An elderly couple have been warned they could be issued with an antisocial behaviour order by the council after rowing with neighbours at their senior living facility. Andy Williams, 81, and wife Maureen, 73, have been issued the warning in an official letter from the authority.
The retired publicans moved into their home eight years ago and say they have had four the last four years, after a row over who was using the tea, coffee and biscuits intended for the building's social club, reports SurreyLive.
Two years ago, Maureen was involved in an argument with another resident after an issue arose about who was responsible for maintaining the communal gardens. The couple then reportedly received a phone call from a council official accusing Maureen of being rude to a neighbour.
"That's what started it," said Andy. "What a petty thing - it was two old women having a little tiff and you'd think World War Three had broken out. The ramifications of that were just unbelievable."
Andy believes another neighbour then started to gossip about them, and says on one occasion they were reported to the site manager for a noise disturbance that was coming from a neighbouring flat. Andy and Maureen had a solicitor issue cease and desist letters to those they believed to be involved in damaging their reputation.
They have now received a letter from the council, issuing them with a warning for antisocial behaviour. The letter said the council had "received a range of reports from several different tenants, visitors and staff relating to the use of threats, swearing, shouting, inappropriate comments, and intimidation". Andy in particular was accused of being "rude, shouting and swearing, making threats and unkind comments of a personal nature to more than one tenant".
The letter concluded by saying that a continuation of this kind of behaviour could be deemed as harassment, and that if they failed to comply with the terms and conditions of their tenancy agreement, then the council may take action against them. Andy vehemently denies the accusations.
He said: "It's a load of nonsense. The only person I was rude to was the area manager who phoned up my wife and accused her, but I certainly didn't swear. It's a pack of lies from start to finish and it's starting to affect Maureen mentally. For me, it would take more than something like this to affect me. I'm fortunate that I can cope with all of this and it doesn't bother me. But we're having our name blackened - it's not true and it's not right."
The couple say they could be transferred to a bungalow away from the site where they currently live. They have said that they are considering whether this would be a good option for them.
SurreyLive attempted to speak with some of the other residents in the facility, but we were unable to reach anyone who was willing to talk. A Waverley Borough Council spokesperson said: "Waverley Borough Council does not comment on specific cases concerning our tenants. Where we have received complaints about a tenant, it is our practice to initially write to them to remind them of their obligations to comply with their Tenancy Agreement.
"In rare instances, where all our attempts to resolve the issues fail, we may offer one party the option of transferring to a new property. As with all those on the Housing Register, they will be offered a property that meets but does not exceed their assessed level of need."
