Christian Action Housing

We believe that everybody has the right to live peacefully in their own home and we expect tenants to show consideration for each other. We will enforce the anti-social behaviour clause of our tenancy agreement against any of our tenants where there is clear proof of them causing a nuisance.

Some examples of anti social behaviour are:

• Noise nuisance (music or loud domestic appliances)
• Dumping rubbish or abandoning cars
• Intimidation and harassment
• Threatening language and behaviour
• Actual violence against people in property
• Uncontrolled pets

The Association recently agreed a revised and updated policy on harassment, agreed by the Board of Management and the Tenant Audit Panel, which includes policy statements on, antisocial behaviour; harassment, hate crime and domestic violence; neighbour disputes; noise nuisance; supporting victims and witnesses; public disorder and vulnerable residents.

The Association has also signed up to the Government’s RESPECT Standard for Housing Management.

In order to assist in delivering our policies, the Association has a dedicated officer to deal with this area of work. We have also established two projects to assist residents.

• Safe Watch –A Neighbourhood Wardens service which operates to deter anti social behaviour outside of office hours.
• Compass Floating Support –A Christian Action tenant’s support service which assist residents who are having difficulty coping with the demands of managing a tenancy.

Residents are also able to report anti social behaviour through our 24 hour antisocial behaviour hotline on 01992 765 942. During office hours this will be answered by a member of the housing team or a message can be left which will be responded to within 24 hours. Outside of office hours the number will be diverted to the Safe Watch project for direct reporting to the Neighbourhood Warden Service.

What you can do about antisocial behaviour

The first thing you should do is try to resolve the issue with the person who is causing the nuisance. Of course, in many instances this may not be possible due to the nature of the nuisance but on many occasions your neighbour may not be aware that they are causing a nuisance.

If this does not work, or is not possible, contact your Neighbourhood Officer, the Association’s Anti Social Behaviour Officer, the Safe Watch Service, your Scheme Manager or Support Worker. We may not be able to help straight away and we may advise you to report noise nuisance to your Council’s Environmental Health Department.

You should keep a record of incidents of nuisance (e.g. time, date, nature of the nuisance) so that the details are clear if we, or any other agency, take the matter further. We provide log sheets which are useful for this purpose.

What we will do about antisocial behaviour

• We will investigate sensitively all nuisance cases reported to us
• We will keep a record of our actions and let you know if we feel we cannot take action
• When there is clear evidence of anti social behaviour, we may take legal action if the perpetrator is a Christian Action tenant. However, a lot of evidence needs to be collected and witnesses produced in Court for such action to be successful
• We may also prepare voluntary Acceptable Behaviour Contracts which can be used subsequently in Court to support a case for a possession order or anti social behaviour order.

What we won’t do

• We will not get involved in anonymous complaints
• We will not get involved in personal arguments or non-housing matters
• We will not start court proceedings unless there is solid proof of nuisance