28th
Mar 2023
As announced recently private landlords will be backed by the government and given stronger powers to evict ant-social tenants who make neighbours lives a misery through constant noise, disorderly and drunken behaviour amongst other ‘reasons’ to get rid of ‘idiots’ and criminals.
There has been continual worries conveyed to the government with its intention to scrap Section 21 notices in the Rental Reform Bill this year, which could dilute the tenant anti-social behaviour policy especially in HMO cases.
A spokesperson for a trade body, says: “Anti-social tenants blight the lives of fellow renters and their neighbours. Plans to end ‘no explanation’ repossessions risk making it harder to tackle such behaviour.
“Whilst we will study the detail of the Government’s plans carefully, we welcome its commitment to strengthen the ability of landlords to evict unruly tenants. It follows extensive campaigning to ensure swift and effective action can be taken against those causing misery in their communities.
“The law must be on the side of the victims of anti-social behaviour and we are glad that the Government agrees.”
The trade body’s recent poll found that 50 per cent of landlords have had to resort to repossessing a property because of renter’s criminal or anti-social behaviour, damningly the vast majority of this group – 84 per cent – found their local council failing to provide support in tackling their problem tenants.
Worst still 75 per cent were let down by their local police which failed to offer any assistance in dealing with anti-social tenants.
The government’s new powers being handed over to private landlords is a key part of its titled ‘Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan’ which states will undertake “a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of anti-social behaviour, and give the police and local authorities the tools they need to tackle the problem.”
16 areas in England and Wales will be funded under the plan to support either a trial of the ‘Immediate Justice’ scheme to meter out quick and visible punishments for ASB , or predominantly to set up new ‘hotspot’ police and enforcement patrols in areas which suffer the most from anti-social behaviour
However there will be a few ‘pathfinder’ areas chosen to trial both schemes together which will eventually be rolled out across England and Wales from 2024.
Hotspot selected areas will see increased numbers of police patrolling with other uniformed ‘authority’ figures (wardens) in areas with the highest number of anti-social behaviour, and will also ‘police’ public transport, parks and high streets.
According to details, those found committing anti-social behaviour breaches under the new Immediate Justice scheme, will be ordered to repair the damage they have inflicted on victims and communities. The perpetrators will have 48 hours after the offence to start their program of work , hopefully victims will be reassured that these types of crimes and behaviours are treated as being serious infringements and more importantly dealt with almost immediately.
Those found guilty will have to wear jumpsuits or high-vis vests and will be fully supervised, their work punishment could entail picking up litter, washing police cars and removing graffiti. Victims of anti-social behaviour will actually be given a say as to what punishments should be handed out to show affected communities that justice is swift, visible and fits the offence.
The government has also introduced a zero-tolerance approach, and ‘laughing gas’ will also be banned to clearly send a forthright message to gangs hanging around children’s parks and high streets, that such intimidating behaviour and the littering of these arears with cans etc will not be tolerated any longer.
Housing Secretary Michael Gove says: “Anti-social behaviour erodes local pride, blights our high streets and parks and is a stain on too many communities across the country.
“We know that it is more likely to flourish in areas that have, for too long, been overlooked and undervalued.
“This government was elected on a mandate to deliver change for those communities, and that is why the Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan is critical. So we will intervene directly to prevent high street dereliction.
“We will deliver tougher, quicker and more visible justice to prevent thuggish behaviour in town centres and we will ensure young people have the opportunities and activities available to them to succeed - all backed by new investment.
“This is about acting on the people’s priorities, delivering safer streets so we can level up across the country.”
Richard Merrick of PIMS,said: “ In theory this does seem supportive to communities and victims, but there is no mention of any detail on the eviction process.
“The equivalent of the new powers being given to landlords, in light of the announcement that the Rental Reform Act is to be introduced into parliament in two months’ time, is giving a horse two apples and then whipping the animal to death.”
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