New powers will make it quicker to evict neighbours from hell

Landlords can take swifter action to evict any tenant convicted of persistent or serious anti-social behaviour.

New powers will make it easier and quicker to evict nightmare neighbours from social and private rented housing, Housing Minister Brandon Lewis announced today (20 October 2014).

It can currently take an average of 7 months to get a possession order from the courts against a neighbour from hell, during which time they often continue to cause misery for their fellow tenants.

But from today, private and social landlords, will be able to use a new mandatory ground for possession which will speed up the process by allowing previous convictions for serious anti-social behaviour to trigger eviction proceedings.

Mr Lewis said these new powers will ensure those who persistently cause misery for their neighbours will no longer benefit from the valuable support of social housing.

Swifter action against nightmare tenants

The courts will be required to grant a possession order where any of 5 conditions are met. They are:

• the tenant, a member of the tenant’s household, or a person visiting the property has been convicted of a serious offence
• the tenant, a member of the tenant’s household, or a person visiting the property has breached the civil injunction for anti-social behaviour which will come into force in January
• the tenant, a member of the tenant’s household, or a person visiting the property has been convicted for breaching a criminal behaviour order
• the tenant’s property has been closed for more than 48 hours under a closure order for anti-social behaviour
• the tenant, a member of the tenant’s household, or a person visiting the property has been convicted for breaching a noise abatement notice or order in relation to the tenant’s property.

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said:

"No one deserves to feel intimidated or unsafe in their own community, yet lengthy court proceedings have left nightmare tenants free to cause misery for their neighbours for years.

"But from today, new powers mean landlords can take swifter action to evict any tenant convicted of persistent or serious anti-social behaviour, bringing faster relief to victims and witnesses.

"It will mean law-abiding social tenants will be able to live in peace, while anyone found guilty of serious anti-social behaviour cannot benefit from the valuable support that social housing can offer."

 

From:
Department for Communities and Local Government
Brandon Lewis MP

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