Ban my neighbours’ spicy cooking, woman begs court

A WOMAN has gone to court to stop her neighbours cooking spicy food – as she says the fumes are making her life ‘torture’.

Joanna Louise Cridlin claims the ‘overwhelming’ smell from the flat above ‘permeates her home’ for up to eight hours after they prepare meals.

The animal rights campaigner alleges the smell is so bad it should be classed as anti-social behaviour – and is suing her landlords to force them to take action.

In a writ to London’s High Court, Miss Cridlin, who has lived in the flat in Wandsworth, South London, for almost 40 years, says the problem began at the end of 2014.

Because of the ‘pungent’ food enjoyed by her neighbours, she says she has ‘choked in her sleep on several occasions’ and ‘staggered to her balcony gasping for air’.

She also alleges that landlord Viridian Housing, which is responsible for her and her neighbour’s flat, caused raised carbon monoxide by failing to mend a boiler.

Viridian’s defence was unavailable from the court and the writ’s contents have not yet been tested before a judge. The neighbours are not being sued.

Miss Cridlin says Viridian has breached its duty of care towards her by not reacting strongly enough to the complaints about the chilli fumes.

She is also seeking damages from her landord for alleged loss of earnings and personal injury.

Viridian Housing was unavailable for comment.