Anti-social behaviour can be anything from low-level persistent nuisance to serious violence or other criminal behaviour. It has no definition, although residents know it when they see or hear it. It includes all behaviour, that impacts negatively on residents’ quality of life in and around their homes. Anti social behaviour can be caused both by residents and non-residents and can affect both. Examples are noise nuisance, the fouling of public areas, aggressive and threatening language and behaviour, actual violence against people and property and hate behaviour which targets members of identified groups because of their perceived differences.
The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 defines anti-social behaviour as:
“Behaviour that caused or was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household as the perpetrator”
Anti-social behaviour is a problem, which crosses all types of housing tenure. Households in the social and private rented sector and owner-occupiers are all vulnerable to thoughtless, offensive and sometimes criminal behaviour by other residents or visitors to their neighbourhood. Housing providers have a key role to play in tackling anti-social behaviour in multi-agency partnerships involving the police and other relevant agencies and this approach can and does succeed in halting such decline.
Within the Private Rented Sector Team the Tenancy Relations Officers are dedicated to responding to, investigating and resolving issues of anti-social behaviour in the private rented sector. The team can offer support and assistance to both residents and private landlords in response to complaints about anti social behaviour from private tenants.
The team works in partnership with Northumbria Police, Neighbourhood Wardens and many other agencies to tackle anti-social behaviour.
If you are concerned about the behaviour of one of your tenants or your tenants are experiencing anti social behaviour from the private rented sector we will be happy to work with you to resolve the problem.
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Gateshead Council's Anti-social Behaviour Policy