Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)

Antisocial Behaviour

What is antisocial behaviour?

Antisocial behaviour (ASB) can be considered to be a wide range of activities which are unacceptable in society as they cause alarm and distress to individuals / communities or the environment. This includes behaviour that leads to the fear of crime or causes people to feel unsafe. ASB can have a significant impact on peoples lives resulting in the majority of victims feeling desperate, helpless or experiencing a seriously reduced quality of life.

There are three categories for ASB:

1.       Personal antisocial behaviour – when a person targets a specific individual or group

2.       Nuisance antisocial behaviour – when a person causes trouble, annoyance or suffering to a community

3.       Environmental antisocial behaviour – when a person’s actions affect the wider environment, such as public spaces or buildings

What is considered ABS?

Here is a list of the events that are considered as ABS:

-          Rowdy or inconsiderate behaviour

-          Rowdy or nuisance neighbours

-          Threatening behaviour, harassment or verbal abuse

-          Aggressive begging

-          Vandalism, graffiti or fly posting

-          Public urination or defecation

-          Drug or alcohol misuse

-          Hate related incidents

-          Domestic violence or abuse

-          Vehicle abandoned

-          Vehicle nuisance or inappropriate use

-          Animal problems

-          Trespassing

-          Nuisance noise

-          Misuse of fireworks

-          Street drinking

-          Prostitution related activities

-          Nuisance calls

What can a landlord do to help prevent ASB of their tenants?

Landlords should conduct pre–tenancy checks such as reference from the tenant’s previous Landlord or a reference based on their character from an employer.

In most ASB cases it involves excessive noise. So, in this case a landlord should consider installing soundproofing to their property. Furthermore, they should include a clause in the tenancy agreement regarding the specific terms of ASB.

As a Landlord, another way toward resolution of ASB could be:- if your occupants/tenants are showing ASB and there is a genuine issue, speak directly to them and make them conscious of the affects of their behaviour. Include making them aware they could be in breach of their tenancy agreement, and the potential repercussions if their behaviour does not change.

What grounds can tenants be evicted for ASB?

Eviction should be a last resort in this situation. However, landlords can serve a section 8 notice where they would need to provide certain grounds on the notice – as set out in the housing act 1988.

In dealing with a serious case of ASB landlords could rely on ground 7A.

What evidence is needed to prove the tenants have been antisocial?

-          Photographic evidence, where damage has occurred because of the behaviour

-          Witness statements

-          Professional witness statements – from police reports

-          Written diary entries of incidents

-          Any relevant correspondence with the tenant regarding their behaviour

What to do if you’re experiencing any of the ASB events listed

When reporting antisocial behaviour, you should contact your local neighbourhood policing team to report the antisocial behaviour.

Or

City of London and the Metropolitan Police state three ways available to report ASB

-          Call 101

-          Call 999, if it is an emergency

-          Report it online to the City of London or Metropolitan Police ASB page

Guinness partnership tenants and leaseholders can report ASB to the Guinness partnership website – if the report you wish to make does not require calling the City of London Police - www.guinnesspartnership.com/report-anti-social-behaviour/

Furthermore, with Noise Nuisance – you can report an incident to the City’s corporations Noise Pollution page. - www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/environmental-health/noise-strategy-and-policy