Tackling Antisocial Behaviour

4th Jul 2018

If you’re suffering from antisocial behaviour in your block, there’s a wide range of actions you can take:

WHAT IS ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR?

Behaviour that lacks consideration for others and causes distress, harassment, or alarm. For example:

• Intimidation
• Harassment
• Verbal abuse
• Noise
• Dumping rubbish
• Vandalism
• Animal nuisance (including fouling)

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Unless you’re dealing with serious intimidation or violent behaviour it’s often better to take some initial steps yourself:

1. Approach neighbour with the problem
2. Mediation
3. Contact local authority/police
4. Own legal action

WHAT YOUR LAND LORD/MANAGING AGENT CAN DO

• Most leases contain covenants prohibiting leaseholders from causing nuisance and annoyance to neighbours. There may be more specific restrictions against certain activities (e.g. playing loud music between 11 pm and 7 am).
• These clauses are harder to enforce in practice, any benefit of doubt over the meaning will always be given to the leaseholder against whom the complaint is being made.

WHAT LOCAL AUTHORITIES CAN DO

• Crime and disorder reduction partnership
• Antisocial behaviour coordinators
• Apply to the court for an ASBO
• Look into using environmental health powers to tackle noise and other nuisances

WHAT POLICE CAN DO

Police can act on any antisocial behaviour that is a criminal offence:

• Assault;
• Willingly damaging another’s property;
• Harassment or intimidation;
• Inciting racial hatred;
• Doing drugs and drug dealing;
• Graffiti;
• Dogs (endangering/injuring a person).

ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR AGREEMENTS

• Used to tackle early signs of antisocial behaviour by young people.
• Relevant to issues such as graffiti, racist and threatening behaviour, contact police or local authorities for more information.

ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR ORDERS

• Anyone can ask police to apply to magistrates’ court for an ASBO against causing alarm, distress or harassment.
• It’s a civil order that prohibits a person from specific activities and entering a defined area, tackle more serious antisocial behaviour.

PREMISES CLOSURE ORDERS

• Courts can temporarily close any premises, including communal areas of flats, associated with significant and persistent disorder or nuisance.
• This is a last resort.

ABANDONED VEHICLES 

• Report any abandoned vehicles to your managing agent.
• They are cautious about removing vehicles until clear evidence is displayed that it is abandoned

DAMAGE TO COMMUNAL AREAS

• Most leases stipulate that leaseholders will pay for any damage they cause to communal areas.

FINAL THOUGHT

If you are unfortunate enough to be experiencing antisocial behaviour in your building you must make sure that you are fully aware of all the options that are available to you before you take any steps of action. If the situation that you’re in is not extremely threatening you should consider taking some of the initial steps yourself. Although, it’s always worth asking your property manager or land lord for some advice, also the local authority is always there to help you. Here at Blocsphere our clients safety is our biggest priority, we are always here if you need to ask for advice on the situation you’re in; if you are looking for a reliable property manager, you can put your confidence in Blocsphere knowing that your needs come first and you can confide in us if you’re experiencing any problems or complications in your block.