Tragic Registered Social Landlord Situation

FelinePrincess

I really don't see how, even if a sale could be forced it would resolve anything - as buyers can be murderers too.

On a brighter note, if there has already been a murder there and the murderer is in prison the odds of another murderer moving in and killing someone are probably ridiculously low!

I live near social housing and there was a murder a few years ago - it was somewhat unsurprising after the amount of trouble there had been there. Afterwards the property was empty for quite some time and now there is a new tenant living there who has been there for about 6 months - during that time I have only ever seen this person twice! I would never have wanted someone to get killed, and I don't like to say that my life has improved as the result of it - but honestly things have been so much better since that unfortunate situation. 1 bad neighbour doesn't mean all future neighbours will be bad too

BigAunty

Social housing is generally allocated to the needy, those in priority need, such as the homeless (that include newly released prisoners) and those with disabilities/vulnerabilities/medical issues (and this includes drug addicts, the mentally ill, alcoholics), victims of domestic abuse (a proportion of whom will repeatedly enter relationships with abusive/violent partners) and those with dependents (high proportion of lone parents whose households are statistically are more likely to be workless and under educated).

So while you may get a working tenant who doesn't belong to a vulnerable group, the chances are that you won't.

I can't see you having any influence over the RSL letting policy as they are obliged by housing law to follow a strict criteria over which applicant gets it, based on waiting list/priority banding as set out in their policy. As far as I know, housing officers don't have much in the way of discretion (and when they did, their allocations were rife with subjective judgements, racist and religiously discriminating). That's why I thought these strict policies came in whereby the picking and choosing of a tenant is much more 'scientific' and is subject to audits.

That said, why don't you consider drafting your concerns from the tenants and perhaps contacting your MP about your worries? I still can't see how an RSL gets to choose a 'nice' tenant even if the last one was atrocious.

whitewing

I am wondering if the offence involved a child, and if the parents had not realised a person with a specific history had moved in, and are regretting things they said and did.

Anybody can do a Sarah's law application via their local police on e.g. a new neighbour but the police may or may not disclose depending on who was asking and why. Also, you would not be permitted to discuss even making the application with anyone.

I think there is something similar called Claire's law for potential partners.

Perhaps it would be worth the neighbours as a group to contact Victim Support so that you can collectively work out ways to make you all feel safer in your homes.

boo2410

BigAunty is correct in that there are strict criteria in place for allocating properties, however if something terrible has happened I'm sure some discretion can be used when allocating a vacant property (I work for a RSL).

If this is categorically refused when you speak to them perhaps contact your local councillor and voice your concerns. They hold a surprising amount of clout.

Good luck

Boo

jackyann

Have any of you contacted, or been contacted by Victim Support? They will offer help to people caught up in the aftermath of a crime, not just the "official" victim. They have a lot of experience. There will be one in your area.
I do hope you can find some help with this. I would agree that asking the landlord to sell to someone else really doesn't address the issue, but it would be helpful if someone gave some recognition to the distress this is causing (that's why I suggest Victim Support)

PS: only jut realised that i cross-posted!

Mokka

Have you been in contact with the local Neighbourhood Police team? Has your RSL have an antisocial behaviour officer? How about a council's antisocial behaviour team? Good idea to get in touch with these and discuss the issues.
RSL flats are usually allocated through council waiting lists. THey have certain criteria that people have to fulfil to qualify for a flat. It's possible that your tenant was 'fast-tracked'. It happened in my block, although the tenant didn't do 'the worst' but was doing pretty much everything else. Despite breaking every single clause in his tenancy agreement many times over it took the council 9 years to evict him.
We kicked up a fuss that we want a decent tenant for a change and not somebody nominated from the 'special list' and got a quiet guy from a normal waiting list.
Tenants are usually on probation for a year. If they misbehave during this time it's v. easy to evict them, so be super vigilant for the first 12 months.

Cortina

Thanks you so much guys. The last few post here have been really constructive, informative and insightful . I shall share your thoughts with those involved.