Antisocial Behaviour

Tools we Use

Homes for Islington have a dedicated antisocial behaviour team in each of our four area housing offices. These teams comprise skilled officers who have an array of tools and powers at their disposal to manage received reports of antisocial behaviour.

The action we can take can vary from enforcement of conditions of tenancy, where residents have been found to have broken their tenancy agreement through to the application of more complex enforcement activity where the input and involvement of partners such as the Police and Islington Council are required.

We will always aim to resolve any issue without taking legal action, but we will not hesitate to take legal action if it proves necessary. Before we get to that stage, we will always give the person(s) causing the problem the opportunity to explain their behaviour.

A brief summary of some of the tools that we can use is detailed below.

For a copy of our Fact Sheet – The tools we use to combat anti-social behaviour click here

Tenancy related

Where tenants have been proven to have behaved antisocially we would look to enforce the terms of their conditions of tenancy. The use of possession notices, injunctions and demoted tenancies where applicable would be sought. In addition we would look to restrict the tenants rights such as the right to mutual exchange and the suspension of the right to buy.

Working in Partnership

In situations where individuals have been identified as acting antisocially we will look to work with Partners such as the Police and Islington Council in the development and agreement of acceptable behaviour contracts. Where necessary we will look to follow these cases through to provision of antisocial behaviour orders.

Support Services

The tools we use are not solely limited to enforcement. There are several support services available, which we will look to make accessible to both victims and perpetrators of antisocial behaviour. We have capacity to make referrals to support mechanisms such as parental and housing support.

For reporters of antisocial behaviour who may be called to attend court we offer the use of the witness service to prepare and lead them through the court process.

Good Neighbourhood Agreements

What are they?
Good Neighbour Agreements are usually voluntary agreements between landlords and their tenants, but can also be used by other agencies and organisations, such as Community Safety Partnerships and local residents

The term Good Neighbourhood Agreement is a generic term that can cover a range of interventions with varying names. The following are all types of Good Neighbourhood Agreement: -

• Estate Agreement
• Tenant Code / Charter
• Community Promise
• Estate Agreement
• Neighbourhood Agreement

What are they used for?
Good Neighbourhood Agreements can be used for different purposes and in different ways. Their primary aim however is to promote positive behaviour and to enforce the following messages: -

• Clear indication that there is commitment from the landlord to tackling antisocial behaviour
• Encouragement to residents to share responsibility and promote positive behaviour
• Commitment to wider strategies in operation within the community and demonstration of partnership working
• Reinforcement of existing tenancy agreements

They can also be used in conjunction with other enforcement and preventative measures to address antisocial behaviour. For example tools such as Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, Injunctions and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts.

What have we done?
Homes for Islington are committed to using the appropriate tools that are available to us to tackle antisocial behaviour. We have consulted with residents who have supported us in the introduction of these agreements and we have looked to implement their use across several of our estates.

We now have Good Neighbourhood Agreements in place on the following estates:

Mayville Estate
Download a copy of the agreement (pdf file 33.8Kb)

Haslam Close
Download a copy of the agreement (pdf file 90.8Kb)

Brecknock Estate
Download a copy of the agreement (pdf file 34.5Kb)

Central Street
Download a copy of the agreement (pdf file 34.9Kb)

If you are a resident on one of these estates and would like to sign up to the agreement then please download a form and return to your area housing office.