Anti-Social Behaviour

Anti-Social Behaviour - our approach

Newlon supports the “Respect Agenda” and recognises the importance of tackling Anti-Social Behaviour and the effect it has on residents, estates and communities. We recognise that Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) covers a variety of inconsiderate and unacceptable behaviours that affect the quality of community life in an area and can affect people in different ways.

 

We aim to take a balanced but firm approach between preventative, supportive and enforcement methods and where we can we will take a multi-agency approach to tackling problems.  

 

Our approach to ASB draws together our current policies on Harassment, Nuisance, and Domestic Violence.

  

For our latest advice on dealing with Anti-Social Behaviour click here. This leaflet includes information on avoiding ASB and who to contact if you need to report an incident, including information about support services for each of the Boroughs where we have residents.

 

If you need to contact us about ASB you can:

 

e-mail - housingservices@newlon.org.uk

 

write to us - Housing Services, Newlon Housing Trust, Newlon House, London, N1 5LH

 

visit us in person at the same address

 

call your Tenancy Management or Housing Officer on 020 7613 7486

 

we also have a free phone line for reporting ASB - 0800 058 2551

 

Noise nuisance

Noise nuisance is the most commonly reported cause of ASB. Noise from neighbours can be very upsetting, causing annoyance, lack of sleep, stress and generally affecting quality of life. For more information about dealing with noise nuisance please click here. 

In some instances it can be useful to keep a record of ASB as it occurs - diary sheets to help you do these can be found here:

ASB incident record sheet

  

A list of other common causes of ASB and a summary of Newlon's policy on each of them can be found below.   For more information on any Newlon policies, please contact us at the address above.

 

Abandoned vehicles are untaxed and/or un-roadworthy vehicles proving to be detrimental to the local environment.  

 

On receiving a report of an abandoned vehicle Newlon is committed to carrying out an inspection within 7 days.  If a vehicle is deemed to be potentially hazardous, for example it is burnt out or badly damaged, an inspection will take place within 48 hours.

 

When the inspection takes place a 7-day notice of intended removal will be attached to the vehicle. In addition a police check will be conducted to identify whether the vehicle is stolen. 

 

If the vehicle has not been stolen the DVLA will be contacted to ascertain the identity of the registered keeper and this person will be contacted and notified of the intended removal. 

 

Newlon is responsible for removing any vehicles abandoned on Newlon property. If the vehicle is on a public highway responsibility for its removal lies with the local council. 

 

 

Newlon's tenancy and leaseholder agreements state that no animals should be kept on the premises without first obtaining our written consent. The granting or refusal of consent is at our absolute discretion. We may withdraw consent at any time, especially if the animal causes a nuisance or annoyance to neighbours or to other tenants.  Residents will be allowed a maximum of two pets (with the exception of caged birds and goldfish/tropical fish).

 

We recognise that keeping pets may offer pleasure, security and support to residents and we would not unreasonably withhold our consent.  However, we also recognise that when pets are poorly behaved or badly looked after this can affect the quality of life for other residents.  In these circumstances we will take appropriate enforcement measures including possession proceedings where necessary.

 

Due to the design and/or high density of some estates, or where the majority of residents have agreed to designate the estate as either pet or dog free, permission will not be granted. The only exception will be guide dogs where permission will normally be given in a flat or property that would otherwise be unsuitable. Permission is still required however, and if granted does not set a precedent for other tenants wanting to keep a dog.

 

Permission for any animal will only be granted on condition that the resident complies with the following:

- Dogs must not be allowed to wander the scheme unattended

- Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times in communal areas

- Owners must clean up after pets, especially if they foul in the communal areas

- Pets must not cause a noise nuisance

- Pets must not cause a nuisance to neighbours

- Pets must be looked after responsibly and not mistreated

- Dogs must not be left in the house unattended for more than 24 hours.

 

Stray pets will be reported to the Dog Warden or the RSPCA and Newlon will seek removal from the area or estate. Where animals have been abandoned in a property we will contact the RSPCA.

