I have written this e-mail to almost everywhere in my town, no one will help me!
I'm in hell right now!
I have a severe problem and I don't know where to turn to anymore. I have been living a nightmare for almost 3 months now. Called everywhere in the city, even health dept. No one believes me, no one can help me. I have been living in this townhouse for 12 years and have new neighbours since August. They are doing or burning something so strong, the scent comes through my cement walls and it is disgusting. At first I thought they were doing BBQ's in the house because I could smell something like soot. I called the fire dept. and she told them she burned hamburgers on the stove so the fire dept left. They were in the house not more than 5 minutes. Then, I thought it was some kind of incence but now I am almost sure they are doing some kind of drugs because when they do it strong, I feel drugged and my throat burns, I get dizzy and I feel like I'm going to faint. On their veranda, there are big black marks here and there which looks like soot. The taste of the smell stays in my mouth and nose all the time. They told management they cook with spices. I have never had any kind of food smells of any kind since I've lived here. So, management told me if I'm not happy to move and she didn't care if I was sick. My mother phoned her to try and talk to her because she smells it too. She yelled at my mother and told her that it's on my side that it smells and she doesn't know what I put in my cigarettes and hung up. I smoke cigarettes in my basement but I am 100% against DRUGS. I asked a man who works for the owner to come and smell my walls when they do it so he came and told me it wasn't my imagination, he could smell it too! He said it smelled something like soot or weed… Next day, he calls me and tells me he's going at the neighbour's house with police officers. 2 young police officers arrived before him and went in the house for a little less than 5 minutes. The Mr. who lives there worked security guard at the court house so he's always quick to show his identification. She told them she cooks with spices and uses a spray and the cops believed them. The young police officer came to see me and asked me what was my problem? He was really rude and told me not to call the police or the fire dept. anymore because they wouldn't come and they had better things to do. He told me that I was lucky they didn't bring me to court for harassment or racism. I then phoned the RCMP drug investigations and told him my story and pleaded him to investigate. He told me he would but as soon as he spoke to the officer who came here, he phoned me back and told me that he couldn't do anything. The officer lied to him. He told him that when he came at my house, he told me to phone him when I smelled it and he would come and investigate in my home. The mister hasn't been working for over a month now, don't know if he lost his job. He comes and goes most of the day for short times and as soon as he's in the house, he starts to do whatever it is they are doing. I am not crazy, my sons, my boyfriend, my mother and sister smell it too. I even asked a neighbour I don't even know to come and smell it when they are doing it. She had to leave the house because the smell was so strong, it was going to her throat. Me and my youngest son wear masks in the house when it is too strong. We also go for acupuncture for smell sensitivities. It helped at first but it doesn't work anymore. At first, my boyfriend tried to speak with the mister and explain that what they were doing was making me ill. He replied that they weren't doing anything and it was all in my imagination. His wife and sons always leave with packsacks. I have tried everything to mask the smell, bought big tower air purifiers and put air fresheners, spray my walls with vinegar… the smell goes through everything. I love my home and do not want to move. I'm trying to find a solution but don't know where to go. I have been on the phone for over 1 month, no one will help or believes me. If it isn't drugs and they are not selling it, how can they afford to stay there? Nobody works. PLEASE, do not phone the Ottawa police as they do not believe me. What am I to do? If it is drugs, we are being drugged against our will in our own home. I would need someone who is important enough to be believed to come in my house without my neighbours seeing them, smell the smell we have been smelling for almost 3 months now. Please help me end my nightmare! I am writing you right now with my mask on my mouth and nose because they are doing it. PLEASE HELP ME!!! I have tried to move because management won't give me another unit and she doesn't want to give me a reference.
Only serious answers please as this is no joke!!!
PK, I can't, everytime I look for an apt. they call management for references and I lose the place. I'm stuck here!
Hope everything is well for you.
I agree with PK. The same thing happened to me years ago. There was a young couple who never went to work, were up all night long, and loud all the time. They very clearly smoked pot out on the balcony in plain view so goodness knows what else they did in the apt. I tried everything I could but nothing ever helped. At one point the girl threw up all down the public stairs and soon after it became apparent she was pregnant (although still smoking constantly). At that point I knew I had to move immediately since things were only going to get much worse.
It sounds like your neighbors could actually be making something, mine just seemed to be selling and using. If they are making drugs then you could be in more serious danger than from just the smell.
I know it's not the advice you want and I know it's a horrible pain to deal with, but it seems like everyone is determined to turn a blind eye. Just make sure that if you do move you spread the word (online and to friends) how terrible the ownership is and what they allow.
I hope someone in your area can help. Good luck!
