Update on me and Mr S-O

[lexin]

I'm feeling slightly better since I took a decision to change the dose of my anti-psychotic that I take. I halved it and now take it all at night - and I'm 100% more awake during the day. Go me! I haven't got around to telling either the GP or the psychiatrist yet as I can't seem to get hold of either.

The next door neighbour bloke

Mr Smelly-Opposite is still living in his flat, despite not having locks on the front door, and the smell of unwashed person and wee is getting stronger every day. On hot still days, of which we've had a few lately, it's particularly nasty. When she came over, clare_nce was stunned that he was living there.

I'm stunned myself, but there seems nothing further I can do. I've hassled the social services department substance abuse team, but they seemed more concerned about how I'd discovered him to be a client of the substance abuse team than of doing anything to help the guy. They may be beavering away in the background, but my hopes are not high.

I've hassled the environmental health people, but though I had a phone call from them which I missed, they don't respond to the calls I've made since then. Meanwhile, the smell and mess is still there.

The one ray of sunshine is the freeholder. He's making arrangements with the loss adjuster to clear up the mess, clear out the flat, decorate it and replace the windows. Once that's been done, Mr S-O will have only a bed, the rest of the furniture having been condemned. And they may change their minds about the bed.

Contents, including carpets, will not be replaced, that's Mr S-O's responsibility. I have visions of him living there sleeping on the floor wrapped in a blanket, but as the freeholder sensibly points out, that's his problem and the less furniture he has the less he can set light to. It's very strange to find the freeholder a ray of any kind of sunshine, as he's not the most personable of characters himself.

The minor issue is that Mr S-O needs to give consent to these works, and when the freeholder has been round there, he's found letters he's written sitting unopened on the floor of the flat. Mr S-O just ignores them. The freeholder is hoping that the works will be completed by the end of September, but they'll never be completed if Mr S-O won't give his consent.

Comments

[gloria1.livejournal.com]

I would suggest the freeholder simply say that consent has been given (even if its not!) and just go ahead. Mr S-O can then take it up later if he likes. Which I doubt he will. Also, was thinking could you get your local councillor involved? S/he may know other measures to take, or at least be on 'your' side in dealing with Waltham Forest?

Very pleased to hear about the sensible decison re. the drug dosage. The fact you are now awake when you should be speaks for itself!

PS: if you ever need to escape the smell, don't hesitate but just grab the keys and head on down, if I'm there or not. You know where the teabags are....

[lexin.livejournal.com]

I've discussed it with my boss who is a councillor (for East Molsey as it happens, not Waltham Forest) and he said I've probably done about as much as I can do. But I may raise it with a Waltham Forest Councillor as well; it cannot hurt to spread the pain.

I wouldn't say I'm completely awake, but at least I'm not so sleepy now that I burn myself or walk out into oncoming traffic, both of which happened on the drugs.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Sounds awful. I do hope the environmental health people get back to you. I'd try a letter as well as phone calls.

[lexin.livejournal.com]

I plan on trying both. Not sure what they can do, though, given that the freeholder is doing his level best to get the process on the road.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

If you need a break at any point, you're more than welcome to come and stay in Dorset for a couple of days. I'd seriously love to spend some time with you.

[manna]

Ack! This is so not the kind of stress you need. I really hope the environmental health people get around to doing something. Maybe, as someone else said, a letter to them would be better than phone calls. Otherwise, it's just infuriating that this man is a danger to himself and other people, and no one in any official capacity is apparently willing to address it.

I'm glad you're feeling better on the new dose of the meds.

[lexin.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[hardboiledbaby]

How awful that this is still dragging on. I'd echo the good advice of sending a letter--usually much harder for governmental types to ignore, compared to phone calls.

Yay that you're finding the right place to be with your meds!

[katrimae.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine how stressful it must be with a timebomb like that living right next door. I agree with everyone who's said to start writing letters, as many as possible. If there's no response from the council, is there any way you could get local media involved, as an example of... I don't know, unresponsive officials or failings in the public health programs? I know getting something in the media is more difficult to do where you are than here (seriously, I remember one time when the lead story in the local paper was "Humane Society flooded with puppies") but it might be worth a shot.

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

Ack! I second the sugestion of getting the media involved.

Good luck!