Chartered Institute of Housing issues new guidance for social landlords on tackling anti-social behaviour
The government this month published new guidance for social housing providers on how they can use the powers available to them to tackle anti-social behaviour.
The guidance, developed by the Chartered Institute of Housing, is divided into three parts:
- The role of social landlords in tackling anti-social behaviour within communities: the publication sets out the organisational building blocks that landlords need to have in place to ensure an effective response
- The range of options available to social landlords to deal with anti-social behaviour and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable individuals: the guidance emphasises “the need to take a balanced approach to prevention, intervention, enforcement and support to change behaviours”, and
- A series of practice focused factsheets aimed at building awareness and raising confidence among frontline officers of the range of enforcement tools available to social landlords.
The CIH has also launched a national action squad of advisers who will work on a regional basis with providers to help them reduce anti-social behaviour.
The team will look to share best practice, help landlords make best use of existing resources and secure improvements in services delivered to tenants.
CIH head of practice Debbie Larner said: “This team will pull together the best work that is already happening in tackling anti-social behaviour in the sector. It can play an incredibly important role in helping landlords and tenants prevent and stop behaviour that is causing disruption in communities.”
Housing minister John Healey said: “Council and housing association landlords are not just responsible for the bricks and mortar – they also have a duty to act when tenants’ lives are made a misery by anti-social behaviour in the neighbourhood. The guidance will help them to use the range of powers at their disposal to do just that.”
A copy of the guidance can be downloaded here.
