Hi,

A bit of my back ground, I have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety and insomnia, this has been ongoing for just over 3 years and I had recently started to make progress. I take lithium 800mg, mirtazapine 45mg. I'm pretty sure I should be classed as vulnerable.

Ok I live in private let flat which I got after 18 months being homeless and unsuccessfully trying for social housing for 18 months, the closest I came to getting one was 17th in-line, so I had to borrow the money for the first months rent and deposit. I have managed to payback the borrowed money in bits so have a deposit and first months rent, well barring anything my unprofessional letting agent might try. The problem is that since I got this flat the rents in my area have risen and my housing benefit has gone down so I was already struggling to find the money for even basics and when you add on the admin costs you get charged when you sign a contract I can't afford to go private again. Another problem is that my flat was furnished but now really can't afford a furnished flat and I have no furniture of my own.

Heres my problem,,,

Sometime between 26th dec 11 and 29th dec 11 my flat was broken into, Strangely nothing was taken and nothing was broke (except the door). I informed the police and the letting agent as soon as I found the door kicked in. The police came to inspect the damage and take a statement and the landlord eventually came and fixed the door (4 weeks later, although he did put a padlock on the damaged door soon after), I added 2 extra bolts on the door because I didn't feel safe, I also had a friend stay with me for 3 or 4 weeks until I'd felt able to stay on my own again.

I almost forgot, after a couple of weeks I had a visit from the C.I.D who were horrible with me, they were convinced that I had forgotten my keys and had kicked in my own door. The thing which was convincing them of this was a statement from a bloke next door where he said that "in the early hour of the 28th I had rung his buzzer and asked him to let me in". The police ignored everything I said and were adamant that I had done it, in the end I kicked them out.

Last Saturday night I was in my flat with a couple of friends have a quite drink when a friend heard a knock on my (interior) door and got up to answer it, as he approached the door 4 or 5 loud sharp bangs happened, he said that he wasn't going to answer it so I did.

When I opened the door one of my male neighbour(the same one who gave the statement to the police) was stood there looking,,, well almost psychotic, next thing I know he was swinging a baseball bat at my head, luckily I reacted fast and manage to catch it and just hung onto it until my friends came to help. Strangely enough not one of us hit him even after he broke loose a couple of times and nearly hit one or other of us. He was arrested and we all gave statements and the night/gathering broke up, although a friend stayed with me.

The next morning I woke up about 3ish after nightmares and couldn't get back asleep. Around mid morning I started with feelings of anxiety and panic which developed into full blown episodes by late afternoon and got steadily worse to the extent that I felt as bad as when I was at my worst 3 years ago.

First thing Monday morning I went to report it to the letting agents who seemed surprised that the neighbour had been there at all as he had been told to leave in the past, must be his girlfriends flat (who had also been arrested for obstructing the police). When I had explained what had happened they said that they would have to speak to the police to see what they could legally do, ie eviction, (I find this strange because I would have though that it would be a civil/contractual issue and not a criminal issue, so I feel that they aren't going to do anything except carry on collecting rent) as far as I know I was speaking to a manager but I was in no state to correct her. While I was there I complained about another neighbour who move in 2 months ago who keeps leaving the security door unlocked but she said they were the landlords relative and had ignored letters after another complaint and that she was waiting for the landlord to come from abroad to sort it out.

I then went to my Doctors because I hadn't slept or ate since the incident, He prescribed diazepam and olanzapine on top off my normal drugs, I've had to go for blood test, and my blood pressure and heart beat were high.

I then rang the council and was asked to come in which I did. They agreed that I couldn't live there and said they'd get a specialist to phone me with my options. When this specialist phoned she was very unsympathetic and just said that unless the police said that he was likely to be a danger to again she would not help me.

I should say that on Sunday I spoke to the police and was told that they would be asking that bail be refused for both of them but that if anything changed they let me know, later on Sunday evening I phone to ask what had happened to them and was informed that the girl was still in custody but the male had been released but with conditions that he stay away from me/the flats. When one off my friends were being interviewed on Saturday the officer said that the male had previous for this type of thing and on Sunday another officer said that he expects the male to follow previous form and "no comment" through the interview, yet the officer I spoke to on Sunday evening said that he had no previous for this and what had happened was totally out of character. Totally confused:mad2:

So now I can't think what to do? Back in Jan I asked my shrink about getting some help with dealing with certain things like help filling in benefit forms ect, I have major problem especially ESA 50 forms which have had to be sent back burned, ripped in half amongst other things. Unfortunately I have heard nothing from him since although I didn't really expect the useless sod to help.

Sorry for the long rambling post but all the meds are making thinking hard work.

I hope someone can offer me some advice on what I can do now.

