Woman sleeps in brother's hallway after receiving threatening 'move or die' note
A woman says she has been forced to sleep on her brother's floor after receiving a chilling note from her neighbours.
Leoni McKinlay, who lives alone in a second floor flat in Leith, says she feels unsafe in her home after receiving threats telling her to 'move or die'.
The terrified 35-year-old also says the residents shine torches through her windows.
She said: "I moved into the flat in November last year and they [housing association Harbour Homes - formally Port of Leith] knew I had walking problems. I'm disabled along with other problems but it was a second floor flat with no lift. I felt like I had to take it and at the time I couldn't get hold of the right person to speak to.
"Since then, the people upstairs party all night with loud music, banging and stomping and I'm still getting problems with that. I have told the housing association and contacted the police - but nothing's been done about it.
London flat for rent for £1,400 a month with bed tucked away in kitchen cupboard
"I had a threat on my letter box that said 'move or die' and no one's doing anything about this."
Leoni has been forced to stay on the floor in her brother's just to get a night's sleep (Leoni McKinley)Leoni suffers with pain in her left leg, thought to be from post-thrombotic syndrome and she also has misophonia, which is when people are severely affected by sounds.
To help this, her doctor suggested increasing her ADHD medication and, since speaking to her local news website EdinburghLive, she has been issued sleeping tablets to help her sleep through the racket, though she says that they don't work.
Leoni has regularly contacted the police via 101 to make a noise complaint but the noise still continues. The distressed tenant kept a notes in a log-book style of each night.
The dates go back to November 20 and every night since she has noted there were parties, banging and shouting throughout the weeks.
Leoni has been through an ordeal (Leoni McKinley)"I feel scared. I haven't done anything wrong, I don't know why they are doing this. I just feel like no one cares. I'm disabled and I need a ground floor flat, I can barely get up the stairs. If I need to get a scooter, I don't know what I'd do," she said.
Leoni has applied for housing through EdIndex, as suggested by Harbour House, but waiting lists can be long and she hasn't heard any good news.
"All I'm left with is to rent privately - but I don't even know if housing benefit would cover it so I set up a justgiving page. It's all I can think of," she said.
"I'm depressed all the time and I'm sleeping at my brother's in the hall on the floor because I have nowhere else to go. I just need to get out of it.
"I feel unsafe, I take black bin bags to my windows in case they're watching me and if feels like they are always there. I can't get anything done because I feel so bad, there's stuff everywhere - I can't live in my own flat! I can't even hear my own tele, I can't do anything."
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A spokesperson for Harbour Housing said: "Antisocial behaviour (ASB) happens, and unfortunately housing associations and landlords often have little control over it, particularly if the offender is not a tenant. We wish that our tenants did not have to experience ASB and we do everything in our power to support those who are distressed by the behaviour of nearby residents. The first point of contact for ASB, if you feel unsafe, should always be the police.
"If a tenant wishes to relocate, whether due to ASB or another reason, we provide support and guidance about the options available to them. Unfortunately, the waitlist for affordable homes in Edinburgh is currently at over 20,000 people. Therefore, the outcome of the rigorous application process may not always be what an individual is seeking.
"The EdIndex system used in Edinburgh attempts to ensure that those whose housing need is greatest are given priority when allocating limited affordable homes in the city. This includes determining whether an applicant meets the criteria for a ground floor flat due to medical conditions."
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