Anti-Social Behaviour

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) in social housing refers to actions that cause distress, harm, or nuisance to others within the community. This can include a wide range of behaviours such as persistent noise, abusive or threatening behaviour, vandalism, graffiti, public drunkenness, littering, fly-tipping, and illegal drug use.

ASB can significantly impact the quality of life for tenants. It disrupts the peace and safety of the community, leading to feelings of insecurity and discomfort. We, local authorities, and the police have various powers and responsibilities to address and mitigate ASB. They assess the severity and frequency of the behaviour, considering its impact on victims and the wider community.

Most ASB issues may also be criminal offences, and we would ask that you report these matters to the police before you speak to us, especially if you believe your welfare is a risk. This will help us decide what action is appropriate, and most importantly, keep you safe.

Our colleagues are trained to respond to reports of domestic abuse and understand how difficult it can be to report if this is happening to you. We understand there are different types of abuse and how to assess the risks a victim is facing.

As your landlord we may not be able to provide all the answers, however, we work closely with all organisations who can help you and make sure you are fully supported. If you are affected by domestic abuse, including honour-based violence, please contact us.

You can also contact the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0800 247 2000. This is a 24-hour helpline run in partnership by Refuge and Women’s Aid.

Not all nuisances are considered ASB. Examples include:

• One-off parties or barbecues
• Infrequent noise or disturbances
• Children playing
• Occasional dog barking
• Noise from domestic appliances (e.g., washing machines)
• Minor vehicle repairs
• Gossip or minor disputes between neighbours.

These behaviours, while potentially annoying, do not typically meet the threshold for ASB as they are not persistent or severe enough to cause significant distress or harm to the community.

If you are affected by ASB, please let us know. It is also important to try speaking calmly to others involved. They might not realise the impact of what they’re doing and sometimes a friendly word can put things right. If this isn’t the right thing to do, or doesn’t work, we’ll investigate your report and ask you to make a record of any incidents that cause you problems. We can’t always take action that will instantly solve a problem, but we’ll be honest with you about what we can and cannot do and will always keep you updated.

Sometimes, with your consent, we will refer your case to another agency, like the police, the Environmental Health Team, or Community Safety Teams who may be able to help you. We’ll work with those agencies and other partners to achieve the best possible outcomes.

We’re committed to tackling ASB and nuisance and we’ll use all available solutions to help resolve problems, but we need your help to tell us when you’ve seen or experienced any form of ASB. You can do this by completing the form here. If you would prefer to download a physical form you can here.

We aim to respond to reports of personal incidents within 2 to 5 working days, and environmental and nuisance issues within 6 to 8 weeks.

If you have a concern for welfare or you need to report criminal or anti-social behaviour, you should report this to the police by dialling 101.

If you are in immediate danger, you should call the police on 999.