I just remembered, I've had a rather large friend stay at the flat since Sunday, with instructions NOT to answer the door, and yesterday he heard the male and female arguing in the flat, unfortunately he didn't see them

Ok a friend suggested victim support and it looks like I'm going to get the help I need.

Sorry dont quite understand about forms being sent back burned/ripped in half? are you sending them like this or are you saying thats how they have been returned to you?

It appears thsat you require assistance with multiple issues.

I think you would be best sitting down with somebody so you can go through the issues one by one. I would recommend contacting your local Citizens Advice or Community Law Centre and making an appointment to see somebody.

Hi and thanks for the replies, the forms being damaged be me, I lose my temper with them, but is by the by.

I think I'll say what's happened since Monday, then I try to explained what advice I need.

I got in touch with victims support who took all the details and said they'd get back to me once they'd done some research. When they called they said they'd write me a letter of support and I should apply to my local housing association. This I did, although it took me over 24 hours, then at the end they ask for proof of homelessness, which the council had refused to give me.

I thought I'd ring them again and try to explain why, with my mental health issues, it was impossible for me to stay in the flat. The Lady I spoke to was at first fine and was being quite helpful but after 5 minutes or so of talking she said the same as the lady who phoned me on Monday, that they don't consider me as being at risk and that my mental health just didn't enter into their considerations, only physical threats.

I must admit that I was very shocked by this statement but I had her repeat it to make sure I'd heard her right.

Ok I admit that once I put the phone down I was totally deflated, frustrated and very very angry but instead of losing my head I started writing a letter, I had no idea who I was writing it to but I thought this was better and much less destructive then acting out the thoughts going through my head. I just felt the need to get everything down on paper, well electronic paper.

I started by giving a brief history of my illnesses and the incidents since Christmas, then explained what had happened during my contacts with housing. I outlined what I was asking for, mainly advice and some help in making the best decision. I said the my disabilities/illnesses were being dismissed and that my mental well being was being ignored and I felt that they where shirking their responsibilities in the hope I'd go away.

I then went online and got e-mail addresses for the head of housing dept and the head of ethics and legal dept, and sent it to them. Less than 2 hours later I had a call from them to beg me to come in so they could help me, funnily enough it was the first person who gave me the cold shoulder on Monday. I did have a go and explained how badly what they did has affected me.

Ok so this is where I am, I just really want to know what sort of help I can expect, what they should/could do to help me? I want to be in a position of strength so they don't get away with fobbing me off again.

Thanks for reading and for any advice offered

Could you take someone in with you when you go as |I think you may benefit from having another person to listen to what is said and help you to ask the right questions.

I'm trying to find someone and have been for months, I could take a friend but I'm the most able to deal with this than any of them, well intellectually, not emotionally, maybe not even intellectually with these new meds turning me into a zombie, but it's better than how I felt a week ago. I've gain an extra day to find someone as the council have just phoned to cancel the appointment.

I think I'll try welfare rights, well if they still exist in my area, if not then maybe C.A.B.

Thanks for your help

A friend would be better than none as they may just give you the emotional support that could help you to stay calm and present your case clearly. Good luck

Have a look on google for a forum called Neighbours from hell in briton. they give lots of great advice on nightmare neighbours.

JimBob, I fully understand you, your illness, and your peculiar behaviour (tearing things up!) because I keep any eye on my neighbour with exactly what you have - BDP. He's a couple of years younger than you, but he's on exactly the same meds as you, and boy sometimes you'd think he comes from Mars! Nevertheless I am very fond of him and he is a good friend to me. I know what you mean when you say you are the most likely to be able to deal with all this intellectually out of all your friends! However, emotionally you cannot deal with this because of the BDP. Have you ever had a complete BDP ****fit? A real Vesuvius? I think you ought to summon one up and treat your neighbour to it - that'll shut him up. I bet you know what I mean don't you? LOL!

Anyway I think you are homeless, in priority need because of your disability, and that your local authority have an outright duty to rehouse you. Pop along to your local Shelter (google or yellow pages), ask your psychiatrist to do a summarising letter of how you are ON YOUR WORST DAY (this then equates to how you are all the time now since this incident doesn't it?) and to state what the effects of this current situation have done to you and what the outcome for you is likely to be if your housing is not addressed.

Have you asked your local Crisis Team (or called something similar where you are) to step in and help you with how you are feeling? Good on the spot evidence of the effect this is having on your mental health. I mean, there you are, admitted to the local community hospital, well enough for independant living, but bed blocking because you have nowhere SAFE to return to. There are both threats of physical violence to you as well as the damage to your mental health, but it should also be taken seriously, that if you do blow up because someone pushes you too far, you'll likely harm someone.

See if you can get anywhere with these suggestions. Good luck, and well done for managing your illness so well, I can only hope that my friend gets to be as good as you seem to be as he gets older! I even have to manage his meds for him as he eats all the smarties out the blister pack!

