Should I move? I really don't want to. What would you do?

The original post said ‘We got on really well to start with’.
Now it’s ‘he was not very nice from the start, but we gave him the benefit of the doubt’.

I agree with others, he may or may not have been a squadron leader. Perhaps his shortcomings were more bearable when he went away more often. Maybe he has the onset of dementia?

I have no real advice for you, it must be awful. The trouble is, if you move, you don’t always know what you might encounter at a new property, or who might replace nice neighbours in the future.

I hope you find a solution.

I thought you said you got on very well at first ? Now you say he wasn’t very nice from the start. I’m not having a go, just confused.

Bluebelle, he was not very nice from the start, but we gave him the benefit of the doubt. He was no different before Covid. I mentioned the house next door because of the incident of noise due to the neighbour. Hetty58, we have changed to other rooms over the 3 years but it’s hopeless. Sorry, all, should have said in my original post that his flat is privately owned.

Just to add, it’s a private landlord that owns the ground floor so l have no say in who lives there. Thanks for comments so far

I must be a bit slow but I don’t understand your set up or what part of the house you own
You re semi detached so the house next door doesn’t really come into it, do you own the whole house and rent out the bottom half or do you only own half the house and someone else rents out the bottom half
If it’s the former I agree with Buffybee give him notice if it’s the latter then surely you need to complain to the owner before thinking of moving
He sounds very unpleasant but he seems to have been fine for two years and this only started last summer, could lockdown have sent him ‘do dah’ with his lack of ability to get away to Spain or anywhere else
Did he not snore or grunt or bang doors or clear his throat at breakfast time before this last year?

I don’t understand why you would have to sell if you own the house ??

Your OP isn't clear.
Do you own the tenanted flat, as well as your own, or is it owned and let by someone else?

Why would you leave your property because of a tenant?
The tenancy is obviously not working out for you, so give the tenant notice to leave.
This used to be one month, if the rent was paid monthly but unfortunately, due to Covid, the government have ruled that the notice must be six months.
So, tell him you need him to leave by ‘such a date’, six months hence and put in writing as well.
You don’t need to give any reason, just say you want the property back, or tell him it’s not working out for you, for the reasons you stated above.

But is he really a squadron leader ? Just wondering. Sounds a tad batty to me.

Do you really need the rent as income in retirement or could you take back the whole house pippin

It doesn't seem worth the hassle renting it out unless you have no other income.

I was going to say that a Squadron Leader shouldn't be short of money, but you have said that yourself, so I am mystified why he is renting a small flat.

Commiserations, it must make you constantly on edge in your own home.

Hang on, it's your house! What kind of tenancy agreement does this guy have? Surely you can give him notice to leave? (Or am I being incredibly naïve here?)

What an absolute nightmare! In the long run, bad though it is, you might have to look at moving because the tenants reign supreme as we all know! He sounds like a total nut job. I don’t know what the housing market is there but I would start looking around for something that is more private and not so close to someone else ! At least you would feel you were doing something about it. Our last house had issues with noise ( not as bad as yours) and that was a big factor in our moving. We never looked back, such a relief.

Would it be possible to rearrange your living space by swapping your bedroom and living room? That would solve the snoring sounds.

Perhaps you could erect a screen in your garden to separate his back door and bins from your sitting area? I'd contact his landlord, too, to explain the situation. It may be that he'll make it difficult to renew the lease.

It's him who should be going !. Have you laid down any written rules/ clauses about letting off the property ? See a solicitor for some advice asap.