  

Harassment is defined as a deliberate act designed to interfere with the peace, comfort of safety or an individual or group, often motivated by prejudice or direct discrimination. 

 

People may be harassed because of race, colour, religion, sex, sexuality, illness, disablement or other. Harassment may take the form of threatening or aggressive action, both verbal and physical, involving attacks on property as well as on people. Incidents of harassment include offensive graffiti, abusive language and behaviour, violence towards people of all ages and damage to homes or possessions. 

 

Newlon does not tolerate harassment by, or of, its residents. Newlon has a duty to ensure equality of access to its housing and aims to take every possible step to eliminate harassment. It is a condition of your lease / tenancy agreement that you, members of your household, or invited visitors do not commit any harassment or threat of harassment on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability or other which may interfere with the peace and comfort of, or cause offence to, any other persons in the neighbourhood or to any tenant, agent, employee or contractor of the Trust. 

 

Newlon aims to take a victim centred approach when receiving reports of harassment. This includes:

- prompt response

- no action taken without victim's consent

- all reports are taken seriously, investigated thoroughly and sensitively

- keeping the victim informed

- ensuring the confidentiality of all information within the trust

 

If we receive a complaint of harassment, this will be recorded and a Housing Officer will arrange to a visit within 48 hours. If the complainant wishes, a friend can accompany them.  We can arrange interpreters and the victims may choose the most convenient time, and the venue where they feel most comfortable.  If the victim feels uncomfortable discussing the issue with their housing officer, efforts will be made for them to see an officer of a different gender or race.  

 

With the victim's consent the alleged perpetrator will be contacted if they are a Newlon tenant and also any witnesses. This can include discrete enquiries with neighbours to discover possible witnesses. The complainant does not have to involve the Police but they can provide support and will help if there is any legal action. 

 

If a Newlon tenant ignores written or verbal warnings and continues to harass neighbours, legal action may be taken to enforce the terms of the tenancy agreement or to prevent nuisance or trespass.  If necessary a court order will be obtained for eviction.  Criminal action can also be brought by the Police or Local Authority. 

  

The Trust will ensure that all reports of Domestic Violence are responded to within 48 hours in a sensitive manner and in line with Newlon's Confidentiality Policy. The tenant will always be given the option of seeing a female officer. T he Trust will only undertake further enquiries or share information with other agencies with the consent of the tenant.

 

If the tenant is unable to continue to reside at his/her address then arrangements will be made with Women's Aid or the Local Authority for temporary accommodation. 

 

If the perpetrator is a tenant of the Trust it is the Trust's policy to seek legal action against them, although any action taken will be agreed with the victim.  

  

The Respect Standard, launched in August 2006, outlines the core components essential to delivering an effective response to anti social behaviour and building stronger communities. There are six core elements:

 

Landlords need to make a visible commitment to the community so that everyone is clear they take issues of anti-social behaviour and Respect seriously and will deliver what they say they will.

 

Empowering and reassuring residents
Landlords and the community need to work as one through involving residents and giving them input into decision making. Engagement and effective communications act to reassure and empower communities.

 

Landlords can play a key role in preventing anti-social behaviour from occurring. Where it does occur if problems are addressed quickly this often gets the best results.

Tailored services for residents and provision of support for victims and witnesses

Success rests on people being prepared to report and then give support to agencies in taking action. Every case and every person deserves a robust, tailored and sensitive response.

Government has provided landlords with the tools they need to tackle a whole range of anti-social behaviour. Landlords need to understand how tools work and be prepared to use them quickly to protect communities.

 

Provision of support can put an end to unacceptable behaviour by tackling underlying causes. This leads to sustainable outcomes and gets people’s lives back on track.

The Government will be encouraging residents to get engaged and hold their landlord to account. The Audit Commission, who carry out inspections of landlords, are also looking to strengthen their guidelines to landlords on what they expect a good landlord to be achieving in tackling anti-social behaviour.