Fast-Track Eviction Plan for Landlords Criticised

Social landlords have claimed their tenants are being stigmatised by the government’s plans to evict tenants who commit anti-social behaviour miles from their homes. They have rounded on proposals to give housing associations and councils a discretionary power to evict tenants who commit crime - even when they have acted long distances away from where they live.
In response to a consultation on the proposals introduced following the summer’s riots, the Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group said linking the changes to the unrest ‘serves only to reinforce the negative stereotyping of social housing by some politicians, the media and commentators as being a significant contributor to disorder and other social ills’. Read more on Inside Housing.

RESPECT - ASB Charter for Housing

CIH, SLCNG and HouseMark have combined to produce 'RESPECT - ASB Charter for Housing', the replacement for the Respect Standard for Housing Management. Introduced by the government in 2006, the original Standard played an important role in driving up performance in both preventing and effectively tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB). Over 500 signatories are a clear testimony to its success over the last five years. ASB continues to be a key issue for landlords, tenants and communities, and when the housing minister announced in January 2011 that the Standard would be passed from government to sector ownership, CIH, SLCNG and HouseMark were asked to take up the baton. Read more and download a copy of the charter at the CIH website.

Respect the Standard

HouseMark is working with the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group to review the Respect Standard for preventing and tackling anti-social behaviour. Government has passed responsibility for standard to CIH on behalf of the sector, and a working group has drafted a revised standard for wider sector consultation. The new standard will be voluntary. Read more on the HouseMark website.

ASB Reform Must Involve Social Landlords

Future reforms to tackle anti-social behaviour must take into account the experiences and evidence of social landlords and not just the police, the Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group (SLCNG) has said. In response to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary’s (HMIC) report ‘Stop the rot’, it said the HMIC must not be taken as representing the totality of the evidence and intelligence that informs how best to tackle anti-social behaviour. The SLCNG says it support's the study's core recommendations that the police and agencies charged with tackling antisocial behaviour should focus more clearly on the harm caused (or threatened) and the needs of victims. Read more on the 24dash website.

Landlords Object to Change in Law

Social landlords fear changes to counter-terrorism and security powers could make it harder for them to gather evidence against perpetrators of anti-social behaviour. The Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group has written to the Home Office outlining its concerns that the removal of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act will allow ASB to escalate. Under the changes the act will only be used if signed off by a magistrate or for stopping serious crime. Currently, landlords can use surveillance, such as cameras in public places, to gather evidence. A decision on the proposed changes is expected to be made shortly.

Nominations Open for SLCNG Awards

The Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group's Delivering Results Awards 2010 are now open for nominations. The awards recognise the contribution of residents, social landlords and their partners to tackling anti-social behaviour effectively. There are four categories of award. The closing date for receipt of entries is 10 September 2010. Winners will be announced and awards presented at the SLCNG Annual Conference in Birmingham on 2 November 2010. Find full details on the HouseMark website.

ASB Family Intervention Projects (FIPs) Monitoring And Evaluation

FIPs work with the most challenging families and tackle issues such as ASB, youth crime, school absenteeism, drug and alcohol addiction, domestic violence, poor mental health and inter-generational disadvantage. Families are supported by a dedicated ‘key worker’ who coordinates a multi-agency package of support and works directly with family members to help them overcome problems. The National Centre for Social Research set up a web-based Information System to collect comprehensive data on all families referred to FIPs. This report presents information about the families that received a FIP intervention aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour up until 31st March 2009. Find the report by clicking on the logo below.