Anti-social behaviour and disorder
Anti-social behaviour: Policy and Procedure
This Code gives guidance on how local housing authorities and HATs (Housing Action Trusts) in England should prepare and review their policies and procedures in relation to anti-social behaviour.
- Landlords obligation's under Section 218A of the Housing Act 1996
- Content of Statement of Policies
- Content of Statement of Procedures
- Content of summary and publication of Statement and Summary
Title: Anti-social Behaviour: Policy and Procedure
Author: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
Date published: August 2004
Number of pages: 18
Section 218A of the
Housing Act 1996 requires landlords that are local housing authorities, HATs and registered social landlords to prepare and publish policies and procedures in relation to
anti-social behaviour by 30th December 2004. These statements of policy and procedures should complement the priorities of the local authorities
Landlords obligation's under Section 218A of the Housing Act 1996
Anti-social behaviour is conduct which:
Is capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to any person (e.g. anyone living or working in the neighbourhood);
Directly or indirectly relates to or affects the housing management functions of a relevant landlord (e.g. the landlord cannot carry out his duties)
Direct activities affecting housing management include: maintenance and repairs, rent collection, neighbourhood management, dispute resolution.
Indirect activities may include: social care and housing support, environmental health and refuse collection.
Consists of or involves using or threatening to use housing accommodation owned or managed by a relevant landlord for an unlawful purpose.
The landlord must produce the following documents:
Statement of Policy and Procedures on ASB ('the statement'); and
Summary of current policy and procedures on ASB ('the summary').
The Statement of Policies should outline the landlord's general approach to ASB and also include specific policies. For example, these could relate to the landlord's commitment to eradicating ASB, the obligations of tenants, support for witnesses of ASB, racial harassment, domestic violence, multi-agency partnerships and the use of available legal remedies.
The Statement of Procedures should outline the landlord's procedures when dealing with occurrences of ASB. For example, it could include information on how and to whom a complaint of ASB should be made, how contact will be maintained with the complainant, and how the progress of the case will be monitored. It should contain sufficient information to enable a tenant to understand how the landlord will deal with a complaint of ASB and what is expected of the tenant.
Publication may be in a variety of formats, including publication on a website, at the landlord's discretion. However, the Statement must also be available in printed hard copy form and should be available in translation and alternative formats (for example in Braille and large print).
Consultation on these policies with tenant's, tenants groups,
Tenant Management Organisations (TMO's), social services, education services and the wider community etc, is advised.
Next section: Content of Statement of Policies >>
For more information: visit the website or download in PDF or Word document format.
Last update: 26 August 2004