Anti-social behaviour and housing

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There can be many sorts of anti-social behaviour that affect people where they live, including:

• using a property for drug dealing
• playing loud music at night
• barking dogs
• verbal abuse
• vandalism.

Temporary, or interim, injunctions can protect victims from anti-social behaviour in advance of a court hearing, when they may be replaced with a final injunction.

Housing injunctions are to protect people from anti-social behaviour in social housing. A social landlord can seek an injunction, even if no individual victim has complained. The court could still take the view that the behaviour was likely to be annoying or a nuisance to other tenants. This is helpful when people feel too intimidated to come forward.

 Does it work?

Injunctions can be very effective. Adults can be sent to prison for contempt of court if they breach them, while under-18s can be fined and have their possessions taken. Since they are quicker to apply for than ASBOs, and act as a significant deterrent, they can put a speedy end to problem behaviour.

From April 2006 to March 2007, Your Homes Newcastle brought nine injunctions for anti-social behaviour. Some tenants who breached injunctions were sent to prison.

Click here for more information on injunctions

Click here for more information on tenancy agreements