u/CallTheCouncil

Thanks in advance for your advice. I have a Queensland legal question revolving around harassment and surveillance from our neighbours who are currently renovating an investment property. We've had issues throughout their renovation, including trespass and threatening behaviour from tradespeople. And general dishonest conduct from the property owner. When we raise legitimate issues, such as work undertaken on our side of the boundary against written instruction, they are dismissive and say "call the council" or "call the police"; and claim that we are escalating tension even though we are the impacted property.

Things have come to a head since the property owner's girlfriend, who he has told us is a solicitor, moved back in to the property while construction continues. She had lived there alone, we believed as his tenant, for around three years prior to renovation work commencing.

We recently raised an issue about the positioning of their blinds as they were tilted to view directly into our home. At first this was an issue of nuisance light, as bright lights were often left on overnight. However, two days ago we noticed they had repositioned their security camera to record directly into our property and home, including recording our bathroom window. We raised our concern about this invasion of our privacy, especially as we have young children, via text message with photographic evidence showing the camera's position. They immediately repositioned their camera and sent a text claiming the camera was never pointed at our house - clearly a lie, and contrary to the provided evidence - and suggested we call the police. As they had repositioned the camera, we did not reply to their message.

Today, two days later, we received the following message from the property owner (names removed):

I withdraw my consent for either of you to speak to either GIRLFRIEND'S NAME or I in person.

I withdraw my consent for either of you to contact me on this phone number, or any other telecommunication platform. I withdraw my consent for either of you to speak to any workers who attend on my property moving forward.

I withdraw my consent to either of you entering my property in any way, including hanging over the side fence.

Any issues moving forward you are to contact Council or Police.

I am sending this message based on the advice received from the Queensland Police.

Your number will be blocked after sending this message.

The question is, does this sound like it is based on actual advice received from Queensland Police?

For example, I don't see how he can withdraw consent for us speak to workers attending his property. They've caused considerable damage to our fence and continue to negatively impact our property as recent as this week. Due to the conduct of the tradespeople on site the rear neighbour has strung barbed wire across the rear boundary fence. And the other side neighbour has withdrawn access to work from their property after a break in. We suspect one of them has reported them to council or WorkSafe, which could have contributed to the elevated stress of the investor and his girlfriend.

Given the pattern of behaviour with the CCTV and the refusal to tilt their blinds to look into their own property and not ours, and what has been an escalation of aggression from both the property owner and his solicitor girlfriend when we've tried to discuss legitimate issues in person, this message seems like an attempt to intimidate and menace us which has greatly upset my wife and caused distress and discomfort for our family.