ASB: What Steps to Take Next

henrygregory

Hello,
Myself and several neighbours have had to endure constant ASB related issues from Social Housing tenants in our street. The majority of issues are caused by one household and it predominantly involves the dealing and consumption of drugs. 

The Housing Association whom owns the property in question clearly states in it's Tenant's Handbook that consumption and or involvement with drugs at a HA property could result in eviction. The same is said for ongoing ASB. Myself and several neighbours have repeatedly reported this over the course of several years and absoloutely nothing has been done to resolve this issue.

I have now turned my attention to our council who are the department who put residents in these properties. They are also responsible for environmental health. Again, I have repeatedly emailed the local council and police who meet with the HA on a monthly basis and dicuss ASB related issues and still nothing has been done. 

I have even thretaned raising an Antisocial Behaviour Case Review (formally known as a Community Trigger) but I note that the contact details of the person responsible for a case review is the same person I have been emailing at the council now for well over 12 months.

Can anyone advise me what the next steps are as this is just not being taken seriously and the problem tenants are currently immune from the rules. It is a total embarrasment to have visitors over and every time I open my windows, the stench of cannabis fills my home. 

I would be really grateful of any advice as my other neighbours have given up trying to get anything done as whatever we do, whoever we report to, nobody seems able to resolve the situation.

user1977

You could take legal action in your own right if neighbours are causing you a nuisance, but I'm not sure that merely the smell of cannabis is going to be sufficient for that.

gwynlas

Once you know who your new MP is raise it with them detailing all that you have done to try and resolve the issue to date. Also it would not hurt to raise  ABCR with the person you have already been dealing with as this is proof that you have asked for it to be formalised and acted upon.

theartfullodger

Which country (eg Wales, NI..)?

In Scotland (sensible country) some landlords (**) are responsible for sorting out asbo tenants.
https://www.mygov.scot/tenant-antisocial-behaviour

** - private landlords, not social... Funny that...

henrygregory

theartfullodger said:

Which country (eg Wales, NI..)?

In Scotland (sensible country) some landlords (**) are responsible for sorting out asbo tenants.
https://www.mygov.scot/tenant-antisocial-behaviour

** - private landlords, not social... Funny that...

Thank you, it is England.

Jude57

henrygregory said:

Hello,
Myself and several neighbours have had to endure constant ASB related issues from Social Housing tenants in our street. The majority of issues are caused by one household and it predominantly involves the dealing and consumption of drugs. 

The Housing Association whom owns the property in question clearly states in it's Tenant's Handbook that consumption and or involvement with drugs at a HA property could result in eviction. The same is said for ongoing ASB. Myself and several neighbours have repeatedly reported this over the course of several years and absoloutely nothing has been done to resolve this issue.

I have now turned my attention to our council who are the department who put residents in these properties. They are also responsible for environmental health. Again, I have repeatedly emailed the local council and police who meet with the HA on a monthly basis and dicuss ASB related issues and still nothing has been done. 

I have even thretaned raising an Antisocial Behaviour Case Review (formally known as a Community Trigger) but I note that the contact details of the person responsible for a case review is the same person I have been emailing at the council now for well over 12 months.

Can anyone advise me what the next steps are as this is just not being taken seriously and the problem tenants are currently immune from the rules. It is a total embarrasment to have visitors over and every time I open my windows, the stench of cannabis fills my home. 

I would be really grateful of any advice as my other neighbours have given up trying to get anything done as whatever we do, whoever we report to, nobody seems able to resolve the situation.

Although to you and your neighbours this is an ongoing course of conduct by the problem residents, it's probably worth bearing in mind that complaints of ASB are closed after a short while so it's possible that if several weeks/ months elapse between complaints, each one will be treated as a new complaint. It's likely that the ASB officer receives a complaint, contacts the problem tenant, who behaves for a while so no further issues are reported, case closed. Unfortunately for you and the other neighbours, you need to be like a dog with a bone to get anything done so complain, complain, complain. Keep detailed diaries showing date, time, nature of ASB, how long it went on and the impact it had on you. Do this for every single incident, however minor, and send them to the ASB team every single time. I'd add that you shouldn't put too much faith in your neighbours to report these things. Some people think a single phone call three years ago should be enough. It isn't.

You don't give details of what the ASB is other than smelling cannabis smoke and believing there's some dealing happening, and as unpleasant as that is, in itself it's very unlikely to result in the tenants being evicted. For Police action, low-level cannabis dealing isn't a priority but may be useful intelligence for other investigations. 

I wouldn't be involving your MP at this stage because there are other things to try first. I'd suggest you take a multi-pronged approach:

1. E-mail a formal complaint to the HA. Their website should have the contact information about how to do this. If it doesn't, address it to the Chief Executive. Set out, clearly, unemotionally and concisely the repeated issues you've reported, giving dates you've complained about ASB and what response you received, if any. Say that you're concerned that you're not being kept informed about action taken/no action is being taken to address your concerns. If nothing else, setting it all out like that will give you the full picture of whether this is a constant, repeated situation of ASB (every day, week, month, or every couple of months etc) and will be helpful in deciding whether your concerns really are reasonable or whether you're (understandably) just fed up with your annoying neighbours.
2. Contact your local Neighbourhood Policing Team. Again, their contact details should be on their website. Ask to meet a member of the team to discuss your concerns. If you're unhappy with their response, escalate to a formal complaint to the relevant Inspector, again, their contact information should be on the website but if not, address it to the Chief Constable.
3. Involve your local Councillor. After Thursday (give it a few days) if you have a new one/ones, their contact information should be on the Council's website. It's exactly the kind of issue they are elected to deal with, criminality and ASB in their Ward. Get them onside because they can become an additional thorn in the side of the HA, Council and Police.
4. Only when you've exhausted all these approaches and if they don't help, contact your MP. He or she will contact the HA, Council and Police but not if you haven't tried to resolve matters with them yourself first. Your MP can't make your neighbours behave, have them evicted or arrested without the correct procedures being followed.

