Unusual Neighbor Dispute in Espoo: 75-Year-Old Woman Harassed Neighbors for More Than Seven Years

A long-running apartment-building dispute in Espoo ended with a 75-year-old woman receiving a 50-day suspended prison sentence for violating the domestic peace of three neighbors.

The harassment continued for more than seven years after the neighbors bought their shared apartment in 2015. According to the district court’s ruling, the woman sent dozens of inappropriate notes, rang their doorbell without cause, shouted insults through the mail slot and banged on their door or wall during both the day and night.

She also pushed dog hair into the door lock, swept rubbish toward the neighbors’ door and placed waste in their mail slot or on a door decoration. In 2022, she allegedly held the apartment door and tried to enter. She made another attempted entry in 2023, rattled the mail slot, knocked on the door and tried to call one resident in the middle of the night.

The dispute reportedly began when the woman accused the residents of having a device that “hums and regularly clicks.” The housing company tried to identify the noise, but found nothing. Sound measurements also showed that the level did not exceed permitted limits. The residents eventually removed their doorbell because of the repeated ringing.

The disturbance followed a seasonal pattern, beginning in autumn, easing in spring and becoming worst around Christmas and Easter. It largely stopped during the summer. The situation calmed in summer 2023 after a police investigator contacted the woman.

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hums and regularly clicks