Nuisance & Anti-Social Behaviour
Granta's Policy
Suffering from nuisance and Anti-Social Behaviour can be a stressful and upsetting experience.
We have a policy to deal with all sorts of things that can cause a nuisance from the minor to the very serious.
What we can do depends on how serious the problem is, what is causing the nuisance and how much evidence there is. We can't tackle nuisance without your help. This page explains the steps we can take and how we can help.
How you can help us tackle nuisance.
- Speak to your neighbour - they may then stop doing what annoys you.
- If your approach fails you may, where available, consider Independent Mediation to resolve the problem. These services are impartial and employ trained mediators. They will need to speak to both parties in the dispute and will endeavour to broker an agreeable resolution. (Full details of the mediation services available and how to arrange use of their services can be obtained by contacting your Housing Officer).
- Where these options fail or are not available, speak to your Housing Officer. They will be able to provide advice on what action we can take to deal with nuisance. If appropriate your Housing Officer will contact the person(s) causing the nuisance to try and resolve the problem.
- Where serious incidents occur report them to other agencies as well as ourselves. They maybe able to offer alternative or more effective solutions to your problems. Examples of such agencies include Local Authority Environmental Health Departments or the Police.
- Where we have agreed to take action we will need your assistance in recording and providing evidence. If any legal action is to be considered such information will be vital, without it it is very difficult for us to commence the legal process. Again wherever possible get other agencies involved as they maybe able to assist in providing supporting evidence as well as taking or advising you on other solutions available.
What we expect from tenants, their families and invited guests.
The tenancy agreement sets out that tenants, their families and invited guests must:-
- Not cause nuisance or annoyance to others in the locality.
- Not use their home or common areas for any illegal or immoral purpose.
- To keep music to a volume which cannot be heard outside the premises.
- Not to undertake any form of harassment (including towards other members of their own family).
- Not to allow authorised pets to cause a nuisance to other residents and,
- Generally to respect the rights of other residents in the locality.
DO NOT take the law into your own hands to tackle a problem with your neighbour as this could result in action being taken against you by the Society and other agencies and may escalate the dispute.
What tenants can expect from the Society.
If you complain about a neighbour we will want to know what the problem is to help us judge what action to take. We will need to consider whether your problem: -
- Is minor or serious
- Is the first time it's happened or has it been going on for some time?
- Are there several households complaining or just one?
- Can be resolved by another organisation that has more appropriate powers to deal with it, for example the Environmental Health Department, or the Police.
- Is there another side to the story?
Once a complaint is received, we will:-
- Always listen and try to find the most effective course of action.
- Expect you first to try to sort the problem out yourself - unless there is a real threat.
- Encourage mediation - where an independent party helps you find a solution with your neighbour.
- Advise you of what action we are taking and what you need to do to assist us.
Different courses of action
There will be some occasions when we decide not to get involved , for example if we do not think the complaint is reasonable.
There will be other times when we will try to sort the problem out by simply talking or writing to the person you are complaining about.
In some cases we will investigate and then decide what action, if any, to take.
In more serious cases we may work with you in taking legal action. You can apply to take out injunctions yourself against a neighbour. The Society may take injunctive action or possession proceedings to evict a tenant in breach of their agreement. If we do this, we will always need your co-operation along with other agencies (if appropriate) in providing evidence. Where this is not forthcoming the Society will be unable to act. Courts need good evidence before seriously considering making an injunction and/or giving possession of someones home back to the Society.
Further Information
If you would like more detailed information on how the Society tackles neighbour nuisance and anti-social behaviour, please write to the Housing Manager at the address below. He will be happy to send you a full copy of our policy and procedure.
Granta Housing Society Ltd, 1 Horizon Park, Barton Road, Comberton, Cambs, CB23 7AF. Tel: 01223 576756
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