Finally, just because you're not seeing any action (bailiffs evicting the problem residents, Police raiding the property) doesn't necessarily mean nothing is happening. Eviction is a very lengthy process assuming the tenants refuse to leave. Police investigations can also take a long time. It's not knowing that causes the worry. I've recently involved my HA's ASB team in dealing with a 'Cuckooing' situation of my vulnerable neighbour. My ASB officer was outstanding and very proactive, keeping me informed by regular phone calls. Despite all her efforts and mine, and those of our local Police, as well as the fact they weren't even tenants, it still took about six months to get them out. I was content to be patient because I knew there was action being taken. Perhaps if you were being kept informed, it might be less worrisome for you.

Alderbank

Jude57 said:

henrygregory said:

Hello,
Myself and several neighbours have had to endure constant ASB related issues from Social Housing tenants in our street. The majority of issues are caused by one household and it predominantly involves the dealing and consumption of drugs. 

The Housing Association whom owns the property in question clearly states in it's Tenant's Handbook that consumption and or involvement with drugs at a HA property could result in eviction. The same is said for ongoing ASB. Myself and several neighbours have repeatedly reported this over the course of several years and absoloutely nothing has been done to resolve this issue.

I have now turned my attention to our council who are the department who put residents in these properties. They are also responsible for environmental health. Again, I have repeatedly emailed the local council and police who meet with the HA on a monthly basis and dicuss ASB related issues and still nothing has been done. 

I have even thretaned raising an Antisocial Behaviour Case Review (formally known as a Community Trigger) but I note that the contact details of the person responsible for a case review is the same person I have been emailing at the council now for well over 12 months.

Can anyone advise me what the next steps are as this is just not being taken seriously and the problem tenants are currently immune from the rules. It is a total embarrasment to have visitors over and every time I open my windows, the stench of cannabis fills my home. 

I would be really grateful of any advice as my other neighbours have given up trying to get anything done as whatever we do, whoever we report to, nobody seems able to resolve the situation.

3. Involve your local Councillor. After Thursday (give it a few days) if you have a new one/ones, their contact information should be on the Council's website. It's exactly the kind of issue they are elected to deal with, criminality and ASB in their Ward. Get them onside because they can become an additional thorn in the side of the HA, Council and Police.

Why - what's happening on Thursday (apart from that Westminster Election of course!)?

Council elections are usually in May.

I agree the Council will do everything they can to avoid moving the family. Their problem is that they will still have to rehouse them somewhere so it is just an expensive exercise (and unsettling for kids in school, etc) which will result in getting even more complaints from a different bunch of ratepayers.

Jude57

Alderbank said:

Jude57 said:

henrygregory said:

Hello,
Myself and several neighbours have had to endure constant ASB related issues from Social Housing tenants in our street. The majority of issues are caused by one household and it predominantly involves the dealing and consumption of drugs. 

The Housing Association whom owns the property in question clearly states in it's Tenant's Handbook that consumption and or involvement with drugs at a HA property could result in eviction. The same is said for ongoing ASB. Myself and several neighbours have repeatedly reported this over the course of several years and absoloutely nothing has been done to resolve this issue.

I have now turned my attention to our council who are the department who put residents in these properties. They are also responsible for environmental health. Again, I have repeatedly emailed the local council and police who meet with the HA on a monthly basis and dicuss ASB related issues and still nothing has been done. 

I have even thretaned raising an Antisocial Behaviour Case Review (formally known as a Community Trigger) but I note that the contact details of the person responsible for a case review is the same person I have been emailing at the council now for well over 12 months.

Can anyone advise me what the next steps are as this is just not being taken seriously and the problem tenants are currently immune from the rules. It is a total embarrasment to have visitors over and every time I open my windows, the stench of cannabis fills my home. 

I would be really grateful of any advice as my other neighbours have given up trying to get anything done as whatever we do, whoever we report to, nobody seems able to resolve the situation.

3. Involve your local Councillor. After Thursday (give it a few days) if you have a new one/ones, their contact information should be on the Council's website. It's exactly the kind of issue they are elected to deal with, criminality and ASB in their Ward. Get them onside because they can become an additional thorn in the side of the HA, Council and Police.

Why - what's happening on Thursday (apart from that Westminster Election of course!)?

Council elections are usually in May.

I agree the Council will do everything they can to avoid moving the family. Their problem is that they will still have to rehouse them somewhere so it is just an expensive exercise (and unsettling for kids in school, etc) which will result in getting even more complaints from a different bunch of ratepayers.

My apologies for the local election error.

It's not right that the Council would have to rehouse antisocial tenants. Antisocial behaviour resulting in eviction would likely be considered as the tenants making themselves intentionally homeless so that the Council has no general obligation to provide accommodation. If there are children in the family the most the Council would have to provide would be Bed & Breakfast temporary accommodation. It's moot anyway because the Council aren't the landlord in this case.

Yorkie1

I wonder whether the level of nuisance is approaching what is required for an ASB Closure order? Perhaps something to explore with the ASB section of the local police