Hi guys, sorry I didn't come back and update this thread but I needed to focus my energy to sorting this out.

jackieandwayne thanx for your post it was nice to hear that someone has a good idea how hard it is to cope with the BPD, most people just think i'm an angry Ba****D. As far as going Vesuvius on him I just daren't, I'd not be able to stop lol.

OK heres where I'm at,,,,

After 4 months of battling with the council (meeting, letters and numerous e-mails to MP's heads of depts within the council ect to force some action) they eventually decided that I wasn't going to be fobbed off and even though they haven't declared me homeless they have now offered their support for my claim on the basis of me living there is having a very bad effect on my mental health.

This basically means that I'll go into band B (second highest band and the same band I'd go in if I was declared homeless) and not band E (the lowest band) so quite happy with this.

Back in April I also signed up to the social housing list (select move), I think i mentioned this above. They needed proof of my medical conditions, proof of I.D, and a S.A.R from the Police, They sent me a SAR for the police which I handed into the police as soon as I could. The Police finally (05/08/12) sent me the blank piece of paper which is my criminal record which I took into the select move office that day, I also retook my I.D. The Lady took photo copies and said that I should be good to go:-), yippee I thought but I asked her to check that the claim complete because I really need to get out of there (the flat) ASAP.

She said that I needed to fill out a medical questionnaire, I told her to check again as I'd filled one in back in April, she agreed and said all was fine.

I thought i was finally getting somewhere after 4 months of hell, I was soo wrong.

When I logged on to their site to bid on somewhere I had no bidding rights so I phoned them. The Lady said that I needed to fill in a Medical form, I told her that I had in April and that i know that they have it because of whet happened at reception 3 day before, she agreed but said that I needed to sign a declaration. I asked why I wasn't told this while I was there the other day, we are sorry blah blah. So once again I walked the 5 miles to the office, and then the five miles back (I can't use public transport because of my illness). I got there and asked for the declaration and signed. I then asked again if there was anything else needed, answer was that I needed to fill in the god damned medical form, I calmly screamed at her to check again, oh there it is, "no need you've already done it"she said she'd tell whoever is looking after my claim. (honestly this would be funny if I wasn't so desperate to move). So I missed that round of bidding, bidding is Saturday through to Wednesday, but come the next round I could bid.

I bid on 3 flats and on Monday I logged on see where I was in the bidding, all my bids had been deleted. I phoned them and was told that they were awaiting reports from my GP, I asked why this hadn't been done earlier as my claim had been submitted in April, almost 5 months earlier, she said that she didn't know and that she would get my claim handler to phone me as she's off work today. She phoned and apologised it hadn't been done until now but they were unaware that I was claiming on medical grounds, back to the mysteriously disappearing medical form. Obviously I ranted a bit but there nothing I could do. My claim was put on hold until my GP replied.

I received a call on Friday saying that my claim was now active so I could bid, I thought I was finally good to go. First thing Saturday morning I logged on to bid, found a flat which would be perfect, I thought that I have a good chance as I'm in band B, placed the bid and I was 55th in line, wtf? 55th and bidding had only been open for 4 hours, bidding opens at mid night Friday.

Almost up to date lol.

So this morning I phoned to find out what's going on and was told that I had been put in band E. As an added bonus I bet you'll never guess what they want me to fill in now???,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Got it yet?,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, yes a medical form but they haven't misplaced it this time, they say there's not enough info on the 1 I filled out way back in April, when I asked why it had taken them over 5 MONTHS to discover this they had no answer, at least I can carry on bidding on flats I have ZERO chance of getting, I spent 18 months in band E 3 years ago so I know I'd be wasting my time.

Ok rant over, I now need to figure out what the hell I'm going to do. I haven't got the energy to carry on with this, it's like everyone but me is completely disinterested in what I'm going through, I feel that the system is against me and every hurdle they put in my way seems to get higher and to top it off I'm still being harassed by the neighbour, banging on my (internal) door, buzzer being buzzed in the early morning (pieces of paper jammed in the buzzer) and every time I see him (5 or6 times a week) he stares, it's not a nice stare. Been to the council, they said get in touch with the letting agent, letting agent says go to police, Police say there's nothing they can do without evidence, I can't get evidence because I'm NOT opening my door again when someone is banging loudly on it, he's only doing it because he thinks I'm a pussy because I didn't hit him last time (I'm not a pussy, 6" tall, 15 stone ex skinhead), but I know if I hit him I won't be able to stop.

RANT DEFINITELY OVER NOW lol.

I'm thinking of seeking legal advice or maybe shelter because I can't deal with this anymore, I'm gonna end up doing something really stupid if I carry on. Anyone been in a similar situation who can advise?

Oh and as an extra bonus I just received the dreaded ESA50 lol.

Thanx Jimi