Neighbour Problems

Some tenants tell us Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) can be a problem where they live. To provide support and advice to our tenants experiences such problems we have put together a team of special tenancy enforcement staff.

With 1 member of the team based in each local office, tenancy enforcement staff work alongside staff who let and manage estates on a day to day basis. This helps tackle problems at a local level.

We can't tackle ASB on our own, so we have a tenancy enforcement co-ordinator to form links with partnerships with the Police, the Council and the youth service. The co-ordinator also monitors problems and works with customers to see how we can consistently improve services.

Unless you are suffering from serious acts of violence or harassment, for most cases of anti-social behaviour you should first of all try and speak to your neighbour in order to resolve things amicably at an early stage.

Many problems only arise because people have not talked or considered each other's point of view. Sometimes a neighbour just needs reminding that their behaviour is upsetting you.

If the other person is unreasonable, just walk away. Do not get involved in an argument or retaliate in any way.

If the problem is continuing, or you are unable to talk to your neighbour for any reason; for example in serious harassment cases; you should inform your nearest Office. The Racial Equality Council has a helpline to give advice and support in four different languages: Tel: 0800 138 1677.

It is also important to start keeping a record of incidents as and when they occur. This will be very useful later on.

Once you have reported the problem to us, we will contact you or we can make an appointment to see you in the housing office. We will have a chat with you and discuss the problem. In serious cases, we will aim to meet you as soon as possible.

Once we have talked to you and found out what is happening and how you are affected, we may contact other people, including the person or people causing the problem, in order to establish the facts.

• Warn the tenant that their behaviour is not acceptable.
  
• Involve other agencies such as Social Services, Environmental Health or the Police.
  
• Refer you to a local Mediation Service; a confidential service for neighbours in conflict. They may be able to find a solution you and your neighbours are happy with.
  
• Start legal proceedings to evict a tenant from their home.
• Take out court injunctions against the person(s) causing the problem in serious cases.
  
• In serious cases of violence and harassment, we may agree to move you as a matter of priority.
  
• Offer help and reassurance; such as panic alarms, for example.

In most cases we will need to interview the person you are complaining about. You can ask us not to do this, however we may not be able to take the case any further.

If you are worried about reprisals, you can discuss these concerns with us when we speak with you.