives... :-}

Any advice would be appreciated...

If he threatened with violence then it is time to get the Police involved before something really bad happens.

RB

You might want to consider a home swap with featherlite it might not be a total solution but definitely a step in the right direction.

if violence has been threatened then it's definitely time to involve the police.
are you a member of the Mieterverein? they can also give good advice.

Shame that vermin like these are even allowed to come to a civilized country... oops, sorry, that was a racist remark wasn't it?

yeah like the police is gonna do something... they always say "well nothing happened yet so we can't do anything"

Albanians aren't a race. Where's the racism?

If everyone else in the house is in agreement, you =can= put pressure on the Hausverwaltung to take care of it.

You do this by having everyone formally threaten Mietminderung in legally-correct form. (You do have to follow through if nothing improves. Don't do any of this on your own, b/c even Mietverein advice has led to well-meaning people being evicted b/c they handled Mietminderung incorrectly.)

The Hausverwaltung can then demand that the offending neighbors cover the financial damages incurred by the Hausverwaltung as a result of the offensive behavior.

By complaining to the Police, you are notifying them there is a problem.

If the problem behaviour gets worse, or alters to another form, then tell them again (always copying your Hausverwaltung as well).

This helps build a case against the problem neighbours, so that maybe after 1 month recording all unacceptable behaviour there is a log of issues, including reports made to the police, etc.

This is certainly what the Police in the UK would suggest to do.

I totally agree. Involve the police.
Most likely people who behave like that already have a record with the police, so it can only help if you add to it.

I don't know why everyone is always so hesitant about relying on the police for a little assistance, they are there to help!

If they have got children it is probably very difficult to get them to move out.

But I would definitly speak to the Miterverein, Hausverwaltung, police, lawyer etc...everyone you can get and do things in writing as well.

If you all get together including the landlord and contact the police, although i know thats easy for me to says because some people are afraid of contacting the police and making things worse, but i think in this case they should do something, it's all very well them saying they are moving anyway, but all that happens there is they just move onto the next neighbourhood and cause problems there.

Good luck, what a horrible situation.

A lot of people are probably also scared to 'take things further' in case the threats don't stay just threats but are becoming real attacs. I'd be scared. But I still think you should involve the police and all other authories.

Do you know any Finns?

Many Albanian immigrants have come to my city also. (Seattle,WA)
They are very nice people, and they dont throw waste out the window.

I never said that all Albanians behave like this... It was not a prejudiced post - I merely pointed out that they were Albanian :-)

Of course, you weren't being overtly prejudice. But I think the point is why was it relevant to say where they're from when your issue with them really is about the gross waste water? Just a rhetorical question that really doesn't require a response.

Well, maybe this is usual behaviour in Albania, I don't know... never been there... Maybe other TT members could share their experiences on Albanian culture by mentioning that they are from Albania :-)

I don't see what it has to do where their "home" country is. You find people like this anywhere, yes people, even in the USA and England.

How can you suggest it may be normal behaviour in their home country, normal in their own family I might understand but in a country! Please - what century are you living in?

And thank God Germany lets people from all countries come, that we dont have to pass a test to see if we are civilised or not!

I am basing my comments on what I have heard from others... Seems from what I have heard that many people in Albania do this... Anyway, this was not the point of posting - the point was to get advice regarding the situation we are living with...

I don't know about every Albanian custom - but when I attended University in London and was going out to clubs and pubs and encountering Albanian guys. I found they were just trying to get in your knickers for a passport to America. They also stunk to high hell. Luckily I had made a friend who already learned this lesson and I didn't have to learn it first hand...

One of my flatmates wasn't as smart though and started dating one. He was a nice guy who bathed regularly :-).

Albanians come from poverty and are trying to get out of their country for a better life. Unfortunately, they don't have the luxury we do to move around the world as we please just to experience different life and customs.

This behavior of throwing crap and pee out of a balcony and being loud and rude to the neighbors is unacceptable. If its one thing I've noticed here its that the Germans are very good quiet neighbors. I think its actually illegal in this country to cut your grass on a sunday with a lawn mower because it will disturb your neighbors.